A recent announcement from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) clarifies that amounts paid for personal protective equipment (PPE) by taxpayers, such as face masks, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes used for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19, are to be treated as deductible medical expenses. Therefore, amounts …
Amazon to Launch Nationwide Telehealth Service by Summer
Amazon launched its healthcare service, Amazon Care, to tens of thousands of the company’s Washington state employees and their families, who have been using the platform since September 2019. Due to its success and the tremendous growth in telehealth services over the past year, Amazon announced Amazon Care will soon be …
KOP Restaurant Week Raises Funds for CHOP
Work up those appetites and prepare your tastebuds for a couple delicious weeks ahead — King of Prussia Restaurant Week is almost here! The 2021 King of Prussia Restaurant Week will run from April 11th through April 15th and again the following week from April 18th through April 22nd. Participating …
ARPA COBRA Subsidy Provisions
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed into law March 11, 2021, provides a 100% subsidy of applicable COBRA premiums for eligible beneficiaries and their dependents, for the time period beginning April 1, 2021 and ending no later than September 30, 2021. Who is Eligible? An Assistance Eligible Individual (AEI) …
4 Tips to Support Remote Employee Collaboration & Productivity
Since the beginning of the pandemic, remote work environments have become more prevalent across a wide range of industries. As employees made the transition, some may have found it challenging to maintain attentiveness and high levels of productivity. More specifically, working parents have been tasked with finding new ways to …
President Biden Announces Updated COVID-19 Guidelines & Initiatives
As the spring season rolls around, the Biden administration has been busy administering updated guidelines regarding COVID-19 accessibility, eligibility, and timelines. Below we have outlined the administration’s most recent announcements, as well as relaxed restrictions and an update on clinical trials surrounding vaccination of children under age 18. Vaccine Eligibility …
Key Health Savings Account Features for 2021
An HSA, or Health Savings Account, is available to individuals enrolled in high deductible health plans (HDHPs). Traditionally, HSAs are a popular type of tax-exempt medical savings account. Allocated HSA funds can be used to pay for expenses covered under an HDHP plan until their deductible has been met; or …
What You Need to Know About the American Rescue Plan
The $1.9 trillion relief bill, known as the American Rescue Plan, was signed by President Biden on Thursday, March 11, 2021. Additional information surrounding Emergency Paid Leave and Health Insurance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is included in the bill and outlined below. Emergency Paid LeaveSigned into law on …
Local Gesture of Thanks Goes a Long Way
Doctors, nurses, medical technicians, and other healthcare staff have been deemed “front-line heroes” for quickly adapting, working tirelessly and risking their own lives every day to fight this exhausting battle against the current COVID-19 pandemic. It can be difficult to find ways to show just how much we appreciate the …
CDC Releases Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Individuals
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued long-awaited guidance for Americans fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This is the first set of public health recommendations for fully vaccinated individuals since the beginning of the declared public health emergency. The guidance is designed to address growing demand, as more …
FAQs Clarifying COVID-19 Testing & Vaccine Coverage
The constant influx of information and everchanging compliance updates surrounding the coronavirus pandemic can be overwhelming, making it strenuous to comprehend how up-to-date guidance and coverage affects one’s organization and employees. In response, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury have issued Frequently Asked …
Merck to Accelerate COVID-19 Vaccine Supply & Distribution
Soon after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, Merck — one of the largest American based pharmaceutical companies in the world — has committed to assisting in the manufacturing process to speed up production and supply …
$18,000 Grant to Support NICU Families
An $18,000 grant to Today is a Good Day, a nonprofit dedicated to providing personal and financial support for families who experience the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), is changing the lives of families in the Greater Philadelphia area. The additional funding was made possible by the Crozer-Chester Medical Center …
COVID-19 Relief Extends COBRA, HIPAA & Other Plan Deadlines
On April 28, 2020, the Departments of Labor (DOL) and the Treasury issued deadline relief to help employee benefit plans, plan participants and plan service providers impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Thereafter, on February 26, 2021, DOL Disaster Relief Notice 2021-01 clarified the duration of this relief. The deadlines were …
EEOC Withdraws Proposed Wellness Program Incentives
Previously issued in January 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has withdrawn two proposed rules regarding wellness programs under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). Upon President Joe Biden’s inauguration, held on January 20, 2021, the president issued a regulatory freeze memorandum …