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Harlem Globetrotters
Posted on: January 9, 2015Categories: News & EventsThis family show will put on two performances tomorrow January 10th at the Colonial Life Arena. The first show will be at 2:00 pm and the second show will be at 7:00 pm. The Harlem Globetrotters are known for their amazing athletes who show off their amazing ball handling, dunks, trick shots on the basketball court mixed in with comedy. Tickets range from $23 to $105 depending on your seats so grab your tickets today! Source: Co ...
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FAQS on Affordable Care Act Implementation (Part II)
Posted on: January 8, 2015Categories: HR & ComplianceClaims, Internal Appeals, and External Review Q7: My plan already provided an external review process before the Affordable Care Act was enacted. Can my already-existing external review process be deemed to comply with Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) section 2719(b)? If your plan existed prior to enactment of the Affordable Care Act, you should first check to see if your plan is a grandfathered health plan. If it is, the new external review provisions of PHS Act section 2719(b) do not appl ...
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National Blood Donor Month
Posted on: January 7, 2015Categories: LiveWell 24/7Although advances in medicine have decreased demand of blood transfusions, donating blood is still very important. In fact someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds which is equivalent to 41,000 blood donations need everyday according to the American Red Cross. January is National Blood Donor Month to encourage donors to give blood. The winter months tend to have less blood donation due to travel, holidays and busy schedules but ...
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FAQS on Affordable Care Act Implementation (Part I)
Posted on: January 6, 2015Categories: HR & ComplianceThe initial FAQs cover issues related to general compliance, grandfathered plans, appeals process requirements, dependent coverage of adult children, out-of-network emergency services and discrimination in favor of highly-compensated employees. Compliance Q1: Under the Affordable Care Act, there are various provisions that apply to group health plans and health insurance issuers and various protections and benefits for consumers that are beginning to take effect or that will become effective v ...
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HIPAA Common Questions: Administration (Part 3)
Posted on: January 5, 2015Categories: HR & ComplianceWhat are the penalties for failure to comply with the HIPAA Regulations? The Department of Treasury, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services jointly enforce HIPAA. The Department of Labor has the authority under ERISA to audit a group health plan’s compliance with HIPAA, and HIPAA violations may result in civil penalties or other corrective action for the group health plan sponsor. Also, under the Internal Revenue Code, HIPAA violations may trigger excise taxe ...
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Draft Instructions for Employer Reporting of Health Coverage Released
Posted on: January 1, 2015Categories: HR & ComplianceThe Affordable Care Act (ACA) created new reporting requirements under Internal Revenue Code (Code) Sections 6055 and 6056. Under these new reporting rules, certain employers must provide information to the IRS about the health plan coverage they offer (or do not offer) to their employees. On Aug. 28, 2014, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released draft instructions for the forms that employers will use to report under Code Sections 6055 and 6056. Instructions for Forms 1094-B and 1095-B: ...
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Firework Safety Tips
Posted on: December 31, 2014Categories: LiveWell 24/7New Year celebrations are always fun and filled with friends, family and fireworks. Fireworks can cause fires and injury if they are used carelessly or in unsafe conditions. Here are some tips to help you safely celebrate the new year with fireworks. Read all the warning labels and performance descriptions before igniting fireworks. Have one person who is designated to shooting off the fireworks. Do not mix alcohol and fireworks, save ...
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Community Rating Restrictions
Posted on: December 30, 2014Categories: HR & ComplianceCommunity rating is a way for insurers to calculate the cost of health insurance premiums based on a variety of communal, rather than individual, factors. Traditionally, health insurance companies have based their premiums on plan design, family composition and individual factors, such as health status and claims history, age, gender, location, occupation, tobacco use and duration of coverage. Community rating, however, prevents health insurers from varying premiums within a geographic area ba ...
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HIPAA Common Questions: Administration (Part 2)
Posted on: December 29, 2014Categories: HR & ComplianceWhen does HIPAA prohibit a group health plan from discriminating against an individual? HIPAA does not allow a group health plan to deny an individual eligibility for benefits or charge a higher premium than is required of a similarly situated individual, based upon health factors. Health factors include: Health status; Medical condition (physical or mental); Receipt of health care; Claims experience; Medical history; Genetic information; Evidence of insurability; Disability; and Any ...
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Famously Hot New Year’s Eve
Posted on: December 26, 2014Categories: News & EventsLooking for something fun to do in order to welcome the New Year? Columbia, SC will be hosting a free New Year’s Eve bash called Famously Hot New Year. This is the largest event and fireworks display in the Carolinas. There will be family fun and performances by The O’Jays, MisterWives, and Lefty at the Washout. Locally owned, sourced and loved restaurants and bars will provide food and drinks. There are several hotels in the area to ...
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Reducing Holiday Stress
Posted on: December 24, 2014Categories: LiveWell 24/7Merry Christmas Eve! Christmas is typically one of the most stressful times of the year because of the expense of buying gifts, pressure of last minute shopping, and family can even make things more stressful. If you are still feeling stressed about the holidays here are some helpful tips to reduce your “Christmas stress”. If you are still doing some last minute shopping, make a list of all the gifts you need to buy before going out ...
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IRS Guidance on Tax-Free Coverage for Children under Age 27
Posted on: December 23, 2014Categories: HR & ComplianceThe Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires group health plans that provide dependent coverage of children to continue to make the coverage available for an adult child until the child turns age 26. This adult child coverage mandate became effective for plan years beginning on or after Sept. 23, 2010. The ACA also provides for favorable tax treatment for coverage of adult children. Under the ACA, the value of health coverage provided for an employee's child who is under 27 years of age is not subjec ...
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When FMLA Is Exhausted
Posted on: December 22, 2014Categories: HR & ComplianceUnder the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), covered employees are entitled to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons. After FMLA is exhausted, or if the employee is not eligible for FMLA, you may face uncertainty about whether you must continue to offer leave or if you may terminate the employee. There are several considerations you should make when FMLA is exhausted but an employee is not ready to return to work. You should consider if any of the fo ...
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Holiday Lights on the River
Posted on: December 19, 2014Categories: News & EventsSaluda Shoals Park will be holding Holiday Lights on the River daily from 6 pm until 10 pm through December 31st! This is the largest drive through lights show with more than a million sparkling lights lighting up the park. There are 400 themed animated light displays and lighted tress that are synchronized to classical holiday music. You can also get out of your car and walk along the boardwalk walking trail, enjoy a hayride for ...
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Medical Care Choices
Posted on: December 18, 2014Categories: HR & ComplianceHealth care costs are rising significantly, greatly impacting the price you and your employer pay for your health benefits. takes its responsibility to provide you with quality, affordable benefits seriously. You, too, must think carefully about how you use those benefits. Managing your personal health care expenses is one way you can help to keep costs down. The role you play in managing health care costs is simple: Spend your health care dollars wisely. Each time you go to a medical provide ...
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Safe Toys and Gifts
Posted on: December 17, 2014Categories: LiveWell 24/7December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month so that parents can keep children’s holiday toy time safe. Do you know what toys are safe for your child? Here are some tips for picking appropriate toys: Consider the child’s age, interests and skill level when picking a toy. Make sure to follow all age and safety recommendations on labels Use a small parts tester to determine whether small toys could pose a choking hazard (these can ...
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Wise Use of the Emergency Room
Posted on: December 16, 2014Categories: HR & ComplianceAn emergency is life-threatening and requires immediate care. Call 911! Be sure to bring along identification, insurance cards, medication and health history information. Examples of an Emergency: Not breathing/having difficulty breathing Choking – unable to dislodge item Heart attack or stroke Broken bones Severe bleeding or burns Shock Situations for Routine/Self-Care at Home: Minor cuts and sprains Fever of 102° F or below Headache Sore throat Upper respiratory infection Co ...
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Pay or Play Penalty—Multiemployer Plans
Posted on: December 15, 2014Categories: HR & ComplianceThe Affordable Care Act (ACA) imposes “pay or play” requirements on applicable large employers. Under these requirements, applicable large employers that do not offer health coverage to their full-time employees and their dependents, or that offer coverage that is either unaffordable or does not provide minimum value, may be subject to a penalty. This penalty is also referred to as a “shared responsibility payment.” On Feb. 12, 2014, the IRS published final regulations on the ACA’s em ...
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Nutcracker
Posted on: December 12, 2014Categories: News & EventsThe Nutcracker is a beloved holiday tradition around this time of year. This year the Koger Center in Columbia, South Carolina will be hosting the Columbia City Ballet as they perform the Nutcracker. The first show is tomorrow December 13th from 3:00 to 5:30 pm and before the show there will be a Nutcracker Tea during which children can enjoy a sit down tea with cakes, cookies and have a chance to meet the performers. A second showing wil ...
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HIPAA Common Questions: Administration (Part 1)
Posted on: December 11, 2014Categories: HR & ComplianceUnder HIPAA, can a group health plan reward its employees by charging healthy employees less for health insurance? Although HIPAA generally prohibits group health plans from charging an individual within a group of similarly situated individuals a different premium or contribution for coverage based upon that individual’s health factors, group health plans still have many opportunities to offer financial incentives in order to promote health and prevent disease. Participatory Wellness Progra ...
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