"The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently issued an opinion clarifying when an employer may be held liable for interfering with its employees' rights to take leave under the [FMLA]. This opinion is a reminder of the importance of employers providing adequate and accurate information about the FMLA to their employees and making the process for obtaining FMLA leave as straightforward as possible." [Ziccarelli v. Dart, No. 19-3435 (7th Cir. Jun. 1, 2022)]  MORE >>

"Sponsors of plans that do not explicitly address coverage for abortion-related services might consider amending their plans to clearly exclude or provide such coverage.... Sponsors wishing to continue or expand abortion coverage may do so in a number of ways, but they should be mindful of the many considerations involved. [1] Access to abortion ... [2] Concierge services ... [3] Travel benefits ... [4] HRAs ... [5] HIPAA ... [6] Civil or criminal liability ... [7] Contraceptive coverage under the [ACA]."  MORE >>

"IRS Notice 2019-45 allows HSA-eligible health plans to cover 14 medications and health services prior to meeting the plan deductible.... 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 (0.03%) to 1.5 percent."  MORE >>

"The child care crisis costs $57 billion in revenue, earnings, and productivity losses annually for employers and employees alike.... [E]mployers can support employees through this crisis with by offering smart solutions that help parents find and fund child care.... [1] Alleviate the stress of finding care ... [2] Make affording care easier ... [3] Leverage Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)."  MORE >>

"20% of adults said they or their family have received an unexpected medical bill this year, and 22% of them were charged over $1,000. 45% of adults said they are confident they would know their emergency room bill up front. 63% of adults said they're confident they would be able to address a surprise bill that they believed to be illegal with a provider or insurer."  MORE >>

"UnitedHealth Group Inc has been hit with a proposed class action accusing it of systematically underpaying for telehealth services since the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit ... seeks to represent a class of 'at least hundreds and likely thousands' of beneficiaries of UnitedHealth insurance plans covered by [ERISA]." [CP v. UnitedHealthcare Insurance Co., No. 22-0850 (D. Conn. complaint filed Jul. 7, 2022)]  MORE >>

"The health system has added two new centers, covering musculoskeletal and bariatric health, to its program, giving business leaders a direct link to specialist services and allowing them to better manage employee healthcare costs.... Businesses are choosing this model not only to reduce the complexity of health plans and cut administrative costs, but to better manage soaring employee healthcare costs and boost health and wellness through more focused, evidence-driven care programs, including preventive care."  MORE >>