What New Wellness Rules Mean for You.

August 9, 2010

Compliance with health insurance portability and accountability act (HIPAA) non-discrimination rules is a large challenge for wellness programs. the old rules were unclear about which incentives passed muster.
That’s all changed, with the rules established earlier this year by the DOL and U.S.  Treasury Department. the rules themselves haven’t changed, but they’ve been clarified. Here’s what [...]

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Old Worker Benefit Files.

August 8, 2010

Ever set out to organize and dispose of old staff member files and paperwork in the office? the job is tougher than it seems.
Best practice –  Develop a records retention policy as your first step. A host of federal and state laws specify how long you must retain pay- and benefits-related documents.
Compliance is essential if [...]

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Staff Member Gift Cards.

August 7, 2010

Many businesss try to reward workers during the holidays. But be careful –
There’s a common misbelief that the IRS considers gift cards worth $20 or less de minimus benefits and, as a result, they’re tax free. Unfortunately, that’s not true.  With few exceptions, the IRS considers almost anything with cash value a taxable form [...]

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Is Self-Insurance Right for Your Company?

August 6, 2010

In recent years, it’s become increasingly common for employers with as few as 200 staff members to explore self-insurance. But beware of hidden traps.
If your organization is weighing self-insurance – or has already taken it – here are three pitfalls that can create unexpected costs.
1. Unfavorable worker mix
It’s impossible to completely eliminate the risk of [...]

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Non-traditional Health Benefits.

August 5, 2010

Evidence-based medicine has become a big buzzword in health care over the last few years. But certain non-traditional treatments, like chiropractic care, may also prove effective in certain cases.
The key –  Using these treatments as well to – not in lieu of – conventional medicine may prove more cost-efficient in the long term.
What the latest [...]

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Employee Ignores Physician, Corporation Pays.

August 4, 2010

When an employee ignores directions from a physician, who’s responsible if the employee causes a serious accident on the job?
In some cases, it’s your firm that ends up on the hook – both for workers’ comp and for other individuals ’s injuries caused by misuse of a prescription drug.
Situations such as these raise three questions [...]

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The Cost of a Drunk Employee.

August 3, 2010

Having even one problem drinker on your medical plan – including a covered family member with abuse issues – can cost your corporation big.
Some estimates place the potential cost as high as $35,000 a year per case. What’ your company’s risk?
Many wellness programs are geared toward managing employees’ health risks associated with illnesses like diabetes [...]

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Prescription Benefit Ripoffs.

August 2, 2010

It’s easy to feel like your PBM holds all the power over you. In most cases, it does.
A landmark 2004 study compared what pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) charge corporations’ plans to what they actually pay pharmacies.
Researchers found staggering overcharges – namely for generic drugs. Regretfully, four years later, the situation has scarcely changed. All [...]

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Staff Member Recognition and Wellness Programs.

August 1, 2010

The best staff member recognition practices are often the simplest.  
Here’s one that’s recently been adopted at the publishing business where I work –  a progam called “See something good, say something good.”  It’s a way for employees to bring positive attention to things that their colleagues, managers and the company’s different departments do well. [...]

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Three Ways Wellness Programs Fail.

July 31, 2010

When it comes to wellness programs, it may be tough to get past all the hype. Here’s how to avoid the three most common traps corporations fall into.
Trap #1. the “one-size-fits-all” approach
For good reason, your organization doesn’t simply copy other firms’ 401(k) plans or compensation designs. Yet, all too often, firms adopt ill-fitting wellness programs [...]

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