"This fact sheet outlines process updates CMS is making to increase compliance with the hospital price transparency requirements. CMS continues to explore additional ways to ensure that hospitals fully comply with the hospital price transparency requirements, including whether to propose additional changes through rulemaking."  MORE >>

"In the FAQs, the Departments 'encourage' plans to continue providing COVID-19 diagnostic testing coverage without cost-sharing or other requirements, and to notify participants of any changes in coverage of COVID-19 testing.... Employers may want to consider notifying participants that standard deadlines for these plan-related actions will apply again after the end of the Outbreak Period."  MORE >>

"Supervisors are generally not protected by the NLRA and therefore the McLaren Macomb decision should not apply to severance agreements provided to supervisors, except in very limited circumstances.... [M]aintaining and/or enforcing a previously entered severance agreement with unlawful provisions continues to be a violation of the NLRA."  MORE >>

"[B]ecause the company did not follow the employee handbook's procedures for terminating the severance plan, the Fourth Circuit held that the district court erred in finding that the company was entitled to summary judgment on the issue of whether the severance plan was eliminated." [Messer v. Bristol Compressors Int'l, LLC, No. 21-2363 (4th Cir. Apr. 3, 2023; unpub.)]  MORE >>

"81% of respondents experienced burnout in the year prior to the study, with one-third of respondents feeling less focused and just over a quarter (26%) planning on taking a leave of absence/sick leave.... [W]hat employees would like to see ... mental health days (41%), flexible schedules (40%), and additional benefits coverage (31%)."  MORE >>

"Today's workforce desires benefits that provide access to mental health practices they already engage with in their personal lives. Yoga, meditation, hypnotherapy, EFT/Tapping, acupressure, personal training, and mindfulness coaching are just a few of these oft requested therapies that you might consider adding to your roster of well-being benefits.... [T]hese holistic practices also work to improve clinical mental health outcomes."  MORE >>

"[T]hree ways Congress can make health coverage more affordable and accessible: [1] Expanding health plan options for employers and their employees. [2] Providing financial incentives to ensure employer coverage remains viable. [3] Enacting policies to lower the cost of health services and drugs to reduce premiums and out-of-pocket costs."  MORE >>

"Su, currently the acting secretary, must now be confirmed by a vote of the whole Senate. No Republicans have yet supported her confirmation publicly, and ... it is unclear if Democrats, with 48 Senators and three who caucus with them, have the votes to confirm Su on a pure party-line basis. A floor vote has yet to be scheduled."  MORE >>