In late October, the Trump Administration, through the Departments of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), the Treasury, and Labor (“Departments”), issued two different rules — one implementing the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and...more
This webinar will include a discussion on the various provisions of the new surprise billing law, how it interacts with current law, expected guidance from the Biden Administration, and implications for health insurance...more
1/6/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Health Plan Sponsors ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Hospitals ,
New Legislation ,
Out of Network Provider ,
Physicians ,
Surprise Medical Bills ,
Webinars
In the recently-decided Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (“PCMA”), the Supreme Court found 8–0 (Justice Barrett did not take part) that ERISA did not preempt an Arkansas state law that established...more
1/5/2021
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Drug Pricing ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Health Insurance ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Pharmacies ,
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) ,
Preemption ,
Prescription Drug Coverage ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Rutledge v Pharmaceutical Care Management Association ,
SCOTUS
On December 21, the House and Senate passed a $2.3 trillion omnibus appropriations and COVID-19 relief package, H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the “Act”). President Trump signed the Act into law on...more
The dust has settled and the 2020 election has concluded with former Vice President Biden poised to become president. At the same time, Democratic control of the House of Representatives has narrowed to the smallest margin...more
On June 29, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) proposed a new exemption from the prohibited transaction provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) in connection with the...more
7/6/2020
/ Best Interest Contract Exemptions ,
Best Interest Standard ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Exemptions ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Investment Adviser ,
IRA Rollovers ,
Prohibited Transactions ,
Proposed Rules ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Vacatur
On June 3, 2020, the Department of Labor (“Department”) issued an Information Letter that, for the first time, provides the Department’s views on the use of private equity investments within 401(k) and other defined...more
6/6/2020
/ 401k ,
Defined Contribution Plans ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Information Letters ,
Investment ,
Investment Management ,
Private Equity ,
Retirement Plan
Regular readers of this Benefits Brief will recall that there is a case challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) percolating through the courts. ...more
Recently, plaintiffs’ firms have filed a flurry of class action lawsuits against employers, alleging violations of COBRA’s election notice requirements and seeking statutory and other penalties. ...more
As you may recall, in late September, we expected a decision from the Fifth Circuit in Texas v. United States—the case challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)—in the fall of...more
1/10/2020
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Appeals ,
Case or Controversy ,
Congressional Authority ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Health Insurance ,
Individual Mandate ,
Intervenors ,
Motion to Expedite ,
Penalties ,
Petition for Writ of Certiorari ,
Remand ,
SCOTUS ,
Severability Doctrine ,
Shared Responsibility Rule ,
Standing ,
Tax Penalties