Since 1996, when Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), employers have been struggling with whether and to what extent they could offer incentives to employees to participate in certain “wellness programs.” The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) position on these programs has been a significant driver of those struggles, primarily due
wellness
The Fate of the EEOC’s Wellness Regulations is Still Uncertain
By Jackson Lewis P.C. on
In October 2016, AARP sued the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) under the Administrative Procedures Act (“APA”) arguing that there was no explanation for the shift in the EEOC’s position relating to what makes participation in a wellness program “voluntary”. Originally, the EEOC argued that in order for a wellness program to be “voluntary,” employers…
House Legislation Seeks to Harmonize Wellness Programs with ADA and GINA
By Jackson Lewis P.C. on
On March 2, 2017, in an attempt to clear the murky waters surrounding wellness programs, Rep. Virginia Foxx, chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, introduced the Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act (the “Act’) (H.R. 1313). In an effort to protect wellness plans, the Act reaffirms existing law which permits…
ADA and GINA Guidance on Wellness Incentives on the Way!
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The days of referring to the EEOC’s guidance on wellness incentives under the ADA and GINA as “long-awaited” may be coming to an end. The EEOC announced that it has sent a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on this issue to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance.
The NPRM is not available…
Still Waiting for ADA and GINA Guidance on Wellness Incentives
March is here. The EEOC’s perspective on wellness program incentives is not. Yet again.
In its Fall 2014 regulatory agenda, the EEOC stated it would be issuing in February 2015 amended regulations concerning the size of incentives an employer may offer, yet still have a “voluntary” wellness program under the ADA and GINA. The…
EEOC Files Third Lawsuit Challenging Employer Wellness Plan
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After staying on the litigation sidelines for years while the popularity of workplace wellness programs skyrocketed, the EEOC has brought its third lawsuit in about two months, alleging that the employer’s wellness program was not “voluntary” due to the “large” and “substantial” penalties to those who chose not to participate. Because the program was involuntary,…
“Dire Consequences” for Non-Participants Lead to Dire Consequences for Wellness Program under ADA, Claims EEOC Lawsuit
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Posted in ADA
After staying on the litigation sidelines for years while the popularity of workplace wellness programs skyrocketed, the EEOC has brought a second lawsuit just six weeks after its first, alleging that the employer’s wellness program was not “voluntary” due to the “dire consequences” to non- participants. Because the program was involuntary, the disability related inquiries…
Waiting for EEOC Guidance on Wellness Plans …and Godot
By Jackson Lewis P.C. on
Posted in ADA
Earlier this year, we posted that we continued to wait for ADA “voluntary” wellness plan guidance from the EEOC. In a January 18, 2013 informal letter responding to an inquiry concerning a wellness program, the EEOC reiterated its 2000 Guidance that it “has not taken a position on whether and to what extent a reward…
Most Employers to Shift Some Costs of ACA to Employees
By Jackson Lewis P.C. on
Posted in Health Management
More than half of employers intend to shift some of the increased costs of the Affordable Care Act to employees, according to a recent study by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. The 2013 study reports that employers are planning to deal with the increased costs of the ACA by shifting costs to employees…
Still Waiting for ADA “Voluntary” Wellness Plan Guidance from EEOC; But Does it Really Matter?
By Jackson Lewis P.C. on
Posted in ADA
The EEOC passed yet again on the opportunity to provide guidance on the meaning of “voluntary” under the ADA as it applies to wellness plans. Guidance would be helpful because the ADA, the EEOC regulations, and the EEOC’s Interpretive and Enforcement Guidance permit employers to conduct voluntary medical examinations, including voluntary medical histories, as part of…