BMI NEWS AND UPDATES
August 2018
TOPBMI News & Updates

We love to support our community! Below are some upcoming events BMI is sponsoring in August:
  • August 12, 2018- St. Aloysius Horse Tournament
  • August 17, 2018- Visalia Host Lions Foundation

 

 
In This Issue
Life & Health Insurance Updates

ACA Compliance Bulletin: CMS Resumes ACA Risk Adjustment Payments

Overview
 
On July 24, 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule adjusting the risk adjustment methodology, allowing payments to resume under the risk adjustment program.
 
Risk adjustment is a permanent program under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that provides payments to insurers that attract higher risk populations by transferring funds from plans that enroll the lowest risk individuals to those plans that enroll the highest risk individuals. Previously, on July 7, 2018, CMS halted payments to insurers under the risk adjustment program as a result of ongoing litigation. According to CMS, conflicting federal court rulings prevented the federal government from collecting or disbursing funds under the risk adjustment program. [...]

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ACA Compliance Bulletin: Draft Forms for 2018 ACA Reporting Released
 
Overview

 

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released draft 2018 forms for reporting under Internal Revenue Code (Code) Sections 6055 and 6056.

  • 2018 draft forms 1094-C and 1095-C were released July 11, 2018, and will be used by applicable large employers (ALEs) to report under Section 6056, as well as for combined Section 6055 and 6056 reporting by ALEs who sponsor self-insured plans.
  • 2018 draft forms 1094-B and 1095-B were also released in July 2018, and will be used by entities reporting under Section 6055, including self-insured plan sponsors that are not ALEs.

Draft instructions for these forms have not yet been released. The draft 2018 forms are substantially similar to the final 2017 versions. [...]

 

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Human Resource News
  
New Sexual Harassment Training Requirements
 
We are well into the #METOO movement now. This means that there is extra vigilance and sensitivity surrounding the words you use and the approach you take to various situations. One of the most effective actions you can take is to make sure your Sexual Harassment training is updated and in-place.

Sexual Harassment training for Supervisors is mandatory in California for all employers with 50 or more employees. Presently, there are about 30 bills floating around Sacramento to increase responsibilities on employers and the 50-employee rule may drop ALL employers with even one employee. It may also become necessary for all employees, not just supervisors to go through the training. [...]
 
Please click here to continue reading the article.

New Overtime Rules

Overtime rules in California can be tricky. And, if you make a mistake, it can be very costly. Unless covered under a collective bargaining agreement or contract, most jobs are regulated through the IWC wage orders 1 through 17. Each wage order addresses a different industry and may have differing rules about hours of work and overtime pay. For this example, I am going to follow the general rules of a 40 hour workweek and 8 hour day. Usually, employees are paid overtime over 40 hours in a week or over 8 hours in any day. Overtime is daily unless the weekly amount exceeds the accumulated daily overtime. [...]

Please click here to continue reading the article.


Visit www.hrmobileservices.com for more helpful information.
Loss Control Bulletin
 
Prop 65 Changes: Impact on You
 
On August 30, 2016, the Office of Administrative Law approved the adoption of amendments to Article 6, Clear and Reasonable Warnings, of the California Code of Regulations. This regulatory action repeals all the regulatory provisions of Title 27 of the California Code of Regulations, Article 6 (sections 25601 et seq.), except those added via an emergency rule-making in April 2016 related to warnings for exposures to bisphenol A in canned foods and beverages (Sections 25603.3(f) and (g)). The action will replace the repealed sections with a new regulation divided into two new Sub-articles to Article 6. The repealed and new regulations provide, among other things, methods of transmission and content of warnings deemed to be compliant with the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65). [...]
 
Please click here to continue reading the article.
Visit www.borettinc.com for more helpful information. 
 
A Word from the Worker's Comp Department

Our Workers' Compensation Team is here to
assist you with your workers' compensation needs. Need help filing a new claim?  Have a question about the status of a claim? Need help finding an Occupational Provider to send an injured employee to?  We are here to advocate on your behalf with the insurance carrier and medical providers as needed.

You may contact any member of our team by phone at (559) 741-4432 or by email at [email protected]

(from left to right) Brianna Garza, Workers' Compensation Assistant
Ronda Swanson, Workers' Compensation Claims Specialist Julie Weaver, Account Manager Andrea Lemm, Workers' Compensation Claims Specialist

Claims Department Article

back-school-bus.jpg
5 Back-to-School Driving Tips
 
The end of summer vacation comes too quickly for most of us in California. It can also be an exciting time of year for families as they prepare for the back to school season. With summer vacations wrapping up and traffic increasing as people go back to work and back to school, August means different driving patterns and rules of the road.

According to a report by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHSTA), autumn is the most dangerous time of year for pedestrians. We've included 5 tips below to help keep you, and your kids, safer as they head back to school. Whether you are a new or long-term driver, use these tips to set the example for others on the road. [...]  

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Personal Lines Note 

Are You Prepared? Evacuating Yourself & Your Family fire_captain_portrait.jpg
 
Evacuations are more common than many people realize. Fires and floods cause evacuations most frequently across the United States, and almost every year, people along coastlines evacuate as hurricanes approach. In addition, transportation and industrial accidents release harmful substances hundreds of
times a year, forcing many people to leave their homes.
                                           
In some circumstances, local officials decide that the hazards are serious and require mandatory evacuations. In others, local officials advise evacuations and individual households can decide to evacuate to avoid situations they believe are potentially dangerous. When community evacuations become necessary, local officials provide information to the public through the media. In some circumstances, other warning methods, such as sirens, text alerts, emails or telephone calls are used. [...]
August's Spotlight is on Elizabeth Escarsega

Department and position: Account Manager for In-House Rating Dept.
 
When did you join the BMI team? January 1995
 
What is the best part about working at Buckman-Mitchell, Inc.? The best part of working at BMI is the sincere appreciation we receive not only from the Board of Directors but also the people I work with. This is a workplace that I enjoy going and where I feel I am valued for doing the work that I do.
 
What is your favorite thing to do in your free time? I am a dance mom, a soccer mom and sports auntie to all my neices & nephews. Most weekends you will find me cheering on the sidelines or screaming in the stands. Watching my children play any type of sport is what I love to do on my free time.

You may reach Elizabeth at [email protected]
Buckman-Mitchell, Inc.'s August Anniversaries 

We want to acknowledge these individuals for their continued service with our company:
  • Martha Morales- 25 years
  • Pam Salierno- 12 years
  • Debbie Cole- 9 years
  • David Nash- 7 years
  • Nohemi Gomez- 6 years
  • Harry Wilson- 2 years

 

Thank you for all you do!