Philadelphia SHRM Professional Development
Thursday, February 9, 2012
7:30am - 10:30am

This program has been approved for 2.25 Business Management & Strategy recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR and GPHR recertification through the HR Certification Institute. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HR Certification Institute website at www.hrci.org.

Leveraging 2011 PPACA Regulations to Prepare for the Future

Program Overview:

Overall, 2011 has been a quiet year for healthcare reform for most employers.  However, government agencies were extremely busy issuing well over 1,000 pages of PPACA regulations and guidance regarding what future regulations should consider.  Join us for a review of the regulations which have the most impact on your company.  The presentation will include both small and large picture considerations.  The format will be a combination of lecture, model conversations and small group break out work.  Our discussions will range from day to day concerns such as the proper way to terminate a person’s medical insurance to strategic concerns such as labor force reorganization strategies to reduce penalty exposure in 2014.

The presentation will begin with a review of the political landscape and a summary of the arguments the Supreme Court has agreed to hear in March 2012.  We will review the basis of each argument and advise regarding how the Supreme Court’s findings, rather yea or nay, will change PPACA in the future. Looking backwards, we will discuss the surprise revelation from CMS that rescission of coverage applies to employer plans in addition to individual plans.  The regulations governing rescissions are very skimpy which has raised numerous problems for employers.  Especially problematic is the handling of retroactive terminations for employees who move from full time to part time status.  Looking forward, we will review the following regulations and their impact on you:

• Pending non-discrimination regulations that may render your commitments under Executive Employment Agreements and certain common plan design features illegal in the future;
• Regulations governing 2012 W-2 guidelines and women’s preventive care requirements;
• Uniform benefit summary regulations and when you need to be in compliance;
• Treasury Notice that provides guidance regarding how to identify employees who work an average of 30 hours per week in order to estimate penalty liability in 2014.  This measurement is especially complicated if you have a seasonal or temporary workforce or if you employ workers who work a variable work week;
• Treasury Notice guidance that provides new protections to employers when forecasting 2014 penalty exposure under the affordability requirements;
• If time allows, we will provide a brief review of new insurance or self-funded products that may be available to you in the future as a result of the Accountable Care Organization regulations issued under PPACA.  Aetna and UHC have recently announced very limited pilots.

Participants will learn:

• The impact of current PPACA regulations;
• How arguments before the Supreme Court may alter the PPACA in the future and its current regulations;
• How the current political landscape may affect the PPACA;
• Problems facing employers as a result of the PPACA.

Who Should Attend: 

Human resources, benefits, and other business professionals, especially those responsible for the provision of health care insurance for employees. 

Speakers:

Adam S. Karalius, GBA, CMS
Consultant
Team Lead, Client Support, Benefit Program Financial Analysis, Design & Administration

Adam Karalius has 15 years of experience in the development, analysis and administration of employee benefit plans.  As a consultant with Charon Planning, Adam utilizes his strong analytical and financial background to analyze current benefits programs and develop alternatives that are consistent with client objectives.  He assists clients in the monitoring of plan financial results through in-depth reporting and valuation and he serves as a client advocate in the resolution of critical service and administrative issues.

Elizabeth Patterson, FLMI
Managing Consultant
Team Lead, Strategy Development and Program Management

Elizabeth is a managing consultant for Charon Planning with over 20 years of experience in the employee benefits industry.  She is a skilled project manager who assists clients in the resolution of budget concerns and employee communication issues consistent with their strategic goals and culture.  As a member of Charon Planning’s management team, Elizabeth has oversight of the firm’s compliance and communications department as well as the firm’s overall consulting practice.  She previously worked in a regional consulting firm where she specialized in consolidation of benefits for merger and acquisition clients.

Venue:
Philadelphia Downtown Marriott
1201 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107-3615

Time: 7:30am-10:30am

Cost: $40 Members / $70 Non-Members / $30 Students