"Payroll deductions by employers will begin Jan. 1, 2027. Leave benefits will become available to eligible employees starting Jan. 3, 2028. This postponement follows the MDOL's proposal in February 2025 to delay implementation."  MORE >>

"On April 21, 2025, the Supreme Court is set to hear oral argument in Kennedy v. Braidwood, a constitutional challenge to a federal requirement on private health plans to cover clinical preventive services for millions of privately insured individuals.... [T]he Supreme Court will consider whether the coverage requirements based on Task Force recommendations violate the Appointments Clause of the Constitution. This Sidebar provides an overview of the relevant background and the parties' arguments before the Supreme Court, and it highlights certain considerations for Congress." [LSB11284 Apr. 11, 2025] [Braidwood Mgmt, Inc. v. Becerra, No. 23-10326 (5th Cir. Jun. 21, 2024; cert. pet. granted Jan. 10, 2025)]  MORE >>

"[B]ecause individuals can now review the amount a plan pays for various services and compare that information to other plans, health plan fiduciaries could be at risk if they fail to determine whether their plans' vendor arrangements reflect market pricing. A recent litigation trend underscores this risk."  MORE >>

"A recent wave of cases has attempted to apply the theory of liability for retirement plan excessive fee cases to health plans -- specifically, arrangements with pharmacy benefit managers. Though the cases thus far have been dismissed for lack of standing, health plan sponsors should consider reviewing their prescription drug arrangements (particularly the associated costs) and documenting a prudent fiduciary process in selecting and monitoring the health plan's service providers."  MORE >>

"Starting in 10 days, [HHS] may begin slashing regulations it considers to be unlawful or to exceed the agency's authority, according to a memorandum sent by the president on [April 9].... The HHS will cut 'unlawful' regulations without a notice-and-comment period for the public to respond.... According to the timeline in the memorandum, the vacating of regulations could start April 19."  MORE >>

"Nearly 70% of respondents predicted at least a 10% spike in pharmaceutical costs, driven largely by US dependence on Chinese imports for active pharmaceutical ingredients. Most of the hospital supply chain professionals surveyed (90%) anticipated major procurement disruptions and 94% of healthcare administrators said they plan to delay equipment upgrades to help manage financial strain."  MORE >>

"This brief examines market trends contributing to rising health costs and identifies several potential future federal and state policy issues to watch for throughout the rest of the year.... Weight loss drugs ... Other high-cost drugs and gene therapies ... Hospital costs  ... Federal policymaking on health cost ... State policymaking on health costs."  MORE >>

"Most people with private health insurance reported getting their coverage through their own job (61 percent) or through a spouse's job (20 percent).... Enrollment in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) that were not eligible to be paired with an HSA continued to fall, reaching 8 percent in 2024, after having reached 15 percent in 2020."  MORE >>

"Following the 60-day review period ordered in Executive Order 14219 to identify unlawful and potentially unlawful regulations, agencies shall immediately take steps to effectuate the repeal of any regulation, or the portion of any regulation, that clearly exceeds the agency's statutory authority or is otherwise unlawful. Agencies should give priority to the regulations in conflict with the United States Supreme Court decisions listed earlier in this memorandum. The repeal of each unlawful regulation shall be accompanied by a brief statement of the reasons that the 'good cause' exception applies."  MORE >>

"Because certain Pension Plan participants will be eligible to receive retirement benefits prior to their separation from employment once they attain age 59½, separation from employment would not be a condition to receiving retirement benefits under the Pension Plan for those participants. Accordingly, the participants covered by the proposed plan amendment who are at least 59½ and still actively employed would not be excluded from being considered eligible to receive retirement benefits under the third sentence of Section 1.401-14(b)(1)."  MORE >>

"Participants in employee benefit plans -- usually employees but sometimes their beneficiaries -- may be eligible for relief through retirement plan distributions, waivers of medical and/or prescription drug requirements, and extensions on tax filing and payment deadlines.... [P]lan sponsors are eligible for relief from some filing and payment deadlines if the plan is impacted by the LA wildfires.  MORE >>