"The year-over-year rate increase will be 13%.... Covered employers may comply with the expenditure obligation by one or a combination of these methods: [1] Cash compensation ... [2] Payment to a third party like an insurer, a trust or a tax-favored health program ... [3] Costs and administrative expenses paid to a third party for coverage under a self-funded group health plan[.]"  MORE >>

"The State of Alabama's 'Adoption Promotion Act' [went] into effect on July 1, 2022, requiring qualifying employers throughout the state to provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for both the birth or care of a child during the first year after the child's birth or placement of an adopted child with the employee."  MORE >>

"The maximum amount of leave that can be taken within a 52-workweek period will increase from eight weeks to 12 weeks, regardless of the number of qualifying leave events in that 52-week period ... In addition, as of July 1, District employers' contributions to the Universal Paid Leave Fund will be reduced from 0.62 percent to 0.26 percent of an employee's salary."  MORE >>

"[1] Offer High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHP).... [2] Improve health literacy.... [3] Increase education.... [4] Focus on prevention.... [5] Build a culture of wellness.... [6] Promote worksite health initiatives.... [7] Chronic condition management."  MORE >>

"Plan sponsors ... should consider: [1] Unpredictability and uncertainty of state laws.... [2] Plan sponsor reaction.... [3] ERISA preemption.... [4] Extra-territorial application of state law.... [5] Tax considerations.... [6] Federal response.... [7] Medication-based abortions.... [8] Other state business restrictions.... [9] Protection of plan actions."  MORE >>

"Employers should conduct a census of the states in which their employees work and reside (which has become more challenging in the era of COVID-19 and remote work) and analyze the applicable laws in those states. Plan language that was permissible prior to Dobbs may no longer be permissible after Dobbs. This may require plan amendments and revisions to summary plan descriptions."  MORE >>