[{"title":"New employer Rx reporting mandate is quickly approaching","articleTag":"Health Law \u0026 Policy","imageURL":"/content/dam/mmc-web/v3/ouradvantage/solutions-GettyImages-1130939432.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/new-employer-rx-reporting-mandate.html","kickerTitle":"Well-being","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Aug 25 2022","description":"Although much of the required information needed to complete the new prescription drug reporting resides with plan vendors, employers are on the hook. Wade Symons and Jennifer Wiseman discuss why it’s critical to assess your compliance obligation and","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"OSHA\u0027s Vaccine and Testing Guidance: Your Top 5 Questions Answered ","articleTag":"Coronavirus","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/brandimages/GettyImages-1226005970-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/oshas-vaccine-and-testing-guidance-your-top-5-questions-answered.html","kickerTitle":"Coronavirus ","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Nov 04 2021","description":"Weighing in at 490 pages, OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard spells out in detail the rules employers are expected to follow to ensure worksite safety and accelerate the pace of vaccination in the US. In this post, our compliance experts comb throug","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"Time to Revisit Your ACA Affordability Strategy?","articleTag":"Healthcare Cost \u0026 Quality","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/us-2021-social-media-GettyImages-1143476209-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/time-to-revisit-your-aca-affordability-strategy.html","kickerTitle":"ACA Affordability","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Sep 30 2021","description":"It may be time to reevaluate your strategy for setting affordable contributions under ACA rules, especially if, you’ve been using the FPL Safe Harbor. Marty Roberts and Wade Symons explain.","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"Vaccine Incentives, Surcharges and Mandates, Oh My!","articleTag":"Coronavirus","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/us-2021-social-media-GettyImages-1266646735-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/vaccine-incentives-surcharges-and-mandates-oh-my.html","kickerTitle":"Coronavirus","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Aug 19 2021","description":"To address the still significant risk related to unvaccinated status, employers are evaluating several options that range from a nudge to a push.","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"Thinking About a Premium Surcharge for the Unvaccinated? ","articleTag":"Coronavirus","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/us-2021-social-media-offset_980150-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/thinking-about-a-premium-surcharge-for-the-unvaccinated.html","kickerTitle":"Vaccinations","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Aug 05 2021","description":"With the Delta variant driving up infections and hospitalizations throughout the country – at the same time that vaccination rates have stalled – health coverage surcharges for the unvaccinated are a tactic employers are reviewing as an alternative ","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"Should Employers Cover Colon Cancer Screenings at Age 45?","articleTag":"Benefit Flexibility","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/brandimages/GettyImages-1217816117-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/should-employers-cover-colon-cancer-screenings-at-age-45.html","kickerTitle":"Preventive care","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Jun 24 2021","description":"The new USPSTF recommendation to screen for colon cancer starting at age 45 is garnering lots of attention. Here’s what employers need to know about this new preventive care mandate.","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"EEOC: Vaccine Incentives are Permitted","articleTag":"Coronavirus","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/content-images/north-america/united-states/us-2021-GettyImages-1276395298-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/eeoc-vaccine-incentives-are-permitted.html","kickerTitle":"Coronavirus","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Jun 03 2021","description":"Although the EEOC has given the green light to vaccine incentives there is still plenty of uncertainty. Wade Symons walks you through the latest guidance.","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"Keep Compliance Top of Mind in Preparing for Open Enrollment This Year","articleTag":"Engagement","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/1130939432-social-media-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/keep-compliance-top-of-mind-in-preparing-for-open-enrollment-this-year.html","kickerTitle":"Open Enrollment","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"May 27 2021","description":"As employers look for ways to add value to their benefits program, more are choosing to add or enhance fertility benefits. As new survey results show, employers have found that offering comprehensive fertility benefits helps them recruit and retain ","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"Vaccine Passports: What Employers Need to Know","articleTag":"Coronavirus","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/brandimages/GettyImages-1226005970-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/vaccine-passports-what-employers-need-to-know.html","kickerTitle":"Coronavirus","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Apr 15 2021","description":"Employers across many different industries are weighing the possibility of using passports for employees coming back to the office, meeting in person with clients, travelling for business, and so on. ","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"Should Employers Incentivize Workers to Get Vaccinated? ","articleTag":"Coronavirus","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/1191254826-social-media-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/should-employers-incentivize-workers-to-get-vaccinated.html","kickerTitle":"Coronavirus","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Jan 28 2021","description":"Some employers in essential businesses have already announced they will pay employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but many others continue to assess their role in encouraging their workers to get immunized","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"Big News for Employers — Long-Sought Answers on How to Handle Unused 2020 FSA Balances and Much More","articleTag":"Benefit Flexibility","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/brand-images/supporting-photography/GettyImages-155377752-Supporting-web.png","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/big-news-for-employers-long-sought-answers-on-how-to-handle-unused-2020-FSA-balances-and-much-more.html","kickerTitle":"Policy","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Dec 23 2020","description":"A massive piece of legislation passed Monday by Congress — the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act — provides COVID-19 relief and funds the federal government, but also has many provisions that will affect employer group health plans and other benef","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"Employers Can Mandate the COVID-19 Vaccine, but Should They?","articleTag":"Coronavirus","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/us-2020-social-media-GettyImages-1150962749-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/employers-can-mandate-the-COVID-19-vaccine-but-should-they.html","kickerTitle":"Coronavirus","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Dec 10 2020","description":"With COVID-19 vaccinations set to begin, employers are asking If they can mandate that employees take the vaccine. The harder question is: should they?","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"Focus on High Court Seat Fuels Uncertainty for Employer Health Plans ","articleTag":"Health Law \u0026 Policy","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/us-2020-social-media-GettyImages-912614070-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/focus-on-high-court-seat-fuels-uncertainty-for-employer-health-plans.html","kickerTitle":"Washington Weekly","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Sep 24 2020","description":"With COVID-19 relief already on life support, the race to replace Justice Ginsburg will further delay legislative action as her death brings new uncertainty for the ACA. Here’s our take on this week’s events in Washington. ","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"Worksite Employee COVID-19 Testing Covered by Insurance? – Not so Fast!","articleTag":"Coronavirus","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/us-2020-social-media-GettyImages-1215518843-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/worksite-employee-COVID-19-testing-covered-by-insurance-not-so-fast.html","kickerTitle":"Coronavirus","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Jul 16 2020","description":"Employers considering mandatory or opt-in testing as part of a safe workplace strategy may be tempted to run the cost of testing through their employee health plans. Wade Symons explains why new guidance may require them to rethink that strategy.","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"Yes, You Can and Should Ask Employees About COVID-19 Exposure","articleTag":"Coronavirus","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/brandimages/GettyImages-1180187740-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/yes-you-can-and-should-ask-employees-about-covid-19-exposure.html","kickerTitle":"Coronavirus","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Apr 23 2020","description":"Employers are being challenged to think differently about employee needs. Here’s how they are responding.","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"Could Free COVID-19 Services Sabotage Your HSA? IRS Just Weighed In","articleTag":"Coronavirus","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/brandimages/GettyImages-1150962749-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/could-free-covid-19-services-sabotage-your-hsa-irs-just-weighed-in.html","kickerTitle":"Coronavirus","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Mar 12 2020","description":"We know that employers are committed to doing whatever it takes to keep their employees safe and healthy, while also working for the public good in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. ","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"Is it Time to Give Referenced Based Pricing Another Look?","articleTag":"Healthcare Cost \u0026 Quality","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/530066081-social-media-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/is-it-time-to-give-referenced-based-pricing-another-look.html","kickerTitle":"Healthcare costs","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Jun 13 2019","description":"Reference-based reimbursement offers greater potential savings because it applies to more services - but it can leave plan members open to balance-billing.","otherTagsId":["Wade Symons"]},{"title":"Referenced-Based Pricing –The Legal Considerations are Significant","articleTag":"Healthcare Cost \u0026 Quality","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/brandimages/us-2018-defined-contribution-delegated-outsourced-solutions-insight-2.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/referenced-based-pricing-the-legal-considerations-are-significant.html","kickerTitle":"Health Policy","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Oct 11 2018","description":"Referenced-based pricing problems, reference pricing in healthcare and employer-sponsored medical plan models are creating a great deal of buzz.","otherTagsId":["Wade Symons"]},{"title":"Top 10 Compliance Priorities That Will Keep You Up Long After the Late Show","articleTag":"Health Law \u0026 Policy","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/gl-2016-us-election-impact-on-business.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/top-10-compliance-priorities-that-will-keep-you-up-long-after-the-late-show.html","kickerTitle":"","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Jul 12 2018","description":"Mental health parity is among the top compliance priorities in healthcare.","otherTagsId":["Wade Symons"]},{"title":"Compliance Issues That Should Be on Your Radar Screen for 2018","articleTag":"Health Law \u0026 Policy","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/gl-2016-us-election-impact-on-business.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/compliance-issues-that-should-be-on-your-radar-screen.html","kickerTitle":"","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Mar 01 2018","description":"Compliance issues in healthcare led by ACA shared-responsibility requirements and related IRS reporting.","otherTagsId":["Wade Symons"]},{"title":"ACA Assessment Letters are Coming ","articleTag":"Health Law \u0026 Policy","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/gl-2016-us-election-impact-on-business.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/aca-assessment-letters-are-coming.html","kickerTitle":"","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Nov 16 2017","description":"ACA assessment letters to be issued with a 30-day response window.","otherTagsId":["Wade Symons"]},{"title":"Tax Reform Implications for 2018 Benefits","articleTag":"Health Law \u0026 Policy","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/gl-2016-us-election-impact-on-business.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/tax-reform-implications-for-2018-benefits.html","kickerTitle":"","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Nov 08 2017","description":"Employers educational assistance programs mitigate the effect of individual and corporate tax rates on fringe benefits, and employer-sponsored health insurance.","otherTagsId":["Wade Symons"]},{"title":"Smoker Surcharges: “It’s a Trap!”","articleTag":"Healthcare Cost \u0026 Quality","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/content-images/north-america/canada/ca-165211-uuf002700-social-media-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/smoker-surcharges-its-a-trap.html","kickerTitle":"","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Oct 11 2017","description":"A group health plan employee benefit surcharge, health and wellness surcharge, or a health insurance surcharge for smoking must comply with certain provisions.","otherTagsId":["Wade Symons"]},{"title":"Iowa Teen Serves as HIPAA Privacy Reminder ","articleTag":"Health Law \u0026 Policy","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/brandimages/C-Carousel-07.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/iowa-teen-serves-as-hipaa-privacy-reminder.html","kickerTitle":"","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Sep 05 2017","description":"Earlier this year, you may have heard about the teen with the rare and expensive medical condition that\u0027s putting pressure on Iowa’s individual insurance market.","otherTagsId":["Wade Symons"]},{"title":"New Rules Could Extend 90 Day Waiting Period for Coverage","articleTag":"Health Law \u0026 Policy","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/new-rules-could-extend-90-day-waiting-period-for-coverage.html","kickerTitle":"","authorTagId":["Wade Symons"],"publishDate":"Sep 10 2014","description":"ACA 90 day waiting period for health insurance needs to be more clearly defined. ","otherTagsId":["Wade Symons"]}]
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