President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law on August 16, following House and Senate passage. The law's healthcare provisions and increase in IRS auditors could impact employer-sponsored health and retirement plans, so group health plan sponsors should keep an eye on the legislation's provisions, experts say.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, approximately 156,199,800 Americans receive health coverage via employer-sponsored plans.
As healthcare benefits costs continue to rise, 67% of U.S. employers are focused on cost control over the next three years. This is in response to an expected 6% increase in healthcare costs in 2023, compared to the average 5% increase this year.
United States Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) have introduced the Advancing Auto Portability Act of 2022, which would make it easier for workers to keep their retirement savings with them when they switch jobs. The bill aims to encourage the adoption of auto portability programs.
Although we strive to create a safe work environment for you, the risk of workplace violence in any health care facility remains a serious safety and health issue. Violence can range from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and homicide. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the health care sector leads all other industries with 45 percent of all nonfatal assaults against workers resulting in time off work.
Mental health is a serious concern for the majority of American adults, according to a new survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) and CNN.
Hospital work often requires coping with some of the most stressful situations found in any workplace. On a daily basis, you must deal with life-threatening illnesses and injuries, tight schedules, paperwork, intricate equipment, demanding patients and death. Taking steps to relieve job-related stress is important to protect your mental and physical health as well as to ensure success on the job.
Active involvement with patients is the first step to avoiding medical malpractice. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, 7,000 people die each year from medication errors in hospitals. Avoiding these serious mistakes starts with you, the health care professional.
High-profile cyber attacks on companies such as Target and Sears have raised awareness of the growing threat of cyber crime. Recent surveys conducted by the Small Business Authority, Symantec, Kaspersky Lab and the National Cybersecurity Alliance suggest that many small business owners are still operating under a false sense of cyber security.
The IRS has issued final regulations that change the way employer-sponsored plan affordability is calculated when determining if a family is eligible for a premium tax credit (PTC) when purchasing individual health insurance through a public Exchange.
