Republican lawmakers are calling the Biden administration’s plan to extend the Medicare trust fund’s solvency a tax hike on small businesses. According to this InsideHealthPolicy article, US House Committee on Ways and Means Republicans say their own legislation would protect Medicare benefits if the country runs against its spending limit. Read more here.

The post GOP Calls Biden’s Medicare Plans a Tax Hike on Small Businesses appeared first on EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG.

https://www.employeebenefitsblog.com/2023/03/gop-calls-bidens-medicare-plans-a-tax-hike-on-small-businesses/

On February 6, a US district court in Texas vacated provisions of the No Surprises Act final rule related to the independent dispute resolution (IDR) process for determining payment for out-of-network services. The district court granted summary judgment to the Texas Medical Association, which had brought suit against the US Departments of Health and Human […]

The post District Court Vacates Provisions of No Surprises Act Final Rule appeared first on EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG.

https://www.employeebenefitsblog.com/2023/03/district-court-vacates-provisions-of-no-surprises-act-final-rule/

On January 30, 2023, the Biden administration announced its intention to make final extensions of both the COVID-19 National Emergency (NE) and the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) through May 11, 2023, at which point both will end. These emergency declarations have been in place for nearly three years and have enabled the government to […]

The post How Employers Need to Prepare for the End of the COVID Public Health Emergency and National Emergency appeared first on EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG.

https://www.employeebenefitsblog.com/2023/03/how-employers-need-to-prepare-for-the-end-of-the-covid-public-health-emergency-and-national-emergency/

The key lesson coming out of the pandemic for business and HR leaders is not to switch entirely to remote work simply because that’s what they’ve been doing for the past…

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a proposed rule regarding Contract Year 2024 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs. This proposed rule includes a range of proposals addressing popular topics, including marketing and prior authorization, along with other significant changes to utilization […]

The post CMS Issues Broad-Ranging Medicare Advantage and Part D Proposed Rule appeared first on EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG.

https://www.employeebenefitsblog.com/2023/02/cms-issues-broad-ranging-medicare-advantage-and-part-d-proposed-rule/

The Federal Trade Commission’s newly proposed rules that would prohibit most noncompete clauses in employment represent a seismic shift for business. In this Barron’s article, McDermott Partner Michael Peregrine says corporate leadership should “take very seriously” the threat that federal antitrust policy presents to business operations and strategic development. “This government activity has risen to […]

The post The FTC’s Noncompete Plans Are Part of a Sea Change for Business appeared first on EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG.

https://www.employeebenefitsblog.com/2023/02/the-ftcs-noncompete-plans-are-part-of-a-sea-change-for-business/

A Massachusetts federal judge recently gave a major win to Schneider Electric in an employee benefits lawsuit brought by former workers. According to this Law360 article, seven former Schneider Electric employees accused the company and its investment manager of running afoul of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 when they replaced well-performing funds […]

The post ERISA 401(k) Fee Case Victory for Schneider appeared first on EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG.

https://www.employeebenefitsblog.com/2023/02/erisa-401k-fee-case-victory-for-schneider/

The Biden administration recently proposed revising the process behind an outlet for pharmaceutical companies to resolve price fights for those participating in the 340B drug discount program. According to this Bloomberg article, disputes between providers and pharmaceutical companies were in limbo as the industry waited for the Biden administration to replace an administrative dispute resolution […]

The post Drug Discount Review Boards Proposed by Biden Health Agency appeared first on EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG.

https://www.employeebenefitsblog.com/2023/01/drug-discount-review-boards-proposed-by-biden-health-agency/

On January 5, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a proposed rule that would prohibit employers from using noncompete agreements with their employees or independent contractors. This proposal arises from a preliminary finding by the FTC that noncompetes constitute an unfair method of competition in violation of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC […]

The post FTC Proposes Rule Banning Noncompete Agreements appeared first on EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG.

https://www.employeebenefitsblog.com/2023/01/ftc-proposes-rule-banning-noncompete-agreements/

We recently reported on an FAQ issued December 23, 2022 (FAQ About Affordable Care Act and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Implementation Part 56) by the US Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury (collectively, the Departments). The FAQ provides limited, albeit welcome, relief by extending the time for reporting information under the prescription drug data […]

The post Prescription Drug Data Reporting: What the “Good Faith Compliance” Extension Really Means for Self-Funded Group Health Plans appeared first on EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG.

https://www.employeebenefitsblog.com/2023/01/prescription-drug-data-reporting-what-the-good-faith-compliance-extension-really-means-for-self-funded-group-health-plans/