Insights

Whether you are a contractor, designer, developer, equity partner or owner thinking of constructing or bidding on a large or complex infrastructure project over the past 24 months, you likely are already aware of the escalating cost of project specific professional liability insurance to eye-popping numbers. You may have thought when you first saw that pricing indication that the number surely was a typo, right? Not exactly. It would not be surprising, in jurisdictions like Canada, to see a car

It can be tricky to navigate the myriad of laws affecting benefit plans. In this webinar, the Benefits Compliance team dusted off the cobwebs and provided an overview of federal laws that affect benefits compliance. Agenda Overview: Federal Laws - Topics Discussed Section 125/Cafeteria Plans COBRA ERISA FMLA ACA HIPAA Medicare Nondiscrimination Taxation Other Federal Mandates Key Takeaways Advantages for Employees Ensure benefits received as promised Protect against discrimination and unfai

Modular construction has gained significant popularity in recent years as it offers a more timely, cost-effective and sustainable alternative to traditional construction methods. Modular construction involves building structures off-site in a controlled environment and then transporting the modules to the construction site where they are assembled and installed. While this construction method offers numerous benefits, such as increased worker safety and quality control, it also presents unique

On April 7, 2023, Insurance Department Commissioner McClain issued Bulletin 6-2023 regarding early prescription refills following the tornadoes on March 31, 2023, which caused severe destruction in the state. The bulletin is directed at all insurers transacting health insurance business in the state. The bulletin encourages insurers to assist covered state residents who lost medications due to the tornadoes to prevent further illness and injury that may result from an inability to fill their p

Beginning January 1, 2024, virtually all employers will be required to file ACA reporting Forms 1094-B/1095-B and 1094-C/1095-C electronically. On February 21, 2023, the IRS published final regulations to the Taxpayer First Act of 2019, significantly expanding the e-filing mandate for certain tax returns. Specifically, Forms 1094-B/1095-B and 1094-C/1095-C must be filed electronically if the total number of information returns (including Forms W-2 and 1099s) an employer files that year exceeds

CMS recently released the Prescription Drug Data Collection Reporting Instructions for the 2022 calendar year (the 2022 RxDC instructions). The 2022 RxDC instructions reflect numerous changes from the prior year's instructions. Under the CAA, Section 204, fully insured and self-insured group health plans and insurers are required to report certain prescription drug and healthcare spending data to CMS. The data must be submitted to CMS's Health Insurance Oversight System in specified files and

On March 22, 2023, Gov. Youngkin signed SB 1347/HB 2216 into law. The new law requires group health insurance policies to cover mobile crisis response services and stabilization services delivered in a residential crisis stabilization unit for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. These services must be covered to the extent they are covered in any other setting, regardless of any difference in billing codes. The mandate applies to policies issued or renewed in Virginia on and after

The ACA requires the DOL to provide Congress with an annual report regarding private-sector self-insured health benefits plans and financial information of employers that sponsor such plans. The DOL recently released the 2023 annual report based on 2020 Form 5500 filings, including the number of participants, benefits offered, funding arrangements and plan assets. Along with the annual report, the DOL released two detailed appendices to complement the report: Appendix A, which describes the abs

Following the US Supreme Court's lead, a trial court has changed its view as to whether a church-affiliated hospital's retirement plan qualifies as a 'church plan' under ERISA. Saint Peter's Healthcare System, Inc. (Saint Peter's) is a Roman Catholic Church-affiliated medical provider network headquartered in New Jersey. In May 2013, former employee Laurence Kaplan challenged Saint Peter's claim to ERISA's church plan exemption and alleged multiple statutory violations, including insufficient