Current and Past Articles

Prefer to listen instead of read? No problem! Listen to the blog post at any time by clicking here.    On January 6, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to make changes to the Security Rule under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). In response to the growing number of significant cybersecurity attacks and persistent non-compliance by HIPAA-regulated entities with the current Security Rule, these changes would strengthen the required protections and security protocols for electronic protected health information (ePHI) that HIPAA-regulated entities must implement. The proposed updates to the Security Rule requirements loosely mirror those found in the DOL’s Cybersecurity Program Best Practices (not a requirement itself, but a standard for ERISA plans). More information can be found in the HHS Fact Sheet for the NPRM.

Prefer to listen instead of read? No problem! Listen to the blog post at any time by clicking here.    On December 23, 2024, President Biden signed the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act and the Employer Reporting Improvement Act into law, both of which include components that seek to ease certain Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting requirements for employers.   The Paperwork Burden Reduction Act  The Paperwork Burden Reduction Act amends the ACA to provide that employers are no longer required by default to deliver Forms 1095-C/1095-B to recipients if a series of criteria are satisfied. Instead, employers will be in compliance with the ACA’s furnishing requirement as long as they:  Provide “clear, conspicuous, and accessible notice” per forthcoming instructions from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that recipients may request a copy of their Form 1095; and Upon receipt of request for a Form 1095, provide the statement to the recipient by the latter of January 31 of the year following the calendar year for which the return was generated (e.g., January 31, 2025 for 2024 Forms 1095-C) or 30 days after the request is received.

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee established by the Affordable Care Act helps fund research to evaluate and compare health outcomes, clinical effectiveness, risks, and benefits of medical treatment and services. The fee is currently in place through 2029. In Notice 2024-83, the IRS announced that the PCORI fee for plan years ending between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, is $3.47. This is an increase from the $3.22 payment for policy or plan years that ended between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024.  

Learning doesn’t stop when we finish school; it’s a lifelong process that fuels both personal and professional success. Incorporating learning into your daily work routine can enhance your confidence, improve your performance, and keep you ahead in your career.

While continuous learning may sound daunting, it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming or like another task on your to-do list. When integrated into your and your employees’ daily routine, it can fuel personal growth and success in small, manageable steps.

The landscape of employee benefits is evolving, shaped by workforce demographics, technological advancements, and changing priorities. Companies must keep up with benefits trends to stay competitive in employee hiring and retention. Employee benefits trends for 2025 are about meeting and exceeding expectations by creating thoughtful, personalized, and impactful benefits packages.  

Employee benefits help employees feel valued and supported, balance work and personal life, boost mental and physical wellness, and provide support during times of need.  

This article examines key employee benefits statistics from 2024, breaking down what these numbers reveal about employee needs and organizational priorities.