Fleet operators face an increased risk of potential liability if they are not diligent about checking their drivers’ moving violation records with the state Department of Motor Vehicles in addition to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. To ensure the safety of our roadways, as of 2020, it became mandatory that…
While cyber threats grow and the cyber insurance market evolves, insurers are regularly adjusting their policy terms and conditions in response to new threats and exposure. Carriers have amassed nearly a decade’s worth of data and are getting more stringent about underwriting and demanding that policyholders do their share by implementing best practices aimed at…
More hospitals and insurers have started charging patients for virtual care services as they have grown in usage and providers are spending more time meeting patients in telehealth appointments and responding to their e-mails. Many hospital systems have started billing patients for e-mails they send to their physicians and, depending on the level of out-of-pocket…
It’s almost time for group health insurance open enrollment and your top priority should be to drive participation by helping your employees make informed decisions about their options. You’ll want to help your staff understand all of their options so they can choose plans that are best for their age, health and life situation. This…
Workers’ compensation fraud costs the insurance industry roughly $5 billion each year, according to estimates by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Depending on whom you ask, fraud accounts for as much as 10% of the costs of all workers’ comp claims. This type of fraud is typically associated with malingering employees who fake injuries in…
Some of the nation’s largest insurers have announced plans to roll back their prior authorization requirements for medical services. Prior authorization — or prior approval — has always been a thorn in the side of patients, often keeping them from accessing care in a timely fashion. The moves by these insurers come after the Centers…
Two bills wending their way through the state Legislature would increase the amount of sick days workers in the Golden State can take as well as expand — once again — the definition of “family” for the purposes of paid family leave. Business groups have come out against both of the bills, which they say…
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued new guidance for employers to provide reasonable accommodations for visually impaired workers who request it. About 18.4% of all American adults have at least some difficulty with their vision, even when wearing corrective lenses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new guidance addresses…
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued its long-awaited proposed changes to the nation’s overtime rules for American workers, proposing to increase the threshold for exempt status by more than 50% to $55,000. If the proposed rules become permanent rules, employers will need to prepare their bookkeeping and budgets to account for the new salary…
The IRS has significantly reduced the group plan affordability threshold — which is used to determine if an employer’s lowest-premium health plan meets the Affordable Care Act rules — for 2024. The threshold for next year has been set at 8.39% of an employee’s household income, down significantly from 9.12% this year. The lower threshold…