IRS Issues Additional Guidence on W-2 Reporting.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) requires employers to report the aggregate cost of employer-sponsored group health coverage on employees’ Forms W-2. The purpose of the reporting requirement is to inform employees about the cost of their health coverage. The reporting does not cause employees’ health coverage to become taxable to them.

This reporting requirement was initially set to take effect beginning with the 2011 tax year. However, in October 2010, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) delayed the compliance date by making health coverage cost reporting optional for the 2011 tax year. In April 2011, the IRS issued Notice 2011-28, which further delayed compliance with this requirement for small employers (those filing fewer than 250 Forms W-2) and provided interim technical guidance on the reporting requirement.

On Jan. 3, 2012, the IRS issued Notice 2012-9, which replaced Notice 2011-28, and updated the interim technical guidance on the Form W-2 reporting requirement.

This Talon Benefits Legislative Brief summarizes the IRS’s interim guidance on the Form W-2 reporting requirement.

Click here to Download the rest of the Brief.

With constantly changing Over-the-Counter Cough and Cold Products, choosing the right product is very difficult and downright confusing for the average consumer. And the last thing you feel like doing when you are sick, is standing in the cough and cold aisle, aching, sniffling, coughing and trying not to get snot on everything while trying to figure it all out.

Even as a pharmacist, it can be confusing. Twenty years ago, if we told you to get Benadryl, there was only 1 product named Benadryl. Today, there are 38 (no joke) products with Benadryl in the name. Drug companies also frequently change ingredients of a product and DO NOT change the name of the product or labeling other than listing the new ingredients. Therefore, pharmacists frequently need to come out and actually look at the ingredients (just like I'll show you below) in order to figure out which product you need.

So, here's the scoop. Below is a Chart with brief descriptions of how to spot the right ingredients to treat your symptoms. Just print and cut out the following chart, either circle or place a check mark by your symptoms and take it with you to the store. Match your symptoms with ingredients and Score! you've got the right product.

* There are also options not mentioned, for instance, saline sinus rinses and sprays for a stuffy nose, and cough drops for sore throats and cough. However, the focus of this blog is specifically on oral tablets/capsules and liquids:

* You will not find, or should not find, products with both antihistamines & expectorants in them. One dries the secretions & the other makes them runny. You can't do both at the same time. You'll need to choose which is more important! If your chest is so tight you can't breath or are worried about infection setting in in the lungs, you will want to opt for the expectorant. If your nose is so runny, you have to stuff wads of kleenex up both nostrils to keep it from running all over your pillow, you will probably want to opt for the antihistamine.

* Decongestants are stimulants. They can keep you up at night. But if you're not sleeping because you can't breathe, you may want to use a decongestant to help you breath. You may not sleep as well as usual, but will probably sleep better than without it.

These are the kind of questions you have to ask yourself in order to make a choice.

Of course, if you still have no idea, just ask your pharmacist!

CAUTION!  You must still read the warnings and precautions on all medications. If you are pregnant, check with your doctor. If you have certain medical conditions or are taking certain medications, you must make sure you can take the product. Read the package carefully. If you are not sure, ask the pharmacist. That's what we're there for! To help YOU!

I hope you learned something. Hopefully, you won't need to use any of this information and you'll stay healthy all winter.

To a Healthy Winter!

Terrie Stonebraker, RPh

Good Day All!

Welcome to the First Pharmacy Blog Post!

My name is Terrie Stonebraker and I am a licensed pharmacist. I have over 25 years of Retail Pharmacy experience including Staff Pharmacist, Pharmacy Manager, Trainer, Immunizer, and Biometric Screener. I am certified in Red Cross First Aid and CPR. I also have a unique perspective on healthcare than many other pharmacists, due to the fact that I struggled with chronic illness for about 10 years. I educated myself through reading and trial and error with alternative healing medicines and practices, as well as traditional methods.

I have joined with Talon Benefits to offer you something that no other Benefits company brings to the table and that’s your own Personal Pharmacy Consultant. In addition to providing you with answers to your pharmacy and healthcare related questions, I will also be blogging about different healthcare and pharmacy related topics.

There will be a variety of topics discussed and free downloadable files to accompany many of them. As we head into the fall and winter season, upcoming blogs will address Influenza Immunizations, the Health Benefits of Yoga, Managing Cholesterol, Exercise and Fitness and How What You Eat Affects Your Mental Status. 

At Talon Benefits we are making every effort to bring you good, up-to-date information related to your insurance needs and that includes giving you access to pharmacy healthcare as well.

Have a Fabulous Day!
Terrie Stonebraker, RPh
Your Pharmacy Consultant