News, Views and Tips for Employers
Want to stay current on all things health insurance? Sign up for our monthly Employer Newsletter and our Benefits Briefs. Towne Benefits' monthly Employer Newsletter is packed with everything you need to know about industry advancements, changes, news, resources, products and services.
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December 2022 Newsletter
Optima is changing their pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) from OptumRx® to Express Scripts (ESI) as well as their vision services vendor from Eyemed to VSP Vision Care (VSP).
November 2022 Newsletter
The IRS has released the final 2022 forms for 6055 and 6056 reporting.
October 2022 Newsletter
Anthem groups and Individual members in Virginia will receive 2021 medical loss ratio (MLR) rebates this year. The MLR provision of the ACA encourages health plans to spend most of the premium dollars they collect on healthcare costs rather than overhead.
September 2022 Newsletter
While the Inflation Reduction Act is primarily aimed at fighting inflation and reducing carbon emissions, it also contains a number of reforms that will impact health coverage. The health reforms included in the bill have staggered effective dates and will be implemented over the next several years.
August 2022 Newsletter
On August 1, the IRS issued the contribution percentages in 2023 for determining the affordability of an employer’s plan under the ACA.
July 2022 Newsletter
The ACA imposes a fee on employers with a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) or a self-insured plan in order to fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.
Transparency in Coverage Rules
Effective July 1, 2022, Transparency in Coverage rules require health insurance carriers and health plans to publicly publish large amounts of healthcare data using a Machine-Readable File (MRF) format.
June 2022 Newsletter
The Transparency in Coverage Final Rules require group health plans and health insurance issuers to disclose on a public website detailed pricing information in three separate machine-readable files (MRFs) by July 1, 2022.
May 2022 Newsletter
Inside this issue:
HSA/HDHP Limits Increase for 2023
Employee Retention in Turbulent Times
Virginia Aligns Overtime Pay Laws with FLSA
Join Blue Cross NC for a Webinar on Managing Pharmacy Costs
Click here to read the May 2022 newsletter!
Proposed Change to Family Coverage Affordability Rules
The IRS has released a proposed rule that would change the existing rules for eligibility for the premium tax credit.
April 2022 Newsletter
Anthem, Inc., has filed a preliminary proxy statement to change its name. The new name, pending shareholder approval in May, will be Elevance Health.
March 2022 Newsletter
From now through March 30, 2022, Optima members could win a $100 gift card to the retailer of their choice.
February 2022 Newsletter
Under the newly passed law, the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), compensation paid to a broker must be disclosed to both fully insured and self-insured group health plans.
Coverage of At-Home/Over-The-Counter COVID-19 Test Kits
A recent announcement from the federal government intends to increase access to COVID-19 testing. As of January 15, 2022, members can get reimbursed by their health plan without cost-share for the costs of over-the-counter (also called...
January 2022 Newsletter
Inside this issue:
Upcoming Drug Changes for BCBSNC
Medicare Savings Programs
Roanoke Oral Surgery Leaving Anthem Network
OSHA Vaccine ETS Reinstated for Private Employers
Click here to read the full January 2022 newsletter!