"The stand-alone telehealth relief under the ACA is available until the end of the latest plan year that begins on or before the last day of the PHE. For calendar-year plans, this relief would last until December 31, 2023. When an employer ends its stand-alone telehealth benefit, it may need to provide participants a 60-day notice of a material reduction in benefits."  MORE >>

"The IRS has issued a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to provide guidance as to whether certain costs related to nutrition, wellness, and general health are medical expenses that may be paid or reimbursed on a tax-exempt basis under a group health plan, health savings account (HSA), health flexible spending arrangement (FSA), or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA)."  MORE >>

"Paid Leave Oregon does not exempt from its contribution requirements employers and employees that are parties to a CBA, unless the CBA provides benefits at least equal to the benefits provided under the state program. Employers' obligations under Paid Leave Oregon, the state's paid family and medical leave program, began on January 1, 2023."  MORE >>

"The U.S. Justice Department has dismissed its own appeal challenging UnitedHealth Group's nearly $8 billion acquisition last year of Change Healthcare ... The healthcare deal was seen as a blow to the Biden administration's tougher enforcement of antitrust issues." [U.S. v. UnitedHealth Group Inc. and Change Healthcare Inc., No. 22-5301 (D.C. Cir. stipulation of voluntary dismissal filed Mar. 20, 2023)]  MORE >>

"The struggle to provide certainty on employment issues to the private sector in Puerto Rico is not over. The Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives is seeking an injunction to stay the district court decision declaring null and void the controversial 2022 labor reform, Act 41-2022. Signed in June 2022, Act 41-2022 introduced changes to the statutory probationary period, vacation and sick leave accrual, and the way the annual Christmas Bonus is accumulated, among other requirements." [Financial Oversight and Management Bd. for Puerto Rico v. Urrutia No. 22-0063, 17-BK-3283 (D. Puerto Rico Mar. 3, 2023; motion for injunctive relief filed Mar. 16, 2023; notice of appeal to 1st Cir. Mar. 16, 2023)]   MORE >>

"The Biden administration's decision to end the COVID-19 public health emergency in May will institute sweeping changes across the health care system ... In response to the pandemic, the federal government in 2020 suspended many of its rules on how care is delivered. That transformed essentially every corner of American health care -- from hospitals and nursing homes to public health and treatment for people recovering from addiction."  MORE >>

"Almost 75% of employees felt their mental and physical health worsened or stayed the same year-over-year. However, 60% of HR leaders thought their workforce health improved. There is also a disconnect between employee needs and how much they're tapping company benefits to fill those needs. 64% of employees are struggling with their mental health. However, only 19% used their company's mental health benefits."  MORE >>

"[N]ot only did over nine in 10 (91%) employees tell surveyors mental health was negatively impacting their productivity, but the usage of benefit offerings already in place by employees was extremely low. Less than a fifth (19%) of employees said they used their mental health care benefits in 2022."  MORE >>

"[This poll] predicts by the end of 2026: ... [1] Retirement plan coverage among employers with fewer than 100 employees will have equaled coverage among employers of 100 or more employees. [2] Flexible benefits and total rewards programs will have grown in popularity ... [3] Financial well-being benefits, such as mortgage or rent assistance, credit improvement, and student loan repayment programs, will be offered by more than 50% of employers.... [4] More than two-thirds of employers will offer high-deductible health plans (HDHP) and health savings accounts (HSA)."  MORE >>