"While the [Executive Order] does not immediately change regulations, it directs federal agencies to issue guidance, initiate rulemakings and deliver recommendations on a range of prescription drug issues. Key areas include reforming IRA implementation, especially the treatment of small molecule drugs under the 'pill penalty,' as well as expanding drug importation, improving pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) fee transparency, reevaluating hospital drug reimbursement and promoting access to discounted insulin and epinephrine."  MORE >>

"While the employer argued that the employee did not establish an injury that can be traced to the allegedly improper notice, the court concluded that the employee had done enough to establish her claims at this stage. The court also ruled that the 'good faith' standard no longer applies to employer distribution of effective COBRA notices, emphasizing that the notice must meet specific legal standards established by the [DOL] regulations." [Marrow v. E.R. Carpenter Company, Inc., No. 23-2959 (M.D. Fla. Feb. 4, 2025)]  MORE >>

"The package collectively targets several aspects of the pharmaceutical landscape, including pharmaceutical benefit manager (PBM) pricing practices, next-generation drug releases, patent portfolio assertions, and use of [FDA] regulatory mechanisms.... [It] is significant that the six bills were moved to the full Senate with bipartisan support."  MORE >>

"[E]mployers can play an important role in raising mental health awareness, reducing stigma and creating supportive work environments. Potential steps include ... [1] Understand the importance of mental health ... [2] Evaluate current mental health benefits ... and identify opportunities for improvement ... [3] Offer mental health training and education across all levels of the organization ... [4] Collect employee feedback to understand their needs and priorities."  MORE >>

"Those in the education and health services industry have the lowest average monthly healthcare premium for employees at $147.11, but the highest premium for employers at $601.51. Employees in the leisure and hospitality industries have the highest average monthly healthcare premium at $173.79, with an employer premium of $503.77."  MORE >>

"[L]ess than 1% of plan members account for up to 40% of total healthcare spend.... [H]ospitals are anything but passive recipients of this financial anomaly. They engineer it. These aren't just random high-dollar cases. Hospital execs need a handful of these 'whales' every month to hit their revenue targets.... So what's their strategy? It's not just happenstance. It's a deliberate, three-pronged playbook."  MORE >>

"To survive a motion to dismiss under ERISA Section 406(a)(1)(C), a plaintiff must only plausibly allege: [1] A fiduciary caused the plan to engage in a transaction; [2] The fiduciary knew or should have known it involved furnishing goods, services, or facilities; [3] The transaction was with a party in interest." [Cunningham v. Cornell Univ., No. 23-1007 (S.Ct. Apr. 17, 2025)]  MORE >>

"Justice Sotomayor suggested that courts ... may require plaintiffs to file a reply to defendants' answers ... (Justice Alito echoed that suggestion and took it one step further: 'District courts should strongly consider utilizing this option -- and employing the other safeguards that the Court describes -- to achieve 'the prompt disposition of insubstantial claims.')" [Cunningham v. Cornell Univ., No. 23-1007 (S.Ct. Apr. 17, 2025)]  MORE >>

"[1] Comprehensive healthcare coverage ... [2] Retirement and financial wellness benefits ... [3] Flexible work and leave policies ... [4] Mental health support beyond employee assistance programs ... [5] Telemedicine and virtual care."  MORE >>