On March 21, 2016, Health and Human Service’s Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) announced the launch of the second round of national HIPAA audits. These audits are focused on covered entities (health plans and health care providers) and business associates (e.g., brokers, TPAs). The audits will target enforcement of HIPAA Privacy, Security and Breach Notification rules. OCR plans to conduct desk and … [Read more...]

CENTENE COMPLETES HEALTH NET DEAL AFTER PROTRACTED REVIEW Source: Modern Healthcare It took almost two months longer than expected, but Medicaid insurer Centene Corp. finally closed on its Health Net deal after winning approval from skeptical California regulators. The value of the deal, including debt, has been revised to $6 billion. California’s two health insurance agencies, the … [Read more...]

Birth Control Now Available From Pharmacists The 2013 law went into effect on Friday, making California the third state to allow women to get birth control from a pharmacy without a doctor's prescription. Los Angeles Times: What You Need To Know About California's New Birth Control Law Officials announced Friday that girls and women in California can now drop by their neighborhood pharmacy … [Read more...]

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EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK BUILDER We have some very exciting news for you—HR360 our online HR tool has added an interactive Employee Handbook Builder in the HR Apps & Tools section of the HR360 online library. This attorney-developed tool allows your clients to fully customize their employee handbooks. Please go to the 'Alerts' section of your Admin System to email a special alert announcing this … [Read more...]

Beer, Wine, & Food Festival! presented by Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad and George and Meryl Young Saturday, March 19 2-6 pm An afternoon filled with craft beers, premium wines, food, live music, and more! Local vendors will be providing tastings of signature dishes and beverages, while guests soak up the sounds of great tunes.  Serving some of San Diego’s finest ales and lagers … [Read more...]

As a reminder, important deadlines for most employers are as follows: 2015 Forms 1095-C must be furnished to individuals by March 31, 2016. 2015 Forms 1095-C and Form 1094-C must be furnished to the IRS by: May 31, 2016 if not filing electronically; and June 30, 2016 if filing electronically. Generally, if Forms 1094-C and/or 1095-C are incorrect and incomplete, a penalty may apply if … [Read more...]

Employees must affirm they received health coverage throughout the year. Many employees are confused over how to report that they received health coverage when filing their income tax returns this tax season, the first in which they’re required to affirm that they had Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant coverage throughout the year or risk penalties under the individual coverage mandate. Much … [Read more...]

Employers with 50 to 99 full-time workers, or full-time equivalents, will be required to offer Affordable Care Act-compliant health insurance in 2016. Companies with 100 or more employees (or FTEs), have been subject to the ACA mandate since the beginning of 2015. Employers in the 50-to-100 employees were given an extra year to prepare for the requirement. Those with less than 50 are currently … [Read more...]

The "automatic enrollment" provision of the Affordable Care Act, never enforced, has been repealed under the budget deal hammered out between Congress and the White House and signed into law by President Obama. The repeal was widely supported by employers. Accomplished via a two-sentence paragraph halfway through the 15-page law, it became effective immediately with Obama's signature. As … [Read more...]