Insights

Recent tariff actions have introduced a new set of challenges for HR teams, which can turn these challenges into meaningful opportunities for growth.

Extreme weather events are changing how the industry approaches risk. Hurricanes, hailstorms, deep freezes and flash floods are occurring more often, impacting project schedules, budgets and insurance programs across North America. This shift makes it critical for firms to reconsider how they plan for and respond to disruption. The increase in natural disasters in construction projects is prompting contractors, developers and insurers to move beyond traditional risk strategies. Re-evaluating Tr

On July 1, 2025, the Senate narrowly approved its amended version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), clearing the way for a vote in the House of Representatives. Significantly, for group health and welfare plan sponsors, the Senate measure includes several noteworthy provisions. Specifically, the bill includes a permanent extension of an expired provision giving employers the flexibility to offer telehealth services pre-deductible to employees with an HSA and HDHP, with a retroactive ef

This article includes our new "NFP Observations" format, which combines compliance information with commentary and practical insights from our Benefits Compliance team. In the evolving landscape of employee benefits, “point solution” programs have emerged as targeted offerings designed to address specific health and wellbeing needs that may not be fully covered by an employer’s primary group health plan. These solutions ‒ ranging from physical fitness programs to mental health counseling, chron

On June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its long-awaited opinion in Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc., which challenged the legality of ACA preventive care coverage requirements. The Court ruled that members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an HHS entity that makes evidence-based recommendations regarding preventive healthcare services, were properly appointed under the U.S. Constitution. As a result, group health plans must continue to cover all ACA-required

On May 6, 2025, Gov. Moore signed HB 1069, banning discretionary clauses in health and life insurance policies issued, delivered, or renewed in the state on or after January 1, 2026. Discretionary clauses give an insurer discretionary authority to determine eligibility for benefits and interpret other policy terms. When a policy contains a discretionary clause, courts give greater deference to insurers in claim disputes. Note that Maryland previously banned discretionary clauses in disability i

On June 18, 2025, a federal court in the Northern District of Texas ordered that the 2024 HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Healthcare Privacy be vacated. This is the latest order in the Purl v. HHS case, which was the subject of an article in the February 11, 2025, edition of Compliance Corner. Background In this case, the plaintiffs are a doctor and her clinic. They argued that the rule will impair their ability to report child abuse or participate in public health investigations and

On May 12, 2025, Hawaii’s Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) issued an updated list of approved healthcare plans under the state’s Prepaid Health Care Act (PHCA). As background, Hawaii’s PHCA requires employers to provide specific preapproved group medical coverage to certain employees and restricts the cost-sharing contribution amounts employees can be charged for coverage. Employers should be aware of this release. For further information regarding the state’s employee benefi

In May 2025, Gov. Moore signed the following health insurance bills into law: HB 1315 requires health insurance carriers to cover child wellness vaccinations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of December 31, 2024. HB 11/SB 902 requires health insurance carriers to establish procedures allowing members to request referrals to specialists outside the carrier’s network under specific circumstances, such as when the