49 presentation slides. Topics include: [1] Paid family and medical leave national landscape; [2] Growth of PFML in western states; [3] Oregon Paid Family & Medical Leave overview; [4] OR Family Leave Act (OFLA) persists; [5] Equivalent plan exemption application process.  MORE >>

"This ruling is significant in that it shows the increasing tension in jurisprudence between public health of employees and society-at-large on the one hand and the religious rights of private employers on the other.... [T]his ruling provides fertile ammunition for employers to argue that their religious beliefs justify their exemption from a whole host of otherwise required medical treatments, including birth control and Plan-B." [Braidwood Management, Inc. v. Becerra, No. 20-0283 (N.D. Tex. Sep. 7, 2022)]  MORE >>

24 pages. "During the past several years, the U.S. Department of Justice has stepped up enforcement of relevant laws governing manufacturer cost-sharing assistance and has collected billions of dollars in settlements with pharmaceutical companies and patient assistance organizations for allegedly steering Medicare Part D beneficiaries to specific drugs. This paper provides an overview of coupons and patient assistance programs, federal regulation, the commercial marketplace, and federal enforcement efforts." [R44264, updated Sep. 12, 2022]  MORE >>

"Increased paid family leave is an extremely attractive benefit to employees ... [U]nderstand how increased family planning options fit into a broader support system for employees and their families.... Adding fertility and family planning benefits can bolster DE&I efforts ... Technology will guide changes in fertility care."  MORE >>

"Employees will be able to contribute a portion of after-tax pay from their paycheck to an individual savings account. Starbucks will incentivize employees to participate by contributing $25 and $50 credits at savings milestones, up to a total of $250 per incentive-eligible partner ... [A] student loan management benefit ... will help student loan debtors manage and optimize their student loan payments with tools and resources including repayment options and loan refinancing, according to the release."  MORE >>

24 presentation slides. "[M]ajor legal considerations: [1] Patchwork benefits and compliance; [2] Leave laws; [3] Discrimination claims; [4] Protected activities."  MORE >>

"Number one is to consider self-insuring.... Plan design that encourages high-value care ... Care navigation and support for enrollees ... Collaborate with others."  MORE >>

"For each of the guidance documents, the organization should understand if the organization is performing the leading practices, how well they are performing them, and note any gaps, both in design and degree of available documentation.... Consider whether [1] fiduciary liability insurance covers cyber theft, [2] organizational cybersecurity insurance covers pension breaches and [3] service provider management program address cyber risk."  MORE >>

"Since the Supreme Court in Harris Trust looked to common law remedies under trust law in determining that an action could be maintained against a nonfiduciary under ERISA, and ERISA is rooted in the common law of trusts, it is useful as a starting point to consider the treatment of nonfiduciary liability at common law."  MORE >>