"The bill ... adjusts how the premium is split between medical leave and family leave for employers participating in the state program: Employers will now be able to deduct the full employee share of the medical leave premium. For the family leave premium, employers may deduct up to an amount equal to the total family leave premium plus 45% of the medical leave premium, minus the full medical leave premium."  MORE >>

"Early 2026 brought two major federal actions that reshape how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are regulated and how plan fiduciaries oversee prescription drug benefits. ... Together these changes send a clear message that PBM arrangements are no longer something plan sponsors can treat as too technical or complicated to understand. Fiduciaries are expected not only to obtain PBM data but to evaluate it, document decisions, and monitor PBM performance over time."  MORE >>

"While prior legislative efforts chipped away at PBM practices through state laws and targeted federal rules, this statute takes a more structured approach by imposing transparency requirements, rebate pass-through obligations, and compensation reforms that directly affect both ERISA plan sponsors and Medicare Part D programs.... [S]takeholders that understand how to use the law will gain a strategic advantage. Those that do not will continue operating under legacy PBM arrangements that no longer reflect the regulatory landscape."  MORE >>

"Rewards such as lower major medical plan premiums or additional employer contributions to a health FSA, HRA, or HSA would be excluded from an employee's income and would not be subject to income or employment tax withholding, provided that applicable nondiscrimination requirements are satisfied. But rewards that take the form of cash or cash equivalents (e.g., gift cards or gift certificates) are subject to federal income and employment taxes and withholding. They are also reportable on the recipient's Form W-2."  MORE >>

"Months after taking approved leave for the birth of his child, the resident skipped a shift to attend a job interview, failed to follow call-out procedures, and sent a contemptuous email to his chief resident when asked about the absence. The chief resident issued a written reprimand and referred the matter to a disciplinary committee, which later suspended him for two weeks for unprofessional conduct. Even assuming the resident could establish a prima facie case of FMLA retaliation, the court held that he failed to show the program's explanation for the discipline was pretext." [Adefurin v. Meharry Medical College, No. 25-5610 (6th cir. Mar. 3, 2026; unpub.)]  MORE >>

"[S]peakers from the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the Purchaser Business Group on Health (PBGH, the outlier among a provider-dominated panel) each affirmed that increasing government reimbursement for physicians would help practices remain independent. That could stem the tide of practice acquisitions by health systems, payers and private equity that most witnesses -- and lawmakers -- agreed have pushed prices upward. "  MORE >>

"The Health Care Affordability and Mitigation Working Group met for the first time last week. Members discussed a 2026 work plan, outlining a fast-paced schedule to develop affordability recommendations for regulators and lawmakers. The initiative will focus on examining factors that drive health care costs and insurance premiums, including expenses within the health system that ultimately flow into insurance pricing."  MORE >>

"[F]rom 2000 through 2021, mental health and SUD nominal spending grew from $40.9 billion to $139.6 billion. Mental health and SUD accounted for 4.5 percent of all medical services spending in 2000 and 5.5 percent in 2021. Real per capita mental health and SUD spending grew at an average annual rate of 3.27 percent, which was faster than the growth rate for overall medical services (2.21 percent)."  MORE >>

"This guide breaks down how high deductible health insurance actually works, who it's a smart fit for, and where it can backfire, including real talk on costs, HSA benefits, and what families with frequent care needs should watch out for. Whether you're an HR leader building your benefits strategy or an employee staring down open enrollment, here's what you need to make the right call."  MORE >>

"[A] new investigation by STAT pulls back the curtain on how some are abusing laws intended to protect consumers from surprise bills, all to maximize their own profits at Americans' expense. Highlights of their investigation include: How bad actors abusing the arbitration system set up under the No Surprises Act are 'living lavishly.' ... How provider-driven abuses of the No Surprises Act are 'eroding the law's goal of protecting people from higher health care costs.' Reports of 'arrangements sources described as unethical and potentially illegal.' "  MORE >>