As news and information flood our daily lives amidst the current crisis, we wanted to take the opportunity to focus on the positive. Earlier this week, the Mayor of Philadelphia, Jim Kenney, announced the launch of a new public awareness campaign taking place this May, which builds on national Mental …
Across the nation, we continue to witness the high demand and stress the COVID-19 pandemic is placing on our healthcare system. While challenges and uncertainty continue to present themselves, costs increase. The healthcare marketplace’s combined costs for testing, treating, and caring for patients is estimated to rise from $56 billion …
In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, employees have the opportunity to take advantage of the loosened requirements regarding how they can spend their health savings account (HSA) dollars. Employees can now utilize their HSA dollars to pay for telehealth services, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, feminine hygiene products and more. Many …
Due to the increased need for access to social service resources, Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and Gateway Health have partnered with Aunt Bertha to provide a free resource tool for individuals facing food, housing or other crises during these difficult times. The Aunt Bertha directory contains geographic-specific information …
Updated Model COBRA Notices & FAQs On May 1, 2020 the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued new model notices for group health plan administrators to use to comply with COBRA notification requirements. Plan administrators are not required to use the updated model notices, however, the DOL considers their use …
As we face these challenging times, becoming comfortable with uncertainty and prioritizing your mental health is imperative. Whether you’re experiencing unemployment, working from home, or just trying to adjust to this new normal, the importance of knowing when to give yourself a break to focus on you cannot be understated. …
President Trump signed the newest coronavirus aid bill into law, which provides $484 billion in relief funding. This funding will be allocated to small businesses and hospitals under stress due to the pandemic, as well as to expanding COVID-19 testing. Breakdown of the Bill Earlier this month, when funding for …
Across the nation, our healthcare system has had to face a plethora of challenges. The COVID-19 crisis continues to place high demand and stress on healthcare workers, specifically, those on the front lines of patient care and treatment. Virtual care has surfaced as one of the best solutions to address …
During this unprecedented time, employers are looking for ways to provide a sense of relief to their employees. We’ve outlined items employers can share with workers to assist them in light of the COVID-19 crisis. Relief due to Legislation & Carrier Action Updates to new legislation continue to be released …
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidance for discontinuing home isolation following COVID-19 diagnosis, as well as recommended protocols for essential workers exposed to the virus. Discontinuing Isolation Following COVID-19 Diagnosis The decision to discontinue isolation should stem from local circumstances. Determination for discontinuation …
On April 9, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) extended key tax deadlines for individuals and businesses in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The new tax relief gives the IRS authority to postpone deadlines for taxpayers affected by federally declared disasters. Form 5500 – Automatic Deadline Extension Notice 2020-23 …
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law to address the current COVID-19 pandemic. The Act provides $2.2 trillion of economic relief for Americans, businesses and the healthcare industry. The relief package also provides federal funding to expand the availability of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, …
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) enacted two laws that provide workers with paid leave for reasons related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This enables employers to keep their workers on payroll, while simultaneously ensuring that they are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health …
It’s essential for patients that are experiencing serious illness, including symptoms of COVID-19, to have access to necessary treatment and prescription medication. In efforts to protect those with chronic conditions from medication shortages, CVS Caremark recently set new guidelines to limit the purchase of essential medications. Medications to help ease …
With the amount of news and information flooding into our daily lives regarding the current crisis, it can be difficult to find the positive. We wanted to take the opportunity to highlight one of our clients, FarmArt — a locally-minded, family-owned and Philadelphia operated produce company that now provides free …
