News

Our Response to COVID-19

March 18, 2020

To our clients and friends: The health and safety of our employees, clients and friends is of utmost importance to us. As such, we wanted to let you know about the implementation of our business... Read more »

COVID-19 Update Employee Terminations, Furloughs, and Lay-offs: COBRA, Reinstatement, and Closed Businesses

March 18, 2020

As much of the country is locked-down due to coronavirus 19 (COVID-19), employers have concerns regarding their employee benefit programs. This may stem from a reduction in hours and, unfortunately,... Read more »

Information for Employers and Group Health Plan Sponsors on COVID-19

March 17, 2020

States and the federal government have issued (or re-issued) guidance for employers in response to the recent novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As of March 14, 2020, the Centers for... Read more »

COVID-19 Impacts Unemployment Insurance

March 17, 2020

With many businesses being faced with mandatory State orders to temporarily close or scale back their services in an ability to minimize the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), workers are being... Read more »

10 Answers for Employers Navigating the Coronavirus

March 12, 2020

Employers are facing an unprecedented challenge navigating COVID-19. As the virus spreads, it is generating fear and uncertainty. Employers need clear answers they can trust. They want to know how... Read more »

Coronavirus: Employers, Be Practical and Vigilant

March 4, 2020

With the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) across the globe and 100+ confirmed cases with an unfortunate 6 deaths in the United States, employers who haven’t already developed an Infectious and... Read more »

How Can We Make Health Insurance More Affordable?

February 21, 2020

November 20, 2019 was the eighth Mid-Year NYSAIS Health Care Consortium meeting. Member Schools and Austin & Co. meet twice per year to review plan utilization, wellness, and HR & benefits... Read more »

CMS Extends Transition Relief for Non-Compliant Plans through 2021

February 10, 2020

On January 31, 2020 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a one-year extension to the transition policy (originally announced November 14, 2013 and extended six times... Read more »

Congress Repeals Unrelated Business Income Tax for Tax-Exempt Entities Offering Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefits

January 15, 2020

As part of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (the “Act”), Congress repealed Section 512(a)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”). This Code... Read more »

Congress Passes Spending Bill that Repeals Three Major ACA Taxes, Extends PCORI

December 19, 2019

Updated December 21 to reflect that the bill has been signed into law. On December 20, 2019, the House and Senate, with the final signature from President Trump, passed a bipartisan legislative... Read more »