Compliance Corner: Podcasts

In this episode, Suzanne Spradley and Chase Cannon revisit the single payer debate in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Suzanne starts by exploring whether support for a single payer system in the US has waxed or waned during the pandemic. Chase and Suzanne then discuss articles from experts, and comparisons across different countries, regarding governmental versus private company response to the pandemic. Suzanne dives into the history behind US governmental stockpiles of protective gear and ventilators, and draws comparisons between the US and other countries in pandemic preparedness. Suzanne and Chase close with a review of presidential nominee Joe Biden’s views towards single payer system and how Congress’s potential Phase Four legislation might impact access to coverage.

FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn was quoted at a recent White House Coronavirus Task Force press briefing emphasizing that in the “sea of new treatments” we need to connect “the right drug to the right patient at the right dosage at the right time. As an example, we may have the right drug, but it may not be in the appropriate dosage form right now, and that may do more harm than good. Those are the things that that’s our job to look at.” In our latest Insight from the Experts podcast, NFP's Head of Innovation Mark Rieder sits down with Joe Spinelli, chief marketing officer of MedTek21, to discuss how risk management using genomics can bring personalized medicine to every patient.

In this episode, special guest Geoff Seibel, VP of NFP Actuarial Services, joins Chase Cannon to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on fully and self-insured plan costs. Geoff starts by addressing the cost impact for fully insured plans, including differences for small and large group markets. Chase and Geoff then discuss actual COVID-19-related costs, including the difference in costs for COVID-19 patients who are hospitalized, and those who are placed in the ICU. Geoff explains the differences in averages across the general populations versus employer groups, and the differences between explicit and implicit costs (and how both impact overall costs). Geoff and Chase close by discussing best methods for tracking changes (since models and costs change daily) and how modeling tools and other resources can help employers better understand impacts on their own populations and plans.

Employers across the country are busy crafting their Return to Work strategies. Strategies which include things like PPE, office spacing, testing, assessments and vital sign monitoring. But what about planning for an increase in workplace violence? These are unprecedented times and “business as usual” has been replaced by fear, uncertainty and doubt. In our latest Insight from the Experts podcast, NFP's Head of Innovation, Mark Rieder, sits down with Ty Smith, founder and CEO (and Retired Navy SEAL) of Vigilance Risk Solutions, to discuss how fear, uncertainty and doubt could lead to violence in the workplace, and what VSR is doing to help organizations ensure the safety of their employees as they return to work.

In this episode, Suzanne Spradley and Chase Cannon look at benefits issues relating to returning to work, as companies begin mulling reopening and bringing back employees. The two start with a discussion of benefit eligibility, COBRA and premium payments relating to furloughs and layoffs, as the employer’s decisions then impact issues to consider upon returning to work. Suzanne then outlines some issues employers should consider when collecting premium payment from employees in arrears, how to handle waiting periods for rehires and what to do with employee FSA (both health and dependent care) elections upon return. The two close with a short discussion on plan amendments and employee communications.

One Key Takeaway: Status matters when deciding whether to furlough or terminate employees during this pandemic. SME/Speaker: Chase Cannon and Kyle Healy

futureWork captures and interprets the data that surrounds every worker to improve health and safety. And now with COVID-19 they are now helping companies record and report employee temperatures. Join us for this episode as Head of Innovation Mark Rieder, sits down with Lars Skari, cofounder of futureWork, to discuss how wearables can help Americans get back to work.

In this episode, Chase Cannon and Suzanne Spradley dive back into common COVID-19 questions. The two start with process and documentation of employee leave requests under the FFCRA, including recordkeeping for employers to claim the FFCRA tax credits. Chase then outlines several different buckets of developments at the state level, including paid sick, family, and medical leave changes on account of COVID-19. The two close with a look ahead at potential additional changes Congress could introduce in so-called “Phase 4 Legislation”, including COBRA subsidies and mandates for group health plan coverage of COVID-19 treatment.

In this episode, Suzanne Spradley and Chase Cannon discuss recent questions popping up from employers regarding the FFCRA, COVID-19 and furlough situations. Suzanne outlines the issues to consider in determining if FFCRA applies, including factors in employee counts to determine if an employer is above or below the 500-employee threshold and whether the 50-employee small exception is automatic. Suzanne and Chase discuss furloughs, and whether FFCRA applies to furloughed employees. The two then discuss unemployment insurance, and whether furloughed or laid off employees might qualify for unemployment benefits (and how the newly enacted CARES Act expands unemployment benefits). The two close with a discussion on the P&C side — business interruption insurance, and how state and federal legislation might impact how business interruption insurance works in the COVID-19 environment.