Book excerpt: Mandated Benefits 2016 Compliance Guide is a comprehensive and practical reference manual covering key federal regulatory issues that must be addressed by human resources managers, benefits specialists, and company executives in all industries. This comprehensive and practical guide clearly and concisely describes the essential requirements and administrative processes necessary to comply with all benefits-related regulations. It covers key federal regulatory issues that must be addressed by human resources managers, benefits specialists, and company executives across all industries. Mandated Benefits 2016 Compliance Guide includes in-depth coverage of these and other major federal regulations: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) ActMental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA)Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act (HEART Act) Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) Mandated Benefits 2016 Compliance Guide helps take the guesswork out of managing employee benefits and human resources by clearly and concisely describing the essential requirements and administrative processes necessary to comply with each regulation. It offers suggestions for protecting employers against the most common litigation threats and recommendations for handling various types of employee problems. Throughout the Guide are numerous exhibits, useful checklists and forms, and do's and don'ts. A list of HR audit questions at the beginning of each chapter serves as an aid in evaluating your company's level of regulatory compliance. Mandated Benefits 2016 Compliance Guide has been updated to include: The latest trends in successful Ethics and Compliance ProgramsInformation on the Department of Labor (DOL) proposed changes to the FLSA white collar exemptionsThe latest DOL guidelines on the determination of independent contractor status The new regulations and guidelines for health care reform as mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), specifically updates and new information on Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC); limits on cost-sharing; the employer shared responsibility (pay or play) requirements, information reporting--Forms 1094 and 1095 SHOP--the small group market of the health care marketplace; and the so-called Cadillac Tax--the 40 percent excise tax on high cost health plansThe major revisions to excepted benefits under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), including limited wraparound benefits, EAPs, non-coordinated excepted benefits, and supplemental excepted benefitsThe reinstated Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA)Information on the proposed definition of fiduciary and the Supreme Court's first ever ruling on fiduciary standards Expanded information about joint employer relationships An expanded section describing the employment application process; information about the status of the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA); and proposed changes to E-VerifyNew material on proposed sex discrimination guidelines And much more