The International Foundation released a new research report examining the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on workplace benefit offerings—comparing the original survey results from April 2020 with the new results from December 2020. Learn how employers and plan sponsors have changed their plans and hear best practices from organizations adapting to this constantly changing environment. The session will explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on:

• Health claims utilization

• Mental/behavioral health benefits

• Employee assistance program (EAP)/labor assistance program (LAP) services and usage

• Defined benefit and defined contribution plan design and services

• Plan loans and hardship withdrawals

• Financial wellness benefits

• Caregiving benefits

• Paid/unpaid leave.

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Learn about a soon-to-be-released groundbreaking instrument to assess worker well-being: the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Worker Well-Being Questionnaire (WellBQ). Developed over the past few years by researchers at NIOSH (a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)) and RAND, this free tool asks workers about work-related policies and culture, health and quality of life. Organizations can use the questionnaire to understand the well-being of a workforce as well as identify strengths and opportunities in workplace programs and practices. Hear from NIOSH and learn how the NIOSH WellBQ may help you advance worker well-being in your population.

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The recently passed COVID-19 relief bill includes provisions that will impact employer-sponsored benefits. Join this webcast to learn the details of these provisions and to hear a few predictions about the impact the next administration may have on the employee benefits industry. Topics will include:

• Retirement plans, including partial plan termination relief, disaster relief and CARES Act distributions

• Health care plans, including surprise billing reform

• Flexible spending arrangements (FSAs)

• Paid sick leave

• Employer-paid student loans.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted our lives in nearly every possible way. But hope for a safer future from this disease is here, with vaccines being administered daily to Americans. What has the process for vaccine distribution been like, and what can we expect moving forward? How are employers reacting to the vaccine rollout?

In this webcast, we cover these questions and more, including:

• Update on the vaccine—where it’s at, what it means, when it will get distributed

• Pricing

• How are employers and benefit plans handling vaccine rollout?

• Can an employer have a mandatory vaccination program?

• How will employees react to such programs?

• How are employers getting involved in vaccine distribution?

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Wondering how to stay competitive in the changing world of workplace benefits? Learn more about evolving trends and how to prepare for the challenges facing benefits providers. This webinar will discuss the future of work, health and financial wellness, the impact of COVID, the evolving legislative and regulatory landscape, and other issues of interest. Join Julie Stich from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, and Alison Salka and Pat Leary from LIMRA for a discussion that will help you stay at the forefront of a changing landscape and one step ahead of your competition.

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The rate of suicide is now at its highest level since 1941, and suicide is the second leading cause of death of those between the ages of 10 and 34. However, with risk identification and the right resources and support, many suicides can be prevented. In this session, we will explore how across industries and roles, we have the ability to spot warning signs or someone in distress, and we have an opportunity to provide education about suicide prevention, connect individuals to appropriate interventions and improve our overall mental well-being. p>

In this session, we will discuss:

• The latest suicide trends and their impact on our communities

• Risk factors including health factors such as depression and substance use disorder, and environmental factors such as grief and other stressful events

• How employers can play an active role in supporting employees’ mental and emotional health to prevent suicide

• New resources and interventions to reduce suicide.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented global disruption, which has created significant gaps in care across chronic, acute and behavioral health needs.

Providing plan members with tools to navigate the complex health care system is foundational to how organizations should approach tomorrow’s health care needs. Primary and specialty care, complex treatments and behavioral health needs have taken a back seat to the virus, but that trend will soon reverse. Members will be more confused than ever—Now is the time to go above and beyond in planning your benefits strategy, focusing on improving the member experience.

As a labor or human resource/benefits leader, you’ve likely started thinking through the longer term impact of the virus and how to help your members get the care they need to keep their families safe and healthy. Join Grand Rounds to better understand the need for expert medical opinions and health care navigation, and learn why acting now is more important than ever.

In this webinar, you will:

• Understand the longer term impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. health care system

• Learn about how expert medical opinions and health care navigation can improve member experience as they re-engage with the health care system

• Hear how one multiemployer fund uses Grand Rounds to drive value for members.

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The cost of cancer care is estimated to grow to nearly $207 billion by the end of this year. Rising costs are exacerbated by delayed diagnosis and inefficient spending on suboptimal regimens due to the challenges providers face in keeping pace with evolving standards of care. In this session, we will discuss how we’re transforming oncology care—tackling some of the biggest obstacles members face in their cancer journeys, from prevention to treatment to longer term support.

In this session, we will explore:

• The latest market dynamics influencing today’s oncology landscape, including pipeline, rapidly evolving treatment trends and disruptive gaps in patient care

• Why connecting patients to the right cancer treatments with more efficiency and precision is key to effective oncology management

• Additional levers to achieve the triple aim of health care—improving cost, quality and experience—for payors, providers and patients.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has created several deeply personal challenges for today’s workforce, as isolation, illness, financial uncertainty and the general ‘unknown’ force employees to deal with conditions few have experienced before. This presentation will focus on the unique stressors created by COVID-19; the behavioral health concerns, such as anxiety, that stem from these stressors; and how disability and absence carriers are evolving their offerings and technology solutions to make financial, medical and behavioral health support more readily accessible. The session will delve into what employers can and should be talking to their carriers about as well as what they should be sharing with their employees to ensure they are taking advantage of these benefits.

Key takeaways from this presentation include:

• The unique stressors amplifying behavioral health concerns in employees that are physically healthy as well as those that are managing a disabling condition, including those coping with the serious illness of a loved one

• The common accompaniment of behavioral health issues in employees that experience a disabling event and the need to address both physical and mental health simultaneously

• The changes made to disability and absence benefits and technology to help all participants—not just those who submit a claim—in their efforts to cope with the current environment

• The resources available to employees through disability coverage such as remote counseling, debt and credit management, identity theft services and investment planning

• How disability and absence carriers and administrators are proactively identifying select indicators of behavioral health and providing resources to help employees.

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Join us for a discussion on some of the most relevant tax considerations and trends confronting employers in 2020, including an overview of the new credits resulting from COVID-19. Hear details on tax savings using credits and incentives, tax compliance and risk mitigation from the perspective of a payroll and benefits professional.

Topics:

 • Ongoing tax credits

  - Work Opportunity Tax Credits (WOTC)

  - Paid FMLA tax credit

  - Empowerment zone credits

  - State point-of-hire credits

 • Disaster relief and economic stimulus

  - Disaster zones

  - CARES Act

  - Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

  - Opportunity zones

  - Employee financial assistance programs

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This session will provide an overview of the history and current state of post-retirement health benefits. The discussion will highlight the importance of providing current benefits to retirees and explore what plan sponsors are doing to minimize cost and maximize coverage.

This webcast will cover:

• The rise of Medicare carve-out plans
• The move away from the retiree drug subsidy (RDS) to the employer group waiver plan (EGWP) with Medicare Part D
• The emergence of Medicare Advantage
• Case study examples.

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In its fourteenth year, this annual survey captures the ongoing expense of medical stop loss and its role of protecting self-funded health plans from the volatility of catastrophic medical claimants. The occurrence of truly catastrophic claimants—those in excess of $1 million—is further verified with 31% of respondents reporting such a claimant in the last two policy years. Medical stop loss remains the primary vehicle to protect plan sponsors against this unpredictable financial risk, which can impact not just the plan, but also the broader financial position of the plan sponsor. The presentation will highlight these claim dynamics, share the survey findings on stop loss expense and provisions, and discuss key renewal and coverage strategies. Potential impacts of COVID-19 on coverage and the stop loss market will also be discussed. Its timing is well-situated as many are initiating their upcoming January 1 renewals.

Three takeaways:

• Understanding of current stop loss premium expense, per survey, and prevalence of coverage components, claims frequency and other risk management strategies

• Awareness of the severity and key drivers behind catastrophic medical claimants in the current health care environment

• Discussion of recommended strategies on your own stop loss renewal or initial review of coverage, in light of the current claims environment and stop loss market.

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The DOL released new guidance on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), including a 2020 Self-Compliance Tool, updated from the 2018 version. This session will serve to ensure your plan is in compliance with the provisions of the law and will discuss how plan sponsors can use the self-compliance tool to ensure members are getting the most from their benefit. This webcast covers:

• Evaluating compliance with MHPAEA requirements
• Self-compliance tool
• Financial requirements
• Treatment limitations
• Best practices for compliance.

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This session will feature a conversation on compensation issues in today’s environment. Topics will include:

• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations
• Performance management
• Current compensation strategies.

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One of the likely outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic will be the rise in withdrawal liability cases.

To understand the complex area of withdrawal liability and how current events are impacting plan sponsors and employers, this webcast will address:

• The impact of the stock market on withdrawal liability
• Options for plan sponsors and employers
• How to detect complete and partial withdrawals due to the decrease in work
• When the Building & Construction Industry Exemption does not apply
• Controlled group liability.
  

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The pandemic has drastically impacted benefit trust funds and will continue to have a marked effect on these plans. With volatile market performance not seen since 2008, many plans are finding that their funding levels are suddenly in trouble. This session will revisit the two major pieces of legislation that pension plans have relied on to address funding issues over the past decade. Review the tools available to keep your plans on the “path to green,” including:

• Pension Protection Act (PPA) funding rules
• Multiemployer Pension Reform Act (MPRA) requirements
• Remediation measures for deeply troubled plans
• New plan designs
• Current issues that plans are dealing with
• Planning for the future.

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Sustainability is key to a strong pension plan, especially now due to the impact of COVID-19. Risk assessments are a tool that can be used to help trustees focus on the future. This webcast will look at risk assessments and tests that can provide the information you need today to bring your plan forward. Topics will include:

• Key components and value of a risk assessment
• The role risk assessments can play in managing the impact of COVID-19 on your pension plan
• Types of stress tests as they relate to assets, sponsor revenue and payroll.

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Managing an apprenticeship program remotely, online can be challenging. This timely webcast will help instructors, directors and coordinators manage apprenticeship programs in the new world of virtual education. The webcast will address:

• Legal and HR issues
• Current trends
• Different strategies to consider
• Technology and blended learning options
• Administrative issues
• Approaches toward instruction and quality
• Q&A.

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Plan participants are confronting uncharted territory. The pandemic is having a profound impact on everyone's current finances and future financial security. How does one effectively plan to reduce debt and continue financial planning for the future amidst all the uncertainty? Where do you begin? This session is designed to address those issues and the steps your membership can take, including:

• COVID-19 economic challenges
• Recovery scenarios
• Building financial resilience
• Financial planning
• Black swan events.

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As many approach the two-month mark of the work-from-home environment, it is time to look back at how it was handled and how to move forward. This panel will discuss:

 • Fraud, abuse and internal controls

 • Operational issues

 • Cybersecurity

 • Other governance and oversight issues.

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The current pandemic has changed the way all businesses operate. The accounting profession is adapting to this new environment and working virtually. Accordingly, the industry needs to stay up to date on the latest issues. This webcast will address the current issues for accounting and auditing, and specifically:

• Working virtually and involved issues
• How to deal with this new world
• Auditing remotely
• Timeliness
• Form T-1
• Accounting and auditing updates
• Q&A.

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Help meet your organization’s COVID-19 financial recovery business objectives. Take steps with your medical plan to provide high-quality care for your covered lives while keeping your health care spend within budget.

 • Analyze your data to identify areas of high spend in your medical plan.

 • Ramp up preventive care—Communication strategies and best practices that work.

 • Identify quality care centers to guide employees to the right care at the right time.

 • Select goals and key indicators that you need to achieve next year.

 • Evaluate areas for improvement and strategically align your total rewards offering.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many companies and organizations to conduct business in a virtual environment and to utilize virtual tools. Due to these circumstances, many meetings are now conducted electronically, and it can be challenging to adapt to this new environment. This webcast will provide resources to help you run effective trust fund meetings virtually. Specifically, it will address:

  • Different technology options

  • Agendas/handouts for meetings

  • How to run a virtual meeting

  • Voting and deadlocks

  • Best practices.

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The impact of COVID-19 requires fast-paced decision making and detailed implementation from public sector trustees and staff. Join this webcast to cut through the information overload and focus on exactly what you need to know. This session will cover details of the CARES Act and Family Act as well as their impact on both public sector health and retirement plans. Don’t miss the opportunity to engage in a Q&A with our experts to discuss the issues they are watching and waiting for, as well as what the future might hold.

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Hear directly from the Teamsters Health & Welfare Fund of Philadelphia and Vicinity on their experience implementing a genetic testing benefit for cancer, hereditary heart disease and medication response, made available to their entire membership (subscriber plus one adult dependent). Discuss prevalence, outcomes and the overall impact on care for their members.

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Receiving the right care at the right time is in the best interest of every individual, and it can save your organization significant health care expenses down the road. Ensuring your employees get proper care can be challenging during the best of times. Learn what essential care is during the COVID-19 pandemic, how to help your employees get it and how it benefits your organization.

• Learn what getting the right care at the right time at the right place really means for employees and your organization.

• Analyze your data to identify serious employee health risks in your organization.

• Understand what essential care is and how your provider network can provide that care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Ramp up communication efforts to ensure employees are getting the care they need.

• Select goals and key indicators to ensure your plan is providing high-quality care that delivers value to your organization.

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Everyone knows that advances in technology change the way patients receive care, but what does it mean for plan administration? Hear from stakeholders who will share how technological advances in the following areas support administrative process improvement:

• Blockchain

• Robotics

• Machine learning.

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This program will cover fundamental aspects of the CARES Act most likely to impact small- and mid-sized companies and their workforces. Tune in to learn about:

• The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for small businesses as well as recent and developing guidance from the Small Business Administration

• Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for small businesses

• Other financial relief potentially available under the CARES Act, including mid-sized business loans

• Expanded unemployment benefits—Impact on state unemployment programs as well as laid-off and furloughed workers.

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The passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act") is among a series of legislative actions designed to address the growing challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. With provisions that support employees, employers and public health, the CARES Act is designed to provide relief for many. This hour-and-a-half webcast will help you understand how the legislation will impact employee benefits plans. Our expert panel will address:

• Major provisions in the CARES Act

• How the CARES Act expands on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act ("FFCRA")

• Provisions relating to group health plans

• Provisions relating to retirement plans

• Fiduciary issues

• Considerations for trustees, administrators and plan professionals.

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This webcast will discuss key legal developments and updates with a focus on labor and employment issues for multiemployer plan sponsors, with current information on topics such as:

• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) compliance

• National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) activity

• Right to work

• COVID-19 and other hot issues.

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On-site and near-site clinics are a staple part of the benefits package for many funds and employers. In this webcast, we will learn about the value of on-site and near-site clinics, as well as how they are responding to the coronavirus pandemic, and what plan sponsors can do to ensure their clinic is taking the appropriate steps and precautions to serve members.

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In our current state of economic and social uncertainty, you cannot afford to ignore your collections program. This webcast is designed to provide you with the practical information you need to fulfill your fiduciary obligation to collect payments and meet the demands of our current situation. This webcast will cover:

• Fiduciary duty: Always the starting point

• Modifying your policies and procedures to meet current challenges

• Assisting signatory employers—Waiver of liquidated damages and installment payments

• How to assist participants with eligibility issues

• Working with your collection team

• Payroll audits in a world on shutdown

• Relying on facts: Utilizing your reserves and monitoring your continuation value.

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This webcast will help multiemployer plan sponsors understand the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020. This piece of legislation is among a series of steps being undertaken by the federal government in response to the global coronavirus pandemic. Join us to learn how the legislation will impact employers and plan participants. Topics to be covered include:

• What is the intent of the act?

• Timeline for implementation

• How and when does money flow to employers and employees?

• Things trustees should think about during this time

• What are administrators doing now

• Should you have a disaster plan in place?

• How to ensure benefits are paid and processed.

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Do you offer health care coverage to your retirees age 65 and over?

Do you struggle with the rapidly increasing costs of prescription drug coverage for these retirees?

Do you know that the average retiree takes four times more prescriptions each month than the average working member?

Do you know you have options when it comes to covering retirees?

Do you currently receive the Retiree Drug Subsidy (RDS)?

Did you know that an (Employer Group Waiver Plan) EGWP program could increase your government subsidies by 100%, with minimal change to your member benefit?

In this discussion, we will explore opportunities to maximize a plan’s share of available government and pharmaceutical subsidies, while allowing you to also keep your commitments to your retirees.

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Every day, employers manage various issues associated with employee (and family) member illnesses, unplanned absences and workforce productivity challenges. While the manifestation of the novel coronavirus presents many familiar challenges, there are some new, unique concerns facing employers and plan sponsors. This webcast provides guidance on regulatory considerations associated with responding to illness in the workplace (including but certainly not limited to the coronavirus).

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