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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

The HIPAA Privacy Rule and COVID-19 Vaccine Inquiries

1.5 minute read

The Department of Health and Human Services issued FAQs on the application of the HIPAA Privacy Rule regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and the workplace.

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Rescission Date for Joint Employer Rule Extended

1 minute read

In July of this year, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced it was rescinding the 2020 Joint Employer Determination Rule (the Rule) effective September 28, 2021. On September 20,...

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Broker Compensation Disclosure Rule

1.5 minute read

Beginning December 27, 2021, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), covered service providers (CSPs) like insurance brokers and consultants must disclose all...

Strategies for Reducing Health Benefits Costs in 2022

3.5 minute read

Health costs have increased steadily year after year. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) reports that medical costs are projected to increase 6.5% in 2022. So, it’s no surprise that...

COBRA Subsidy Expiration Notice Due

.5 minute read

The American Rescue Plan Act provides COBRA premium assistance to eligible individuals. One requirement is that plans must notify individuals about when their premium assistance ends...

OSHA Not Amending Healthcare ETS

1 minute read

OSHA will not make changes to its healthcare emergency temporary standard (ETS) after the CDC reversed its face mask guidance. The CDC recommends that fully vaccinated individuals...

Mental Health Employee Benefit Trends for 2021

3.5 minute read

Since the start of the pandemic, many Americans have reported an increase in anxiety, depression, and thoughts of suicide. Before the pandemic, 5% of employed workers reported poor or...

COBRA Subsidy FAQs

1 minute read

The IRS published frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the American Rescue Plan Act subsidies for continuation of health coverage under COBRA. The FAQs cover a variety of topics...

Final Notice of ACA Benefit & Payment Parameters for 2022

1 minute read

The Department of Health and Human Services released its second Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP) for 2022 which finalized the remainder of the standards included in the...

American Rescue Plan Makes Changes to FFCRA Employee Leave

1.5 minute read

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) made some changes to emergency sick leave and paid family leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The tax credits were...