"What's New: [1] Preventive care for purposes of qualifying as a high deductible health plan under section 223.... [2] Expenses treated as amounts paid for medical care."  MORE >>

"The proposed regulations would require numerous additional written policies and procedures, impose substantial ongoing maintenance efforts, and address compliance shortfalls identified by HHS in recent enforcement investigations. The proposed regulations also offer HHS's views on how the HIPAA rules apply to AI."  MORE >>

"[As] stewards of worksite employee and client company data -- and as sponsors of group health plans -- PEOs will be greatly impacted by the revised requirements for data classification, security, contractual requirements, and operational workflows. PEOs face unique challenges and should therefore pay close attention to these potential regulatory changes[.]"  MORE >>

"Paperwork Burden Protection and Employer Reporting Improvement Acts ease administrative burdens for ACA reporting ... Telehealth safe harbor for high-deductible health plans ended December 31, 2024 ... Fiduciary certification under MHPAEA due January 1, 2025 (for calendar year plans) ...HIPAA policies and procedures and business associate updates to comply with final HIPAA rule.'

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"Prenatal leave can be used in increments of one hour at a time. Employers are not required to pay out any unused prenatal leave hours to an employee upon separation. The New York State Department of Labor recently issued FAQ guidance to help employers navigate the paid prenatal personal leave mandate. The guidance clarifies a number of key issues."  MORE >>

"The standards that ERISA fiduciaries owe to the plans they oversee have been called 'among the highest duties known to law… more exacting than the duties imposed upon common law trustees.' In recent years, ERISA fiduciaries of retirement plans have experienced heightened scrutiny from plan participants ... Now, ... plaintiffs have taken aim at the fiduciaries of ERISA health and welfare plans, too. These cases ... present a variety of risks and potential liabilities that employers must understand and monitor."  MORE >>

"Many individuals are in desperate need of funds due to injuries, damage, and other unexpected expenses caused by the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. Employers can aid wildfire victims with tax-free payments, paid leave, and relief organizations. This LawFlash outlines [IRS] Section 139 guidance, leave donation programs, and tax-exempt options to assist employees with housing, medical costs, and other necessities during natural disasters."  MORE >>

"As employers grapple with including GLP-1s in their benefits packages, they face a complex decision that boils down to two main factors: human resources and finance. On one side, there's the potential for improved employee health and productivity. On the other, employers face significant costs and implementation challenges. Navigating this terrain requires a delicate balance of fiscal responsibility and commitment to employee well-being."  MORE >>

"[M]oving employees and dependents currently covered by district plans to the state system could save employees a total of $64 million to $69 million annually. Because of the way the state plan is structured, those employee savings would essentially translate to equal added costs for their school district employers[.]"  MORE >>