"The [CMS] Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) publishes the Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) Employer Lowest Cost Silver Plan (LCSP) Premium Look-up Table [XLSM] to help stakeholders access individual market Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) LCSP premium data by geographic location."   MORE >>

"Under the FMLA, if a sufficient return-to-work certification is provided -- and it's a relatively low bar -- the employer must return the employee to work in the same or an equivalent position -- even if the employer has good reason to believe the employee may not be quite ready to return."   MORE >>

"Key steps to take include: [1] Notify your employees about Paid Leave Oregon by Jan. 1, 2023; [2] Decide whether to apply for an equivalent plan (or file a declaration of intent); [3] Arrange for employer payments (unless a small employer -- fewer than 25 employees); [4] Begin payroll deduction contributions from employees beginning Jan. 1, 2023."   MORE >>

"This is the first voluntary state paid family and medical leave plan in the nation, allowing employees who wish to participate to seek paid state leave without mandating premium payments for employees who opt out. Employers may participate and offer at least six weeks of paid leave. If employers elect not to participate in the NH PFML plan, employees may purchase individual insurance plans ... Enrollment begins for employers on December 1, 2022, and will be available on an ongoing basis. Employee enrollment begins January 1, 2023, and runs through March 2, 2023."   MORE >>

"States continue to enact legislation aimed at increasing pharmacy price transparency. Though activity slowed in the last quarter, three states took action in October:"   MORE >>

"Amazon Clinic will offer users virtual care related to 20 common health conditions such as allergies, acne, and hair loss. The clinic would then guide users to purchase the products through Amazon's interface or local stores and clinics."   MORE >>

"Instead of trying to accommodate all employees with a few plans, employers can offer ICHRAs to defined classes of employees. That provides more freedom and flexibility to employees while stabilizing costs for employers and allowing them to offer coverage to employees that otherwise wouldn't be feasible.... ICHRAs can offer advantages and cost savings over other options, including multiple carriers and networks, expanded plan designs, copays and deductibles, and a more predictable budgeting process."   MORE >>

"About 30 percent of patients used video telehealth services in the first months of the pandemic ... Survey data collected later in the pandemic showed that willingness to try telehealth among respondents ... significantly increased, relative to February 2019 ... Psychiatrists interviewed in the summer of 2021 felt that almost all their patients would be good candidates for receiving care through televisits as part of hybrid care, given some essentials, such as access to private space."   MORE >>

"This year, with the delay of the deadline for amending qualified plans, 403(b) plans, and governmental 457(b) plans to comply with the SECURE Act and CARES Act, year-end to-dos are on the light side; however, there are still a few deadlines to be aware of ... [1] Prescription drug disclosures.... [2] 125 plan deadline for COVID-19 special rules ... [3] 457(b) SECURE Act amendments."   MORE >>