"Voluntary benefits act as a shield against unexpected medical expenses and the mental, physical, and financial stresses associated with them. This makes them an incredibly effective way to promote employee wellbeing and provide your plan members and their dependents with an optional way to protect themselves from financial hardship."  MORE >>

"State officials are continuing to negotiate with makers of weight-loss drugs in an effort to reach a better financial deal that would allow coverage of the drugs through the State Health Plan ... The State Health Plan stopped covering weight loss drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound on [April 1]."  MORE >>

"While offering [a lifestyle spending account (LSA)] generally can be relatively simple from a legal standpoint, there are some important considerations employers should understand ... Because LSAs are not tax-advantaged benefits, employers ... are free to determine the dollar amount available, the benefits available for reimbursement, who will be eligible for the LSA, and the process for reimbursement of expenses."  MORE >>

19 pages. "This paper describes policy concepts for consideration, including collaboration with the private sector to develop and implement a Manufacturer Resiliency Assessment Program (MRAP) and a Hospital Resilient Supply Program (HRSP). As described, the combination of these programs would bring transparency into the market, link purchasing and payment decisions to supply chain resilience practices, and incentivize investments in supply chain resilience and diversification in the supply chain -- including domestic manufacturing -- at a scale that would drive impactful change in the market."  MORE >>

"Notwithstanding the challenges faced by OCR in enforcing HIPAA compliance amidst rising cybersecurity threats and increasing regulatory responsibilities, the Report provides valuable insight into the OCR investigation process.... [The] steeper penalties resulting from failure to maintain recognized security practices should serve as a cautionary tale to covered entities and business associates. Based on the findings highlighted in the Report, here are ... recommendations for entities regulated by HIPAA to improve compliance and enhance data protection efforts."  MORE >>

"[T]he 221st open meeting of the [ERISA Advisory Council] will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.... The meeting will take place at the [DOL offices in Washington DC]. The meeting will also be accessible via teleconference and some participants, as well as members of the public, may elect to attend virtually.  ... The purpose of the open meeting is to set the topics to be addressed by the Council in 2024. Also, the ERISA Advisory Council members will receive an update from leadership of the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)."  MORE >>