"Recent litigation centered around wellness programs requirements based on tobacco use serves as a reminder for employers of the importance of understanding their compliance obligations.... Employers should consider ... [1] Are individuals given the opportunity to earn wellness incentives each year? [2] Are the incentives compliant with the regulations limiting the value of the incentives? [3] Is [a reasonable alternative standard (RAS)] available under the plan? [4] Is the availability of the RAS disclosed in all materials describing the terms of the program? [5] Is the full incentive available to all similarly situated individuals? [6] Does the plan have a process for ensuring any incentives required to be paid retroactively due to completing an RAS are accounted for?"  MORE >>

"Revenue Ruling 2025-4 gives employers long-awaited guidance on the federal tax treatment of contributions and benefits mandated by state paid family and medical leave (PFML) laws. The revenue ruling also covers reporting and tax withholding requirements and provides transitional relief for 2025. The guidance does not address federal tax treatment of contributions to -- or benefits from -- equivalent private PFML plans (fully insured or self-insured) employers offer in lieu of participating in a state program."  MORE >>

"The amendment will become effective July 27, 2025.... [It] allows the employee or driver to use such leave to prepare for, or participate in, any judicial or administrative immigration proceeding involving the employee or driver or their family member. Additionally, the law outlines the verification process for such leave[.]"  MORE >>

"Mejia's counsel [argued that] absent a fiduciary duty to attempt to negotiate, the Plan's provision stating that Defendants would pay 'negotiated rates' if such rates exist would be rendered meaningless ... The Court finds that Defendants do not owe a contractual duty to attempt to negotiate -- or to negotiate -- on Mejia's behalf. The Court, however, finds that insofar as Defendants owe fiduciary duties to act in the best interest of Plan participants and beneficiaries ... Defendants have a fiduciary duty to attempt to negotiate with the Medical Providers." [Mejia v. Credence Mgmt. Solutions, No. 23-2028 (C.D. Calif. Apr. 21, 2025)]  MORE >>

"The practical effect of the court's potentially earthshaking declaration would seem to be that ... employers who have paid such excise taxes under Code Section 4980H are entitled to a refund of such taxes assuming the three-year statute of limitations for making a refund claim has not lapsed." [Faulk Company, Inc. v. HHS, No. 24-0609 (N.D. Tex. Apr. 10, 2025)]  MORE >>

"While its existing benefits package met the needs of many of its employees, one New York-based financial technology company found it was coming up short with its paid family leave (PFL) policy. Employees expressed a strong desire for a policy including salary continuation alongside their state-mandated PFL or disability benefits -- a benefit they observed at other tech firms."  MORE >>

"ERIC shares many of the frustrations regarding anti-competitive practices by PBMs and the lack of much needed price transparency.... [T]he Arkansas law could jeopardize Arkansans' access to both physical pharmacy locations and mail-order delivery pharmacies, causing patients to travel farther and pay more for medicines."  MORE >>

"Reviewing System and Organization Control (SOC) reports isn't just a compliance checkbox -- it's a vital risk management tool. A SOC report can offer an inside look at a provider's controls and the operating effectiveness of those controls, helping plan sponsors identify potential red flags."  MORE >>