Compliance

Starting in 2026, a proposed CMS rule would require plans to respond to a standard request within seven days, typically, instead of the current 14, and within 72 hours for urgent requests.

Benefits advisors and brokers need to understand price transparency from the participant and provider perspectives, the compliance mandates new federal regulations aim to achieve, and most importantly, what strategies benefits professionals can take to optimize their role and value.

Also, level funding is a midway approach for employers ready to move away from a fully insured plan while keeping the consistency and predictability that came with it.

Renewal of the state's contract to procure specialty pharmacy prescriptions, which was set to take effect May 1, was halted after the pharmacy chain announced its refusal to sell mifepristone in 20 states.

In a new memo, the labor department provides clarity on differentiating short breaks (less than 20 minutes) from longer meal breaks, as well as FMLA leave eligibility.

New transparency rules are generating vast amounts of pricing information; however, the health care industry is finding that while collecting data is one thing, making sense of it can be something else entirely

Together, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the PUMP Act place new requirements on employers with 15 or more employees to accommodate workers, including many exempt employees.

Effective communication and training can help employees and companies navigate these hard times and emerge with a strong culture.