"The Agencies will move forward in enforcing the posting of these files as required by the Transparency in Coverage final rule.... The Agencies predict third-party developers and other entities will download, process, and compile this data, creating more advanced price transparency tools from the [machine readable files]. This data is not designed for member or consumer usage."  MORE >>

"No major substantive changes were made to the final forms and instructions for 2023 reporting.... The 2023 instructions include information on the new electronic filing threshold for information returns required to be filed on or after Jan. 1, 2024, which has been decreased to 10 or more returns"  MORE >>

"The new PCORI fee for policy and plan years that end on or after October 1, 2023 and before October 1, 2024 is $3.22; an increase of $0.22 per covered life as compared to the PCORI fee assessed on or after October 1, 2022 and before October 1, 2023."  MORE >>

"S.B. 848 guarantees time off from work following a miscarriage or other reproductive loss. As drafted, the term 'reproductive loss event' is defined to mean a failed adoption, failed surrogacy, miscarriage, stillbirth, or unsuccessful assisted reproduction. The law does not specifically include abortion in the list of qualifying events."  MORE >>

"NYC's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection promulgated new rules to clarify certain aspects of the ESSTA.... [1] Covered employees, accrual and usage ... [2] Notice and documentation ... [3] Notice of accrual and use on pay statements ... [4] Pay provisions ... [5] Sale of business ... [6] Penalties."  MORE >>

"When a U.S. District Court struck down the ACA's Preventive Services Mandate, payers vocalized support for continued coverage. Health plan and employer group appeal briefs laud preventive services but point the finger at one another for putting future no-cost coverage at risk. This back and forth highlights one of healthcare's many if/then problems and how regulatory 'sticky floors' can help."  MORE >>

"Newborns in 2019 could be expected to take prescription drugs for roughly half their lives: 47.54 years for women and 36.84 years for men. The number of years individuals can expect to take five or more drugs increased substantially. Americans also experienced particularly dramatic increases in years spent taking statins, antihypertensives, and antidepressants. There are also important differences in prescription drug use by race and ethnicity[.]"  MORE >>

"The following practices may lead to violations under the DBRA, resulting in failure to pay the applicable prevailing wage rate ... [1] Misclassifying laborers and mechanics for the type of work performed; [2] Failing to obtain prior approval from the [DOL] for unfunded fringe benefit plans; [3] Failing to annualize (or incorrectly annualizing) the hourly equivalent of fringe benefit amounts ... [4] Paying hourly rates and/or fringe benefit amounts pursuant to a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), where the CBA specifies rates lower than those required in the applicable wage determination; and [5] Improperly taking credit towards fringe benefit obligations for certain expenses"  MORE >>