Healthcare

There are both challenges and opportunities in the new era of healthcare reform, experts say, so employers should continue to monitor the situation closely. Beginning in the fall of 2013, employee communication and enrollment should include information about subsidies, exchanges, Medicaid and enrollment options.

A recently released study has found that many employee-assistance programs do not have a policy that would specifically help identify individuals who abuse -- or have the potential to abuse -- their intimate partners.

In the case of Haybarger vs. Lawrence County Adult Probation and Parole, the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals recognized for the first time that a supervisor at a private employer may be held individually liable for violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act.

A survey by ADP shows companies of all sizes are choosing to outsource benefits administration because of the ever-increasing compliance complexity of, not just healthcare reform, but other benefits-related acts as well.

* SparkPeople An interactive weight-loss program.

Benefit portals and websites now include a variety of online tools to help employees shape up.

Creating competition within an organization may make it easier for employees to get healthy and stay fit. And studies show that those employees are more productive, call in sick less often and visit the doctor less frequently.

The rise of high-deductible plans is leading more organizations to demand "price transparency" from their healthcare providers.

Fatigue -- described as a decreased state of alertness -- may impair a worker's safety, health and productivity, costing employers billions of dollars each year.

This article accompanies Is the Price Right?

Lots of Americans are uncomfortable with the idea of being required by law to purchase health insurance. And sometime soon -- probably later this month -- the U.S. Supreme Court will have the final word on the matter when it announces its ruling on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

This article accompanies Health Partners.

This article accompanies Health Partners.

In an effort to help employees better understand their benefit options -- and make them partners in the effort to control costs -- some companies are making serious changes to their benefits-communication strategies.

This article accompanies Health Partners.

This article accompanies Health Partners.

A strong partnership between HR and finance is increasingly important as companies struggle to lower costs and comply with healthcare reform.