Employers and other early retiree health care plan sponsors have until the end of 2014 to use federal government claims reimbursement funds authorized by the health care reform law, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Click here to continue.

Client Advisory on Recent NY RX Laws

Click here to read this advisory on 3 new laws in New York that have taken effective in early 2012.

DOL Updates Online FMLA Advisor

The U.S. Department of Labor recently released an updated version of its Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Advisor. This online resource helps clarify which employers are required to provide FMLA leave as well as which employees are eligible to take such leave. In addition, it outlines valid reasons for leave and employer and employee notice requirements and other responsibilities under the law. Click here to visit the website.

Be Prepared for HIPAA Audits

Caring for the Caregivers

As sporadic caregiving tasks transition into heavy responsibilities, employees could use some help from their employers.  Here are three lessons for HR leaders to help their workers balance caring for loved ones with their productivity at work.

Stemming the Tide of Overtreatment in U.S. Health Care

 
A leading group of U.S. doctors is trying to tackle the costly problem of excessive medical testing, hoping to avoid more government intervention in how they practice. The American College of Physicians, the largest U.S. medical specialty group, is rolling out guidelines to help doctors better identify when patients should screen for specific diseases and when they can be spared the cost, and potentially invasive procedures that follow.  Click here to continue.

The 4 Critical Elements of a Successful 401(k) Plan Education Program

 
The key to success for any 401k plan is disciplined execution, and the key to disciplined execution is education for both the employees and the plan sponsors. Unfortunately, education, despite its importance, often falls to a lower priority status in the busy-ness of business and life.  Click here to continue.

Defined Contribution Plans to Pick Up Lifetime Income Options More Aggressively

 

Two years after the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Department of Labor jointly issued a high-profile Request for Information regarding how defined contribution plans can better provide lifetime income, the IRS and Department of the Treasury have issued some initial guidance.  DOL guidance, expected to further underscore the importance of the issue, is anticipated "in the near future."  Click here to continue.

Click here to read the most recent issue of our Risk Management newsletter.

To Be Continued?

Say this much for disasters: they're educational. Some, like Y2K, may offer useful lessons in overreaction.  Others, like 9/11, may remain largely incomprehensible.  But most, from Hurricane Andrew to the crisis surrounding Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant, have pushed companies to develop better response plans.  Click here to continue.

Cyber-Threats Will Become Top Worry

The director of the FBI told an annual gathering of cyber-security professionals on Thursday that the agency needs the private sector to help combat what he believes is becoming the nation's No. 1 threat.  Click here to continue.

Drunk Driving Study: Car Interlock Devices Reduce Repeat Offenses

Verify That Your Dwelling Limits are Adequate