"The Chicago region joins New Jersey (statewide) and the following cities and regions with commuter benefit laws: the San Francisco Bay Area; the California cities of Berkeley and Richmond; the city and county of San Francisco; the San Francisco International Airport; Washington, D.C.; New York City; Philadelphia; and Seattle. Employers in these jurisdictions must offer eligible employees commuter benefits that meet specific requirements."  MORE >>

"Employers should confirm whether their health plans’ prescription drug coverage is creditable or non-creditable and prepare to send their Medicare Part D disclosure notices before Oct. 15, 2023. To make the process easier, employers often include Medicare Part D notices in open enrollment packets they send out prior to Oct. 15."  MORE >>

"Here are several steps employers can take to address the MHPAEA within their benefits plans: [1] Understand the law ... [2] Review health plans ... [3] Work with benefit administrators ... [4] Evaluate network adequacy ... [5] Monitor compliance ... [6] Address disparities."  MORE >>

"Out-of-pocket health care costs for employed women in the United States are estimated to be $15 billion higher per year than for employed men ... And this financial burden on women persists even when excluding maternity-related services. How can businesses and health insurers help close the cost gap and address gender bias in health care?"  MORE >>

"Looking to 2024 ... most employers will experience healthcare trend between 6% and 7.5%, with the average trend falling around 6.5%.... For the employer that is prepared to actively manage their health plan, there are ways to manage this uncertainty and increase the probability of being on the lower end of that healthcare trend range."  MORE >>

"Employers bracing for a major hike in health care costs are retooling their benefits, aiming to provide perks better targeted to workers' needs as they closely mind the bottom line.... Rather than adding on a host of new benefits, employers are trying to shore up gaps in coverage of areas like mental health and women's health while also keeping a lid on costs[.]"  MORE >>

"While provisions in the MEPA Act would address some of the most-scrutinized PBM business strategies, they do not adequately address a few key issues. These include lowering patient out-of-pocket costs, improving public- and state-level transparency of key data, and extending the stated reforms to private insurance plans beyond the Medicare program. [This article discusses] the rationale for these policies and why including them would strengthen federal PBM legislation."  MORE >>

"This annual notice provides the 2023-2024 special per diem rates for taxpayers to use in substantiating the amount of ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred while traveling away from home, specifically [1] the special transportation industry meal and incidental expenses (M&IE) rates, [2] the rate for the incidental expenses only deduction, and [3] the rates and list of high-cost localities for purposes of the high-low substantiation method."  MORE >>

"Taxpayers affected by Hurricane Lee in parts of Massachusetts that began Sept. 15, 2023, now have until Feb. 15, 2024, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments,  ... [I]ndividuals and households affected by Hurricane Lee that reside or have a business in Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties qualify for tax relief."  MORE >>

"Taxpayers affected by Hurricane Lee in parts of Maine that began Sept. 15, 2023, now have until Feb. 15, 2024, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments ... [I]ndividuals and households affected by Hurricane Lee that reside or have a business in Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington, and York counties in Maine qualify for tax relief."  MORE >>

"[1] Advanced strategic planning.... [2] Collaborate to align HR and Finance metrics with company objectives.... [3] Evaluate outsourced partnerships.... [4] Utilize technology to drive efficiencies.... [5] Measure everything.... [6] Educate and value."  MORE >>

"CMS projects that [national health expenditures] as a share of GDP will grow faster than in the previous decade, leading to a significant increase in [employer-sponsored health insurance] as a share of compensation. But, if ESHI participation and demand for family plans decline as they have in recent years, these two factors should offset the growth in healthcare expenditures.... The potential increase in ESHI as a percentage of compensation would slow wage growth and erode Social Security finances. A key question is whether the decline in participation among low earners and the demand for family plans will continue."  MORE >>