Upskill Your Team, Level Up Your Business

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In today’s rapidly evolving work environment, staying competitive is not solely about attracting top talent but retaining it. 

How do you give your business and your team that competitive edge? Upskilling. 

Upskilling equips your employees with new skills and knowledge or enhances their current skillsets through training, certifications, or education. With upskilling, you enhance your employees’ capabilities and highlight your commitment and dedication to your team’s professional growth. Read more

Guidelines for Processing Medical Loss Ratio Rebates

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Many sponsors of fully insured health plans either already have or will soon receive checks from their insurance carriers, along with a notice informing them that the review is a medical loss ratio (MLR) rebate. Plan sponsors should receive these checks by September 30, 2023. The MLR rules implemented as part of health care reform are designed to ensure that insurance carriers spend no more than a specified percentage of premiums collected on overhead-type expenses. Carriers must issue a rebate check when this percentage is exceeded. Read more

Strengths-Based Leadership: Your Blueprint for Building an Avengers-Level Team

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Leaders can sometimes feel the weight of the world on their shoulders as they face pressure to manage both the present and the future. They must perform and deliver short-term results in the present while prioritizing transformation and reimagining the company’s forward growth. Read more

Group Health Plan Sponsors Encouraged to Extend Special Enrollment Period for Medicaid Redeterminations

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With the ongoing issue of Medicaid redetermination taking place across the nation, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Treasury, and the Department of Labor (collectively, the Agencies) are strongly encouraging group health plan sponsors to extend special enrollment periods for individuals who are losing coverage under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This request is not mandatory for employers, and there are significant compliance considerations for employers that extend the enrollment window for this population.

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Leading With the Marathon Mindset

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Aside from being able to run long, grueling distances, marathon runners have something else that makes them extraordinary—to keep going, running, and training despite the aches, pains, and exhaustion they may feel along the way. They have the insight to know when to rest and heal, and when to push themselves to go farther. While they celebrate the small wins, they always keep their eye on the goal, and return again and again until they reach it.

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Webinar: Compliance Obligations for Group Health Plans

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Jen Berman HeadshotJoin Q4intelligence and Jennifer Berman of MZQ Consulting for a webinar on August 28, 2023, with an overview of the latest updates in employee benefits!

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Newly Proposed Mental Health Parity Regulations Introduced

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On Tuesday, July 25, the federal Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury (“the Departments”) introduced a much-anticipated update to current regulations dealing with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA).

These newly proposed regulations continue to shine a bright light on the need for parity between medical/surgical (M/S) and mental health/substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits in all non-quantitative treatment limitations (NQTLs).

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA) established the requirement that plans initiate and maintain an NQTL analysis. These proposed regulations seek to satisfy issuers, plan sponsors, third-party administrators, and other benefits professionals who have been patiently awaiting additional direction and guidance. Read more

Work-Life Balance? Try Work-Life Integration

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Work-life balance has long been recognized as the holy grail of achieving harmony between our personal and professional lives. However, this concept has evolved into work-life integration, a fresh approach that allows people to seamlessly blend work and personal life. 

Employers who embrace work-life integration can position themselves at the forefront of employee retention, talent attraction, and overall satisfaction, paving the way for a successful and high-performing company.

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New Guidance Issued on Surprise Billing, Out-of-Pocket Limits, and Facility Fees

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Late last week, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury (the Departments) published a set of FAQs that clarify how certain surprise billing protections interact with the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) maximum out-of-pocket limit (OOP) requirements. The FAQs also clarify whether facility fees are subject to specific transparency in coverage requirements.

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United We Stand: Building a Culture of Trust at Work

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Building trust is a key ingredient for any thriving workplace culture. While it’s encouraging to see a decrease of 8% since 2022, it’s concerning to hear that 25% of workers still lack trust in their employer.

Trust is a journey that can be achieved with the right mindset and effort. As a leader, you should understand what trust means, why it’s important, and how you can foster it to create a culture built on trust, respect, and success.

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