"An employee who chooses to participate in an FSA can contribute up to $3,300 through payroll deductions during the 2025 plan year.... If the plan allows, the employer may also contribute to an employee's FSA. If the employee's spouse has a plan through their employer, the spouse can also contribute up to $3,300 to that plan.... For FSAs that permit the carryover of unused amounts, the maximum carryover amount to 2025 is $660, increasing from $640 in tax year 2024. The carryover doesn't affect the maximum amount of salary reduction contributions that can be made."  MORE >>

"Covered entities and business associates are invited to conduct risk assessments that review emerging social engineering threats, and deploy safeguards such as anti-phishing technologies, scanning web links or attachments, and using machine learning or behavioral analysis to detect and prevent potential threats. The newsletter points out that individuals are often the 'weakest link' in exposing covered entities and business associates to social engineering threats and outlines how HIPAA covered entities, business associates, and individuals can defend against them."  MORE >>

"Increasingly, health plans are relying on AI to streamline internal operations, including to automate review of prior authorization requests.... [The Physicians Make Decisions Act] provides that a determination of medical necessity must be made only by a licensed physician or a licensed health care professional who is competent to evaluate the specific clinical issues involved in the health care services requested by the provider. In other words, the buck stops with the provider, and AI cannot replace the provider's role."  MORE >>

"Nebraska, Missouri, and Alaska joined 18 states and the District of Columbia with state-mandated paid leave laws. This is in addition to the roughly two dozen city and county paid sick leave mandates across the United States. While most of the existing laws have been enacted by state legislatures, these three paid sick leave laws were passed through ballot measures on November 5, 2024."  MORE >>

"On October 30, 2024, a Fifth Circuit panel unanimously reversed a ruling by a Texas district court judge to vacate certain regulatory provisions related to the NSA's QPA methodology.... This article will examine the Fifth Circuit panel's decision in detail, including insights into how courts approach disputed statutory provisions after the Supreme Court's decision in Loper Bright[.]" [Texas Medical Assoc. v. HHS, No. 23-40605 (5th Cir. Oct. 30, 2024)]  MORE >>

"In litigation challenging an exclusion for gender-affirming surgeries under the TRICARE program (the health program for military personnel, retirees, and their dependents), a Maine district court has held that the exclusion violated the Equal Protection rights of two transgender women who were covered under the program as dependents of former US military servicemembers." [Doe v. Austin, III, No. 24-6613 (D. Me. Nov. 1, 2024)]  MORE >>

11 pages. "In 2022, per-capita spending on personal health care varied significantly across states. Spending was highest in the District of Columbia, at $15,526. This was more than 90% higher than in Utah, which was the lowest spending state at $8,076.... For personal health care overall, nationwide per-capita spending was $10,714, while the ten highest spending states averaged $13,717, 50% higher than the $9,074 average spending by the ten lowest spending states. "  MORE >>

"The bill [Int. 1089-2024] would add 'care of a covered animal' for purposes of obtaining a medical diagnosis of the treatment of physical illnesses, injuries, or medical conditions that need 'preventive medical care' as a reason entitling employees to take leave under the ESSTA. The term 'covered animal' would be defined as 'an employee's animal that is a service animal or is an animal kept primarily for companionship in compliance with all applicable laws.' "  MORE >>

2-page chart includes 2025 limits for qualified retirement plans, IRAs, PBGC, Social Security, and health and fringe benefit plans, along with corresponding limits for 2024 and 2023.  MORE >>