15.10.2017 10.06 CDT
Lawsuits challenging the fiduciary practices of major colleges and universities have survived motions to dismiss. And so, the legal battles over plan costs will continue.
Higher Ed Fiduciary Lawsuits: A Scorecard and Some Observations
Over the past few months, decisions have been issued in six of these cases (the suits against MIT, The University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Duke and Emory). Here are some comments on this first round of decisions.
The first round of court decisions has been issued in the fiduciary challenges to major colleges and universities. Overall, the courts have been allowed the core allegations - that the schools breached their fiduciary duties by allowing the plans to pay excessive fees – to continue. These decisions increase the likelihood that other schools will be subject to copycat fiduciary litigation.
08.10.2017 11.11 CDT
Employers are caught in the middle of the ongoing stalemate over the future of the ACA. Unfortunately, being caught in the middle could prove to be costly in a variety of ways.
Healthcare Wars: Employers Caught in the Middle
As the political battles over the possible repeal, replacement or repair of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) drag on, employers are likely to get caught in the middle.
As the political battles over the possible repeal, replacement or repair of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) drag on, employers must come to grips with an unpleasant reality: they are likely to get the worst of all worlds for the foreseeable future.
22.09.2017 10.04 CDT
: It is for plan administration to diverge from plan documents. It is also risky.
Two recent cases (Acosta v. Macy’s, Inc. and Erwood v. Life Ins. Company of North America) serve as reminders of how easy it is for plan administrative practices to diverge from plan documents. The cases also illustrate the risks of allowing this to happen.
08.09.2017 12.24 CDT
The downstreaming of care – to less resource intensive settings – is occurring throughout the U.S. healthcare system. This trend holds promise for patients and payers, but may be a threat to some existing providers.
The Downstreaming of Health Care
What are the Implications of Moving Care to a Less Resource-Intensive Setting?
Healthcare services are, increasingly, being delivered in less resource-intensive settings. This “downstreaming” of care will only increase in the years to come and promises to produce lower costs, meet consumer preferences and take advantage of technological advances. However, downstreaming of care will also have significant implications for patients, payers and providers.
24.08.2017 06.53 CDT
Healthcare costs continue to absorb an increasing share of benefits funding. This is forcing employers to find new ways to do more with less help employees meet other key needs. This blog explains the different approaches available to employers in meeting these needs and building employees’ human capital.
Human Capital: Enabling Employees to Build Their Resources
Employers are finding new ways to meet employee needs as healthcare costs crowd out amounts available for employer-funded programs.
Employee benefit plans are a way to build “human capital” – defined as the abilities and qualities of people that make them productive. As healthcare costs absorb an increasing share of benefits funding, employers need to find new ways to help employees become secure in their ability to obtain health care, to meet other life exigencies, and to finance their needs in retirement. This blog explains the different approaches available to employers to do more with less in building employees’ human capital.