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Employee Benefit News for School, City and County Employers

Steve Smith

Steve Smith is a powerhouse of energy, living by the mantra "work hard, play hard." As an expert in uniting teams for a greater purpose, Steve's innovative and creative strategies in employee health and wellness are game-changers. With over 25 years of expertise in health insurance, covering compliance, cost mitigation, utilization, analytics, wellness plans, and strategic planning, Steve is the go-to expert for driving down utilization trends and fostering a culture of well-being. His clients trust him to deliver exceptional results, making him an invaluable asset in the industry. As an Employee Benefits Consultant, Steve specializes in health care consulting for Minnesota public sector organizations including fully insured, self-insured, and stop-loss plans. Steve is a licensed insurance agent and holds the designations for Managed Healthcare Professional (The Health Insurance Association of America), Certified Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Professional (National Association of Health Underwriters), and Group Benefits Disability Specialist (Hartford School of Insurance).

Recent Articles by Steve Smith

Executive Orders Address Health Care Access

1.5 minute read

President Biden recently signed some executive actions to strengthen our access to affordable health care.

Minnesota Schools: Are you ready for HITA?

Revised February 2024

3.5 minute read

If you’re a school district in Minnesota, you might be getting ready to fulfill your Health Insurance Transparency and Accountability (HITA) statutory...

New Q&As Issued Regarding FFCRA Leave Requirements

1.5 minute read

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) contained an employee leave mandate which expired on December 31, 2020. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has included two...

New FMLA Guidance Includes Using Telemedicine as an In-Person Visit

1.5 minute read

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a Field Assistance Bulletin to provide guidance about using telemedicine to establish a serious health condition under the Family and...

EEOC Updates Guidance Regarding Mandatory Vaccinations, ADA, and COVID-19

2 minute read

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued answers to frequently asked questions regarding how employers should comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),...

Categories

PCORI Fee Adjusted for 2021

1 minute read

The Affordable Care Act imposes a fee on health insurance issuers and self-insured plan sponsors in order to fund comparative effectiveness research. These fees are called PCORI fees...

Categories

Final Rule Issued for Health Care Transparency

1.5 minute read

The Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury Department issued the final ruling regarding the transparency in health care coverage for group health plans and...

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Final Forms for 2020 ACA Reporting

2 minute read

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released the final forms and instructions for 2020 reporting under Sections 6055 and 6056.

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2021 ACA Compliance Checklist

3.5 minute read

Public sector organizations with group health plans should be aware of changes to Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements that take effect in 2021.

President Trump Issues America First Health Care Plan Executive Order

1.5 minute read

President Trump recently introduced an executive order which outlines a new plan for affordable health care and medical billing. It’s called the America First Health Care Plan. The...