"The fact sheet first summarizes general rules and lists the transactions for which standards have been adopted. It then describes the requirements for unique identifiers for health care providers and employers, and concludes with a summary of code sets."  MORE >>

"The publications do not create new law or obligations on employers, but provide detailed discussion, including hypothetical fact-patterns, explaining when an employee may be entitled to a job-protected leave of absence under the FMLA for their own mental health condition, or when they are providing care for a family member with a mental health condition."  MORE >>

"Effective June 9, 2022, the waiting period will [1] no longer count against the employees' benefit entitlement (of up to 18 weeks in some circumstances) and [2] no longer be required for birth parents requiring medical leave immediately following the birth of a child."  MORE >>

"According to the panel, a claim for 'interference' under the Family and Medical Leave Act does not require a finding that the employee was actually denied leave. Any words or actions that would discourage an employee from taking leave will be enough." [Ziccarelli v. Dart, No. 19-3435 (7th Cir. Jun. 1, 2022)]  MORE >>

"There are two main issues for employers to consider upon receiving a request to enroll a part-time employee who is working below the required hours threshold for health plan eligibility.... [1] The insurance carrier limitations; and [2] The ERISA plan precedent.... The issues associated with making an exception in most cases far outweigh the typical hardship case or other motivation presented by the part-time employee requesting the enrollment."  MORE >>

"Switching plans reduced not only the extent of mental health care use, but also the amount of other health care services used among patients with mental health disorders after moving from a PPO to a high-deductible health plan (HDHP)."  MORE >>

"The impact on premiums of expanding pre-deductible coverage for 14 services in HSA-eligible health plans as allowed in IRS Notice 2019-45 is small. Estimated premium increases range from virtually zero to 1.5 percent. There is no expected premium increase when deductibles are replaced by coinsurance, use of health care services is assumed not to increase due to lower cost sharing, and enrollees' related diagnoses are required."  MORE >>

"The average FSA contribution in 2020 was larger than in 2019. The vast majority of workers took a distribution, and among workers who took a distribution, the average distribution was similarly larger than in 2019.... FSA contributions and balances did not significantly vary based on whether the accountholder had a 'use-it-or-lose-it' FSA, an FSA with a grace period, or an FSA with a rollover feature."  MORE >>

"What would it take for you to return to the office? ... From hybrid strategies to fully in office -- or somewhere in between -- expanding your perspective to include Commuter Benefits, plus weave in wellness and sustainability factors, may just be the win-win you need to wow your talent."  MORE >>

263 pages. "The estimated depletion date for the HI trust fund is 2028, 2 years later than projected in last year's report.... For the 75-year projection period, the HI actuarial deficit has decreased to 0.70 percent of taxable payroll from 0.77 percent in last year's report.... [T]he COVID-19 pandemic has had significant effects on the short-term financing and spending of the Medicare program, but the financial status of the trust funds has not materially changed. The Trustees project that expenditures will increase in future years at a faster pace than either aggregate workers' earnings or the economy overall and that, as a percentage of GDP, spending will increase from 3.9 percent in 2021 to 6.5 percent by 2096."  MORE >>