"To be ready to comply with the new Law by February 22, 2026, New York City employers should: [1] Review and update their leave policies to reflect the new requirements, particularly the separate bank of unpaid sick and safe time. [2] Remove any policies related to the TSCA. [3] Train managers on the new law so that they may be able to handle requests by employees for leave."  MORE >>

"[H]aving a vendor partner complete the analysis is somewhat like asking a fox to guard the henhouse. A third-party review gives an unbiased, objective perspective to provide accurate evaluations of a carrier's adherence to regulations and standards. This independence improves credibility with stakeholders, identifying potential risks by providing a more comprehensive review of industry practices, and is often necessary for demonstrating compliance to external parties like the [DOL] or plaintiff's attorneys."  MORE >>

"In response to the rising prices, employers may be considering tightening up eligibility requirements for weight-loss drugs, like increasing the BMI threshold or requiring employees to be enrolled in weight-management programs."  MORE >>

"UnitedHealthcare's new policy says remote patient monitoring (RPM) is only medically necessary in two instances: to treat chronic heart failure and hypertension during pregnancy. It explicitly says the use of RPM for Type 2 diabetes and hypertension -- two of the most popular uses of RPM -- will no longer be covered."  MORE >>

"Almost 4 in 10 disputes submitted to the IDR process are deemed ineligible by insurers, often due to errors such as resubmitted cases, claims covered by state laws, or services involving in-network providers. Both payers and providers face mounting costs and delays as IDR entities struggle to filter invalid cases, complicating cash flow for health systems. CFOs should tighten eligibility checks, track dispute-to-payment metrics, and align closely with revenue cycle teams to minimize rejected filings and improve reimbursement efficiency."  MORE >>

"Health systems, doctor groups, and insurers are merging and coalescing into ever-bigger giants. While these mergers are good for business, studies show the escalating consolidation in health care is driving up prices, harming patient outcomes, and decreasing choice for people who need care. A recent study found that six years after hospitals acquired other hospitals, they had raised prices by 12.9%, with hospitals that engaged in multiple acquisitions raising their prices by 16.3%."  MORE >>

"From 2021 to 2023, ... the CMS Innovation Center tested the Part D Senior Savings model, which lowered Medicare Part D insulin out-of-pocket costs to a maximum of $35 for beneficiaries in model-participating plans.... The goal of this article is ... to offer five design and evaluation considerations for future prescription drug models that the Innovation Center is interested in designing and testing. [The authors] discuss implications of each consideration for key stakeholders based on [their] interviews with participating plans, manufacturers, and beneficiaries."  MORE >>

"[As] Americans live longer, the challenge is not just adding years to their lives, but making sure that time includes quality, health and financial security. ... [S]peakers explored innovative strategies and systems intended to help close the gap between what people need and what the current system delivers, given today’s demographic realities."  MORE >>