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Monday, November 11th, 2019
Virginia Beach, VA
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: Employee Benefit Plan Limits Announced for 2020 Anthem's Move to IngenioRx The BeneFlex Buzz: Why Substantiation Matters and What Employers Should Look For Optima EAP Webinar Read more here!
Friday, October 11th, 2019
Virginia Beach
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: Pay or Play Penalties will Increase for 2019 and 2020 Optima Health will Become Owner of Virginia Premier Where oh Where has Flexible Spending Gone? Read more here!
Wednesday, October 9th, 2019
Virginia Beach
Posted in Benefits Briefs
Each year, Medicare requires group health plan sponsors to disclose to employees and to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) whether their health plan’s prescription drug coverage is creditable. The annual disclosure notice should be...
Monday, September 30th, 2019
Virginia Beach
Posted in Benefits Briefs
The ACA established medical loss ratio (MLR) rules to help control health care coverage costs and ensure that enrollees receive value for their premium dollars. The MLR rules require health insurance issuers to spend 80-85 percent of premium dollars...
Wednesday, September 18th, 2019
Virginia Beach
Posted in Benefits Briefs
At Towne Benefits our mission is to improve benefits with the goal of reducing the cost of coverage. HealthJoy is a mobile app that helps employees make better healthcare decisions by providing guidance for healthcare decisions.   HealthJoy’s use of...
Wednesday, September 11th, 2019
Virginia Beach
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: Medicare Part D Notices are Due Before October 15, 2019 Important Provider Update for Anthem Members BeneFlex Buzz - Individual Coverage and Excepted Benefit HRA Upcoming Anthem Mailings to Collect and Verify Member...
Thursday, August 8th, 2019
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: The IRS has Expanded Preventive Care for HDHPs to Include Chronic Conditions What Should You Know About Medicare? The COBRA Conundrum Read more here!
Tuesday, July 16th, 2019
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: President Trump's Executive Order Intended to Increase Health Care Price Transparency Expanding Options for HRAs Anthem Members - Meet Sydney! Dominion National Security Breach Read more here!
Monday, June 17th, 2019
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: Medical Loss Ratio Information Needed Optima Out of Area Dependent Form BeneFlex Buzz Read more here!
Thursday, June 6th, 2019
Posted in Benefits Briefs
HSA / HDHP Limits are Increasing in 2020 The IRS has released the inflation-adjusted limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) and high deductible health plans (HDHPs) that will take effect as of January 1, 2020. The limits include the max HSA...
Wednesday, June 5th, 2019
Posted in Benefits Briefs
The ACA created the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to help patients, clinicians, payers and the public make informed health decisions by advancing comparative effectiveness research. The Institute’s research is funded, in part, through fees known as Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute Fees.
Thursday, May 9th, 2019
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: PCORI Fees are Due July 31, 2019 May is Mental Health Awareness Month BeneFlex Buzz Read more here!
Thursday, April 11th, 2019
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: Anthem's EmployerAccess Portal is Getting a Makeover Implementing a Tobacco Surcharge -The Legal Rules Download Optima's New Mobile App! Read more here!
Thursday, April 4th, 2019
Posted in Benefits Briefs
The IRS is Allowing Employers to Recover HSA Contributions Previously, the IRS allowed employers to recover HSA contributions in very limited situations, such as when the contribution exceeded the applicable annual limit. The new guidance will also...
Tuesday, March 19th, 2019
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: Anthem IngenioRx Transition What to do if you Receive an Employer Penalty Letter from the IRS Optima Changes Authorization Requirements for Opioid Rx Read more here!
Friday, February 22nd, 2019
Posted in Benefits Briefs
Attention Anthem Members: New Member ID Cards are Coming!
Thursday, February 14th, 2019
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: Anthem Launches IngenioRx HR HouR - Creating a Positive Work Culture The ACA Individual Mandate Penalty no Longer Applies Read more here!
Thursday, February 7th, 2019
Posted in Benefits Briefs
2019 Health Plan Compliance Deadlines Medicare Part D Disclosures Upcoming ACA Reporting Deadlines DOL Increases Civil Penalty Amounts Read more here!
Tuesday, December 4th, 2018
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue:  HR HouR, Our Newest Web Series 2018 Employer Reporting 2019 Benefit Plan Limits How to Use FSAs, HSAs and HRAs Picking out Medicare Advantage Plans Employer Shared Responsibility Payments Issued by the IRS Anthem's New...
Wednesday, November 7th, 2018
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: Optima Health Dental Changes 2018 ACA Reporting Proposals to Loosen Restrictions on HRAs Medicare 101 New Notices for Employee Background Checks President Trump Signs Bills Aimed to Protect Consumers from Overpaying for...
Monday, October 8th, 2018
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: New Encryption Email Service Join us for our Compliance Webinar Series IRS Guidance on Tax Credit for Paid Family and Medical Leave Protect your Employees from Seasonal Flu Medicare Part D Notices due by October...
Wednesday, September 5th, 2018
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: Technology Changes at Towne Benefits Join us for our Compliance Webinar Series Medicare Part D Notices due by October 15th Are your Employees Getting the most out of their HSA? Solutions for Managing Diabetes - Anthem...
Wednesday, August 1st, 2018
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: Register for our Continuing Compliance Webinar Series! ACA Reporting - 2018 Draft Forms Released Anthem's Association Program Emergency Room or Urgent Care?  New HSA Bills Proposed in Congress Prescription Drug List...
Tuesday, July 3rd, 2018
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: PCORI Fees Due July 31st DOL Model FMLA Forms Expired Anthem Large Group Payment Procedures IRS Proposes to Expand the Electronic Filing Requirement Association Health Plans Read more here!
Wednesday, June 6th, 2018
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: Virginia Legislature Votes to Expand Medicaid IRS Announces HSA Limits for 2019 A New Anthem Member ID Card is Coming Affordability Percentages will Increase in 2019 Anthem LiveHealth Online Allergy Treatments Telehealth -...
Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018
Posted in Benefits Briefs
The ACA imposes a fee on health insurance issuers and plan sponsors of self-insured health plans to help fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. The fee, called the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee, is...
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2018
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: Insuring Your Employees Anywhere in the World Gym Network 360 from Optima Health Did you Miss the ACA Reporting Deadline? Anthem Online Billing and Payment Guidelines LSA Amendment Prohibits Employers from Retaining...
Wednesday, April 4th, 2018
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: Anthem Online Enrollment  IRS Updates Employer Guide for 2018 Tax Changes to Fringe Benefits Summary Plan Description and Wrap Documents Medicare Savings Programs HealthEquity HSA Bulletin Read more here!
Wednesday, March 7th, 2018
Posted in Benefits Briefs
On March 5th the IRS announced changes to certain tax limits for 2018, including a reduced contribution limit for HSAs. The IRS lowered the HSA contribution limit for individuals with family coverage under a high deductible health plan (HDHP) from...
Thursday, March 1st, 2018
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: Compliance Webinar Series with Corbin Granger New Medicare Cards starting April 1, 2018 Anthem Small Groups moving to Online Billing Medicare Part D Disclosures Due DOL Reintroduces 17 Opinion Letters Read more here!
Thursday, March 1st, 2018
Posted in Benefits Briefs
In November 2017 Mid-Atlantic Women’s Care (MAWC) terminated their contract with Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield as an In-Network provider. MAWC is comprised of the following practices, whose patients were all impacted. MAWC and Anthem have...
Thursday, February 22nd, 2018
Posted in Benefits Briefs
Group health plan sponsors are required to complete an online disclosure form with CMS on an annual basis, indicating whether the plan's prescription drug coverage is creditable or non-creditable.
Thursday, February 1st, 2018
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue:  Compliance Survey Go Red for Women Spending Resolution Affects ACA Taxes New Tables for 2018 Tax Withholding HR Trends to Monitor in 2018 New Standard for Unpaid Interns Read more here!
Thursday, January 11th, 2018
Posted in Monthly Newsletters
Inside this issue: Individual Mandate Eliminated in 2019 Deadline Delayed for 2017 Employer Reporting New Tax Credit offered to Employers Medicare and HSAs Read more here!