Update

The National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators sent a letter to the IRS and the Treasury, urging clarification on age-60 catch-up contributions and plan participation for part-time workers.

Employers need to ensure that employees are informed about changes to their health benefits, regarding COVID testing and vaccines, and offer coverage to those affected by the suspension of Medicaid dis-enrollments.

Under the current language of the proposed rule, the ban would apply retroactively, so employers would have to notify current and former employees that the agreement is no longer valid.

The bipartisan pharmacy benefit manager bill, which was approved by a Senate committee, would make it illegal to charge health plans and payers more for a prescription drug than what PBMs reimburse to the pharmacy.

When the public health emergency ends on May 11, it will institute sweeping changes across the health care system, from hospitals and testing labs to treatment for people recovering from addiction.

Last week, the judge heard arguments in a case that will decide the safety of mifepristone, one of the drugs in the two-pill regimen that has been used by 5.6 million women since 2000, according to the FDA.

Recently, a wave of states and local jurisdictions, including California, Colorado, New York and Washington, have passed pay transparency laws with varied requirements for employers.

Although paid family and medical leave is a bit of a "hot potato" right now, employers should see it as one element of a larger, holistic strategy to meet the needs and expectations of their workers.