Benefits @ Work: The Opioid Epidemic

Benefits @ Work: The Opioid Epidemic

Author: Lipscomb and Pitts Insurance, Sarah Gillespie | Producer: Andrew Bartolotta July 31, 2020 Duration: 16:06
About 115 Americans die each day from overdosing on drugs called opioids. The number of drug overdose deaths decreased by 4% from 2017 to 2018, but the number of drug overdose deaths was still four times higher in 2018 than in 1999.1  Nearly 70% of the 67,367 deaths in 2018 involved an opioid.  Locally on May 11, Shelby county health department reported a spike in drug overdose activity across the county during a 32-day period. Within 30 days (from April 7 to May 7) there were 391 total suspected overdoses reported, 58 of those being fatal. SCHD says that’s the highest count since data collection began in Jan. 2019. Within 14 days (from April 23 to May 7) there were 209 suspected overdoses reported with 35 of those being fatal. Within 7 days (from April 30 to May 7) there were 131 suspected overdoses reported with 20 reports being fatal. Within 24 hours (on May 5) there were 20 overdoses reported and four of those reports ended in death.

Navigating the complexities of employee benefits and healthcare compliance can feel overwhelming, but To The Point Podcast cuts through the noise with clarity and efficiency. Hosted by Sarah Gillespie, the Compliance Director at Lipscomb and Pitts Insurance, alongside a seasoned ERISA attorney, each episode delivers focused insight into the Affordable Care Act and other critical compliance landscapes. You’ll find no meandering conversations here-every discussion is deliberately concise, designed to fit into a busy professional’s day while providing actionable knowledge. The value of this podcast lies in its precision; each fifteen-minute segment tackles a specific, real-world topic, from interpreting new regulations to implementing best practices for benefits management. Whether you’re an HR manager, a business owner, or simply someone tasked with understanding these requirements, the guidance offered is both practical and authoritative. Produced by Andrew Bartolotta, the show respects your time while deepening your expertise, transforming dense legal and insurance topics into clear, digestible information you can use immediately to make informed decisions and streamline your responsibilities.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 84

To The Point Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Nondiscrimination Testing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:30
Do you as an employer allow for pre-tax contributions through a Section 125 plan or cafeteria plan? Do you have an FSA or Dependent Care Account? Do you have a self-funded health plan? If you answered yes to any of these…
The Future of Wellness Plans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:24
On Dec. 20, 2017, the Court chose to vacate key provisions of the EEOC’s final rules for employer-sponsored wellness plans effective Jan. 1, 2019. Unless the EEOC reconsiders and clarifies its position related to incenti…
ACA Penalties Are Coming: IRS Letter 226J [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:02
The IRS recently updated its list of Frequently Asked Questions related to the ACA’s Employer Mandate where they indicated that penalty letters for calendar year 2015 would start to go out in late 2017. Tune in to learn…
2017 Benefits Compliance in Review and a Look to 2018 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:36
The 2017 year has been full of ups and downs in the world of benefits compliance and the Affordable Care Act. There has been a lot of activity in Congress, though none that has changed the current landscape for employers…
IRS Reverses Policy on Certifying Individual Mandate Compliance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:23
On Oct. 13, 2017, the IRS reversed a recent policy change in how it monitors compliance with the ACA’s individual mandate. For the upcoming 2018 filing season (filing 2017 tax returns) the IRS will not accept electronica…
BCRA, Health Care Freedom Act, No ACA Repeal.  What happened? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:45
After voting to open up ACA repeal legislation for debate and amendments on July 25, 2017, the 20-hour debate ended on July 28, 2017 with a rejection of the “skinny” repeal bill. Is that the end for ACA repeal? Tune in t…
Wellness Programs – Watch Out for Compliance Pitfalls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:02
Employer sponsored wellness programs put in place with the best of intentions can easily be found non-compliant if the program falls into any of these 4 main compliance pitfalls. Listen in to learn what they are and how…
Wellness Programs – Rules, Rules, Rules [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:29
Employer sponsored wellness plans are a great way to help instill a culture of health and wellbeing in the workplace. However, a bona fide wellness program is subject to regulations under HIPAA, the ACA, the ADA and GINA…