Health law & policy

Employers looking to fill gaps in state-mandated leave should be aware of the speed limits imposed by several federal laws. Rich Glass explains.

Dulari Parikh reviews updated preventive services requirements around PrEP coverage and why health plans may want to check in with carriers and PBMs to confirm compliance.

The latest mental health parity report identifies the types of nonquantitative treatment limits that are top enforcement priorities, and provides many specific examples of noncompliance and plan corrections.

Benefit professionals may be feeling pressure to sort through the executive orders issued by President Trump to understand the possible implications for their programs.  Tracy Watts lends a hand in this post (with a little help from her friends) by outlining the current EOs that could most directly affect employer health plans.  She also explains what executive order is – and isn’t.

Rich Glass previews what to expect from this year’s state legislative cycle.

The initial RxDC report to Congress does not make significant recommendations but comments on trends and suggests improvements.

Mercer’s Kate Brown, head of our Center for Health Innovation, kicks off a series of posts on the use of AI in health benefits with a discussion of where we are now with AI, and where we might be going.

Because much about AI is still unknown, plan administrators should consider setting guardrails that will encourage responsible use.

Key healthcare lawmakers are working to revive a bipartisan package that failed to make it into a December government funding bill that includes extended telehealth relief and PBM reforms for employer plans, but the outlook is unclear.

With just over a week before government funding runs out on December 20, Congress is racing to decide what healthcare measures might ride on a short-term funding plan, including an extension of telehealth flexibilities and pharmacy benefit manager reforms.

Rich Glass discusses the results of four state ballot initiatives which include paid sick and safe leave mandates.

Don’t overlook courthouses, where new laws are often weighed and measured to determine if they are valid. Rich Glass discusses six cases to watch.

Prior authorization by health plans has been coming under sharper review at both the federal and state levels. Rich Glass explains.

With the release of the first orally administered medication for postpartum depression, now is a good time to review plan coverage for maternal health.