Posts Tagged ‘Legal Counsel’
B&K Quarterly Benefits Update – Summer 2011 | Employee Benefits
Inside this issue are updates regarding Medicare Part D Creditable Coverage Notices, Constitutional Challenges to Health Care Reform, the Impact of New York State’s Same-Sex Marriage Law on ERISA Covered Health Plans, FASB and more.
Nathaniel G. Lambright to Serve as Panelist for New York State Bar Association Labor & Employment Law Section Fall Meeting
Nathaniel G. Lambright, a Partner in the Labor Department of Blitman & King, has been selected to serve as a Panelist for the New York State Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section Fall Meeting. As a Panelist, Nat will present “The What, When, Where and Why of the NLRB’s Proposed Rules Reforming R-Case” providing insight the NLRB’s proposed rules which will expedite, modernize and streamline the Union election and representation process.
U.S. Department of Labor Extends Effective Date of Service Provider Fee Dislosure Rule | Employment Law
The Department of Labor recently issued a final rule that extends by three months, from January 1, 2012 until April 1, 2012, the effective date for service providers to comply with final regulations concerning disclosure of fees and costs to the responsible plan fiduciary.
Health Care Reform Changes Medicare Annual Enrollment Period | Employment Law
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Affordable Care Act”) makes certain changes to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA) signed in to law on December 8, 2003. Specifically, beginning in 2011, the annual enrollment period for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans has been changed to October 15 through December 7. As a result, Notices of Creditable and Non-Creditable Coverage relating to employee benefit plans’ prescription drug coverage for Medicare eligible participants must now be distributed to participants by October 15.
Jules L. Smith Elected to Board and Governance Committee of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra | Employment Law
Jules L. Smith, a Partner in the Litigation Department of Blitman & King, was elected Secretary of the Board of Directors, and a member of the Governance Committee, of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra was founded by George Eastman in 1922, and since then has been committed to enriching and inspiring the community through the art of music.
Kelly L. Cook Profiled in Upcoming Edition of "The Law of Corporations and Other Business Organizations"
Kelly Cook, a Benefit Paralegal and Manager of the Employee Benefits Department at Blitman & King, will be profiled in an upcoming text, The Law of Corporations and Other Business Organizations 6th Edition. The profile will include a broad range of questions about Kelly and her 27 years of employee benefits experience.
Court of Appeals orders deference to public employer’s initial determination in section 207-a case | Litigation Law
In a recent opinion, a divided New York Court of Appeals found a Ridge Road Fire District firefighter ineligible for General Municipal Law Section 207-a benefits where the District's initial determination denying benefits was supported by substantial evidence.
Office of Civil Rights imposes $5.3 million in fines for HIPAA privacy rule violations | Employee Benefits
In an unprecedented enforcement action, the Department of Health and Human Services’ (“HHS”) Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) recently imposed a $4.3 million civil monetary fine and reached a $1 million settlement as punishment for violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”).
Executives of Tax-Exempt Entities Need to Value Fringes as Part of their Compensation Package | New York Law
The IRS is conducting a National Research Program focusing on uncollected employment taxes for both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. As part of this nationwide review, the IRS recently indicated that the most common reason it imposes sanctions on tax-exempt organizations is the improper reporting of fringe benefits.
Bernard T. King Authors and Presents Paper on Health Care Reform at International Conference for Attorneys | Employee Benefits & New York Law
Bernard T. King authored and presented a paper the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at the 9th Annual Iron Workers International Attorneys’ Conference including a history and introduction to health care reform, a timeline of the implementation of various requirements and an update on legal/legislative challenges currently underway.