Benefits Buzz – Supreme Court will Review Federal Vaccine Mandates
On Dec. 22, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will hear oral arguments regarding whether two federal vaccine requirements can be enforced while legal appeals are in process. On Jan. 7, 2022, the Court will consider requests on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) federal emergency temporary standard (ETS) for COVID-19 and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) emergency rule requiring COVID-19 vaccination of certain health care workers.
Increased Civil Penalty Amounts for Certain Violations
Effective Nov. 15, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has increased the following key penalties affecting group health plans:
- Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC)
- Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP)
- HIPAA privacy and security rules
Live Well, Work Well – How to Make and Keep Your New Year’s Resolution
A new variant of coronavirus is prompting renewed concern regarding the pandemic. The World Health Organization (As the new year approaches, you may find yourself reflecting on the past year. This introspection is a significant first step toward selecting a New Year’s resolution to help you grow as a person. However, 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by mid-February due to a lack of self-discipline, according to U.S. News and World Report. That’s why it’s important to set yourself up for success when you’re choosing a resolution.
Fitness, finances, and weight loss are often the three most popular New Year’s resolutions.
Don’t Let Winter Derail Your Workout
The Health Benefits of Being Organized
View and download the latest Live Well, Work Well newsletter
News Brief – CDC Recommends Shorter COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine
On Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reduced its recommended periods for COVID-19 isolation (confirmed COVID-19 infection) and quarantine (potential COVID-19 exposure).
Asymptomatic individuals infected with COVID-19 have been told to isolate for five days from the day they test positive—down from the original 10. After, they should wear a mask when around others for an additional five days.
The CDC’s new quarantine guidance was similarly updated. People who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second vaccine dose (or more than two months after getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) and not yet boosted should avoid others for five days after COVID-19 exposure. Then, they should diligently wear a mask for an additional five days afterward.
“Prevention is our best option: get vaccinated, get boosted, wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial and high community transmission, and take a test before you gather.” -CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, in a statement
For more information:
News Brief – COVID-19 Was Third Leading Cause of Death in the U.S. in 2020
On Wednesday
In 2020, a total of over 3.3 million resident deaths were registered across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This total from 2020—the first year of the coronavirus pandemic—marked the highest annual total of deaths the nation has ever recorded, with fatalities from COVID-19 contributing a significant number.
Notably, COVID-19 became the third leading cause of these deaths, accounting for around 350,000 deaths, according to the CDC.
For more information:
News Brief – FDA Authorizes Pfizer COVID-19 Treatment Pill
On Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued emergency use authorization for an antiviral pill intended to help treat COVID-19 cases.
Paxlovid, manufactured by Pfizer, is the first antiviral COVID-19 pill authorized for at-home use. According to the FDA, individuals ages 12 and up—weighing at least 88 pounds—should take the prescription-only pill as soon as they are diagnosed with COVID-19 and “within five days of symptom onset.”
The intention is to take the pill before getting sick enough to require hospitalization.
According to data released by Pfizer, Paxlovid treatment cut the risk of hospitalization or death by 88% among high-risk unvaccinated individuals when administered a few days after seeing symptoms.
“Today’s authorization introduces the first treatment for COVID-19 that is in the form of a pill that is taken orally—a major step forward in the fight against this global pandemic.”
Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
For more information:
Legal Update – Supreme Court to Hold Hearings on Federal Vaccine Mandates
On Dec. 22, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will hear oral arguments regarding whether two federal vaccine requirements can be enforced while legal appeals are in process. On Jan. 7, 2022, the Court will consider requests on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) federal emergency temporary standard (ETS) for COVID-19 and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) emergency rule requiring COVID-19 vaccination of certain health care workers.
Important Dates:
- Dec. 22, 2021
- The Court announced that it would hold special hearings on the OSHA ETS and the health care worker vaccine requirements.
- Jan. 7, 2022
- The special hearings are scheduled to be held on both federal rules.
Live Well, Work Well – Understanding the Omicron Variant
A new variant of coronavirus is prompting renewed concern regarding the pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) named the new variant “Omicron.” Omicron is labeled a “variant of concern,” the agency’s serious category for tracking. Such a designation is reserved for dangerous variants that may be more transmissible or virulent or could decrease the effectiveness of vaccines or treatments.
The Emergence of Omicron
- How easily does Omicron spread?
- Will Omicron cause more severe illness?
- Will vaccines work against Omicron?
- Will treatments work against Omicron?
Tools to Fight Omicron
- Vaccines remain the best public health measure to protect people from COVID-19, slow transmission and reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging.
- Masks offer protection against all variants of COVID-19.
- Tests can tell you if you are currently infected with COVID-19.
View and download the latest Live Well, Work Well newsletter
Compliance Bulletin – Proposed Rule Would Extend ACA Reporting Furnishing Deadlines
On Nov. 22, 2021, the IRS released a proposed rule that would extend the annual furnishing deadlines for Sections 6055 and 6056 reporting under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This proposed rule would essentially make permanent the furnishing deadline extension that has been provided for each prior year of ACA reporting. Specifically, the proposed rule would:
- Extend the due date for furnishing statements to individuals under Sections 6055 and 6056 by 30 days from Jan. 31 each year; and
- Provide additional penalty relief related to furnishing statements to individuals under Section 6055 for every year in which the individual mandate penalty is zero. Under this relief, employers would generally only have to provide Form 1095-B to covered individuals upon request.
Click here to learn more and download the latest Compliance Bulletin
Legal Update – EEOC Issues Guidance on Retaliation and Interference During the COVID-19 Pandemic
On Oct. 13, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) issued new resources aimed at helping schools and other
On Nov. 17, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued new answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about how employers can avoid violating anti-retaliation provisions under federal equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Retaliation and Interference Guidance
Among other things, the new FAQs clarify that:
- Anti-retaliation provisions of federal EEO laws protect not only applicants and current employees but also former employees.
- Unlawful retaliation includes any employer action in response to protected activity that could deter a reasonable person from engaging in protected activity.
- The ADA prohibits not only retaliation for protected EEO activity but also “interference” with an individual’s exercise of ADA rights.
What to Know About Omicron—the New Coronavirus Variant
A new variant of coronavirus initially detected in South Africa is prompting renewed concern regarding the pandemic. On Nov. 26, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) named the new variant “Omicron.” Omicron was labeled a “variant of concern,” the agency’s most serious category for tracking. Such a designation is reserved for dangerous variants that may be more transmissible or virulent or could decrease the effectiveness of vaccines or treatments.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that Omicron has yet to be detected in the United States. However, Omicron has been detected in numerous countries, including Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Britain, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Switzerland. Several countries, including the United States, have already restricted travel while waiting for health experts to learn more about the potentially dangerous variant.
“This is the most concerning variant we’ve seen since Delta. It’s going to take a really high bar for something to take over for Delta, and we don’t know whether this is going to do it.”
Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute
For more information:
Client and Employee Resources
The more your employees understand your benefit plans the more they become educated, empowered consumers. The programs you provide will also gain an enhanced value.
As your strategic partners in employee benefits, we can provide multiple avenues of ongoing support, including:
- Employee Meetings (English and Spanish)
- Webcasts
- Payroll Stuffers
- Poster Campaigns
- Newsletters
Carrier Directories
E-Verify is a web-based system that allows enrolled employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States. Click the image below to begin.
