"The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) in 2021 extended the ERISA 408(b)(2) fee disclosure requirements to group health plans.... These new rules give employers and plan fiduciaries unprecedented leverage with their service providers ... With this greater knowledge and understanding comes more risk of criticism that an employer or plan fiduciary could have looked closer -- and should have looked closer -- at fees and plan design in carrying out their fiduciary responsibilities."  MORE >>

"The rules will require that group coverage contain a new consumer protection notice explaining the coverage is not comprehensive, major-medical coverage. The plan must present the notice to prospective enrollees at enrollment time and re-enrollment. The new model notice that will be required for group coverage is included [in this article]."  MORE >>

"[The court found] that the employee's acts of informing her supervisor of her father's serious ailments, coupled with telling human resources in passing that she wanted to explore 'possibly getting FMLA,' were not sufficient to satisfy the employee's notice obligation under the [FMLA]. The court's ruling reinforces for employers the importance of implementing a clear procedure for FMLA leave requests." [Cerda v. Blue Cube Operations, LLC, No. 23-40404 (5th Cir. Mar. 19, 2024)]  MORE >>

"[B]efore 2005, as [employer contributions to employer-sponsored health insurance (ESHI)] increased as a share of compensation.... [T]he ratio of ESHI contributions to compensation plateaued after 2005 ... The question is whether the stabilization of employer contributions as a share of compensation is temporary or permanent. "  MORE >>

"The growth of gene therapy has put pressure on plan sponsors to review strategies for their covered population, including financial implications and decisions about coverage criteria."  MORE >>

"[1] Know whether you're subject to ERISA ... [2] Ensure you have a comprehensive and compliant written plan document ... [3] Understand ERISA reporting and disclosure requirements ... [4] Ensure your SPD and SMM delivery method is compliant ... [5] Stay aware of ERISA fiduciary obligations."  MORE >>

"Economists think technology has been responsible for between 25% and 50% of growth in health expenditure in OECD countries over the past 50 years, growth which has seen the sector's share of GDP grow relentlessly. In many of those countries it has achieved much. And yet, after decades of costly effort, stories still abound of incompatible IT systems, confidentiality breaches and paper records that need to be held on to in parallel to electronic health records. Is there any reason to think that AI can really sort this out?"  MORE >>