HR Regulation

A Connecticut claims management firm misappropriated client health care funds and defrauded lenders by using false and inflated invoices, according to the Justice Department.

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.

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.

The new state transparency laws generally fail to account for one form of compensation ripe for bias - bonuses, which in some industries, such as finance and insurance, are one of the biggest parts of total compensation.

Despite differing objectives, increasing transparency requires stakeholders to work together for common good, according to a panel discussion at the recent Self-Insurance Institute of America's (SIIA) Price Transparency Forum in Kansas City.

"If a company is looking to enforce a contract, it's after the fact. The damage has already been suffered," said David Huberman, general counsel of Code42.

We recently caught up with Nick Karls, director of compliance at Holmes Murphy and Associates, for a wide-ranging conversation on virtual care trends, compliance updates, and the key roles that benefits advisors will play in guiding employers in 2023 and beyond.

BetterHealth, an online therapy company, did not admit wrongdoing in their settlement. "This industry-standard practice is routinely used by some of the largest health providers," the company said in a statement.