The March 2021 American Rescue Plan Act included many provisions that impact employers and other benefit plan sponsors. This webcast will focus specifically on the provisions impacting COBRA continuation coverage, including:

• Premium subsidies

• Model notices

• Frequently asked questions

• Examples of how to apply the provisions in different scenarios

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The March 2021 American Rescue Plan Act included many provisions that impact employers and other benefit plan sponsors. This webcast will provide an overview of these topics, including:

• COBRA subsidies

• Expanded ACA subsidies

• Allowable temporary increase for dependent care flexible spending accounts

• Voluntary extended FFCRA leave

• Funding stabilization for single employer defined benefit plans

• Taft-Hartley pension relief.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted our lives in nearly every possible way. Now that vaccine distribution is well underway, what has changed since the initial rollout, and what can we expect moving forward? In this follow-up webcast, we answer these questions and more, including:

• Updates and changes on the vaccine from the last three months

• Vaccine distribution—Where are we now?

• How are employers and benefit plans handling vaccine rollout and addressing vaccine hesitancy?

• What are we seeing in terms of mandatory vaccination or incentive programs?

• What does the workday look like with a partially vaccinated workforce?

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Most employers and plan sponsors experienced short-term gains in their health plans in 2020 due to deferred or canceled elective care, effectively lowering spending in that year. While this may more than offset added health care expenses for COVID-19 testing and treatment, plan sponsors cannot afford to be complacent about health care costs in 2021 and beyond.

In this webcast, you will learn about:

• The impact of COVID-19 on health benefit plan costs

• Rebound predictions and expectations for 2021

• Actionable insights to address tomorrow's challenges today

• How to mitigate these risks with health plan–sponsored clinics.

The full health care impacts of COVID-19 may not be known for years to come, but plan sponsors can start building the necessary framework now to mitigate future risk to their health plans while improving member health and wellness.

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Pension Obligation Bonds (POBs) have existed for a long time with mixed results, but recently, they have begun generating renewed interest from the public sector pension community. This session will explore what is prompting this renewed interest and what public sector pension plans may stand to gain by issuing a POB. Discussion topics will include:

• How POBs can stabilize contribution rates and the plan’s funded status

• How POBs can capitalize on the historically low interest rate environment

• How to analyze whether POBs are a good fit for your pension plan.

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Faced with economic pressures from the pandemic, employers and other plan sponsors are taking a closer look at their benefit spend. Tracking prescription drug costs can be complex, and managing specialty drugs comes with its own set of considerations that can significantly impact overall pharmacy costs. Shifting coverage of certain specialty drugs from the medical benefit to the pharmacy benefit can be game-changing. Learn how to leverage pharmacy benefit management tools to better manage overall spend and improve care.

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Join this webcast for a discussion of the recent pension provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) and the impact they will have on Taft-Hartley multiemployer pension plans. Topics will include:

• The history of pension relief proposals since the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014 (MPRA) and how the provisions of ARPA compare

• What is and is not known about how the provisions will be implemented

• What to do if your fund is facing near-term insolvency.

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“Eat less, move more” is the key to weight loss, right? Well, research is showing that it might not be that simple. Obesity can be the result of more than simple caloric surplus. Join this session to hear more about the biology of obesity, including the many factors that influence appetite regulation and metabolism. Learn about current guidelines related to the diagnosis and treatment of obesity as well as why, as a chronic illness, it deserves attention from your health benefits and wellness programs. Discuss how willpower is not the only key to a healthy weight—and how spreading this knowledge lessens the stigma of obesity.

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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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