"[T]he Departments are providing an enforcement safe harbor for satisfying the reporting requirements for plans and issuers that use alternative reimbursement arrangements that do not permit the plans and issuers to derive with accuracy specific dollar amounts contracted for covered items and services in advance of the provision of that item or service, or that otherwise cannot disclose specific dollar amounts according to the schema as provided in the Departments' technical implementation guidance through GitHub. This safe harbor is further described in Q1 and Q2 of these FAQs Part 53."  MORE >>

"Now that the IDR portal is open, the short deadlines for initiating IDR will be back in place. The IDR process can be initiated only during the 4 business days immediately following the 30 business day negotiation period ... The initiating party must provide written or electronic notice to the other party and submit notice to the Departments through the IDR portal."  MORE >>

"Under the new law, 'covered service providers' that enter into a contract (or arrangement), provide 'brokerage or consulting' services to 'covered' plans, and reasonably expect that compensation to exceed at least $1,000 (adjusted for inflation), must disclose all compensation, either direct or indirect, received in relation to such brokerage or consulting services for a health plan.... There is no requirement that the contract be in writing.... Both insured and self-insured plans are subject to the new rule."  MORE >>

"[E]ligibility requirements under Maryland's law are significantly lower than under the federal [FMLA].... Maryland employees need only work 680 hours in the year preceding the use of leave in order to qualify for paid leave under the Act.... [T]he applicability of the Act is not limited by employer size.... [E]mployees will be eligible for paid leave under Maryland's law sooner, and more employers will be covered, than under the federal law."  MORE >>

"There are three main components to the bill [S 3904]: [1] Require the [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)] and HHS to collaborate on improving cybersecurity in the healthcare sector. [2] Authorize cybersecurity training for healthcare organizations and ways to mitigate risks to sector information systems. [3] Require the CISA to conduct a detailed study on specific cybersecurity risks facing the healthcare industry."  MORE >>

"Governor Janet Mills signed into law Legislative Document 225, 'An Act Regarding the Treatment of Vacation Time upon the Cessation of Employment' ... [which requires] each employer with more than ten employees to pay its employees, on the cessation of employment, '[a]ll unused paid vacation accrued pursuant to the employer's vacation policy on and after January 1, 2023.' Aside from creating notable financial burdens for businesses across the state, [the new law] appears to conflict with Maine's Earned Paid Leave law and is already creating considerable confusion for Maine's business community."  MORE >>