Participants will walk away with: Understand how budgets are built and aligned – Gain a clear view of key financial terms, what makes up the budget, and how the business plan connects to budget decisions. Learn the role of workforce planning in budgeting and position management – Understand how positions and compensation impact the budget and how we define and manage positions within our systems. Strengthen Finance & HR partnership – Recognize the importance of collaboration between HR and Finance, and identify practical ways HR can engage locally for greater business impact.

When an employee elects benefits upon hire or the start of a new plan year, those elections typically cannot be changed until the next plan year. However, Internal Revenue Code Section 125 and HIPAA Special Enrollment rules allow employees to make mid-year benefit changes when certain life events occur. Employers must consider multiple factors when an employee requests a mid-year change to their benefit elections, including whether the change is permitted or required under certain laws, and whether the terms of their Section 125 cafeteria plan and the underlying benefit plan documents allow such a change. Additionally, employers must review the facts and circumstances of the request, the type of event, the timing of the request, and when a mid-year change can take effect. During this webinar, we will dive into the specific events in the regulations that allow employees to make a mid-year benefit election change, and whether those changes are required or dependent on the terms of the employer’s plan. We will also flag key administrative and procedural issues that often arise when handling employee requests.

Virtual care options have expanded rapidly, and many carriers now embed virtual specialty offerings directly into their networks. Yet many employers and employees don’t know these innovative options exist, much less how to look for or utilize them. Join this webinar to learn the latest trends in virtual care and how to identify what may be hidden in your network. Leveraging the experience from three vendors embedded across multiple carriers, we will help you build your playbook for action to help make these services visible to, and usable for, your people.

In this webinar, you will learn: New utilization review timelines and when determinations must be issued How missed deadlines can result in automatic treatment approvals Updated dispute timelines and L&I’s role in resolving treatment-related questions Practical implications for employer compliance, claims oversight, and risk management Walk away with a clear understanding of how these regulatory changes will impact your day-to-day operations—and what steps you can take now to prepare.

Are you aware of how your organization meets federal compliance standards related to health benefit plan notices? Join our Regulatory and Legislative Strategy team for an informative webinar that breaks down the most common federally required health plan benefit notices—providing practical guidance on how employer plan sponsors can meet their obligations for timely, compliant delivery of those documents to their eligible plan participants. This informative session is designed to help employers, HR professionals and benefit administrators navigate the complex landscape of federally required health benefit plan notices and to assist them in maintaining a compliant benefits program. Whether you are managing a fully insured, level funded, or self-funded plan, this webinar aims to help you reduce potential risks and penalties related to your plan disclosure obligations.  This webinar will provide an overview of the key notices required under federal laws, such as ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Additionally, attendees will learn: Which notices are required under federal law and when they must be distributed  Who must receive each notice (e.g., employees, dependents, COBRA participants)  How to use model notices to satisfy content requirements  The latest regulatory updates and how they affect notice requirements (as applicable)

Come join us as we discuss some of the latest topics related to the regulatory and legislative environment surrounding health and welfare benefit plans. These updates are intended to keep you informed of some of the most relevant changes that occurred in the last quarter, and what group health plans may face from a regulatory perspective in the near future.