"This rule finalizes an interim final rule that established the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program for Postal Service employees, Postal Service annuitants, and their eligible family members, pursuant to the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022. This Program will include health benefits plans available to United States Postal Service employees, Postal Service annuitants, and their eligible family members starting January 1, 2025."  MORE >>

"This Legal Sidebar explores the potential scope of the 2024 Section 1557 rule with respect to HHS's definition of 'health program or activity,' which the statute does not define, and discusses how the new rule differs from previous interpretations of that term. In addition to the Department's position, federal courts have also begun interpreting Section 1557's scope; this Sidebar discusses a few of those cases. The Sidebar concludes by offering several considerations for the 118th Congress, especially given the possibility of continued litigation surrounding the rule and its potential to impact the availability of and coverage for health care services." [LBS11160 May 6, 2024]  MORE >>

"The final regulations affirm a broad carveout for existing policies that provide 40 hours of paid leave (or a prorated equivalent) to be used for any reason. They also confirm that setting a carryover cap for the paid leave bank is permitted."  MORE >>

"The final rules confirm that carryover of unused Paid Sick Leave is required, even when frontloading. They also address the circumstances under which employers can deny an employee's request for Paid Leave. The rules do not provide any direction to employers as to how to calculate the 90-day lookback rate of pay contemplated by the Ordinance for certain non-exempt employees."  MORE >>

"In the aftermath of the Change Healthcare breach, healthcare entities should heed cybersecurity recommendations from regulatory bodies to prevent future attacks and mitigate post-attack enforcement actions.... Not only will alignment with agency recommendations prevent or deter future attacks, but it could likely mitigate the severity of enforcement actions imposed by such agencies in the aftermath of an attack."  MORE >>

"More organizations are implementing and expanding robust virtual care programs to supplement their traditional in-person offerings.... More states changed their laws to prohibiting exclusive telehealth platform arrangements, increasing competition among software companies and allowing individual clinics and hospitals to make decisions based on what works for them and their patients. There has been progress with payment parity -- reimbursing providers at the same rate for telehealth as in-person, but there is still a way to go."  MORE >>

20 pages. "On February 15, 2024, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury released the first two public-use files (PUFs), which contain data from the first two quarters of IDR operations in calendar year 2023. The Departments also published certain federal IDR supplemental tables that summarize the relevant data to provide additional transparency. This report provides an overview and analysis of the data contained in the PUFs and supplemental tables." [R48058 May 2, 2024]  MORE >>

"Cigna had used a productivity dashboard for years, but by 2019, these metrics began playing a more prominent role in the company's evaluations of medical directors, Day said. Now, making a fast decision seemed more important than making the right decision, she said. In February 2019 emails to her managers, Day openly questioned this system."  MORE >>

"Having a [written information security plan (WISP)] protects businesses and clients while providing a blueprint of action in the event of a security incident. In addition, a WISP can help if other events occur that can seriously disrupt a tax professional's ability to conduct normal business, including fire, flood, tornado, earthquake and theft. The Security Summit developed a plain language sample plan that tax pros can use for guidance in making their own WISP. The sample plan is available on the IRS website]."  MORE >>

"While the exceptions for government and church plans serve important policy objectives, they also present challenges and potential consequences."  MORE >>