"The following plan design requirements have changed for 2023: [1] Limits on cost sharing for essential health benefits; [2] Health FSA contribution limits; [3] Coverage affordability percentages under the employer-shared responsibility rules; [4] Dollar amounts for calculating employer-shared responsibility penalties."  MORE >>

"[T]he Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA), a California law protecting the confidentiality of individually identifiable medical information obtained by healthcare providers, health insurers, and their contractors, was amended to prohibit the disclosure of medical information related to sensitive services ... Specifically, this prohibits the disclosure of medical information to anyone other than the enrollee without the individual's express written authorization, including the policyholder or parent of a minor patient."  MORE >>

"GAO examined the individual, small group, and large group markets ... Each of the three markets in 2020 was concentrated in at least 42 states (including the District of Columbia). The individual and small group markets generally became more concentrated in recent years. The median market share of the top three issuers in each market increased by 12 and 10 percentage points, respectively, from 2011 through 2020. With these increases, their median market share was at least 97 percent in both markets in 2020." [GAO-23-105672, Nov. 7, 2022]  MORE >>

"Class members consist of 9,000 former employees, all of whom received the deficient COBRA notices between December 15, 2017, and February 9, 2021, and did not opt to receive continued COBRA coverage. These individuals will receive estimated net payments of between $7 and $10." [Johnson v. McDonald's Corp., No. 21-24339 (S.D. Fla. settlement agreement filed Sep. 22, 2022, approved Oct. 27, 2022)]  MORE >>

"How will the recent inflationary environment impact future medical care cost increases and OPEB liabilities? The answer varies depending on whether we are talking about long-term or short-term future medical care cost increases."  MORE >>

"The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) ... contains an 86-page blueprint laying out which drugs are on the table, implementation timelines, 'factors' to be considered, and rules of engagement for the government and drug companies.... Two key decisions ... will have an outsized effect on all that follows: How aggressively will the government negotiate for prices below a ceiling the new law has already set? And how will the government weave evidence on value into its bids?"  MORE >>

"[L]egislative committees in Oregon and Washington are looking at new proposals for state-based universal health care. Oregon's task force report was completed in September, while Washington's 'baseline report' was finished this month.... [E]ach assumes something like Senator Bernie Sanders's Medicare for All. All state residents would have coverage, covered benefits would be generous and comprehensive, and the new programs would be state-run."  MORE >>

26 pages.  Employee benefits items begin on page 4.  MORE >>