The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has rescinded the guidance issued in May 2021 concerning the interpretation and enforcement of Affordable Care Act (ACA) Section 1557. The recission is effective immediately to reduce regulatory burden.
In its 2021 Guidance, HHS announced that it would construe Section 1557’s prohibition on discrimination “on the basis of sex” to include
Hall Benefits Law Welcomes Partner Jean Yu, Establishes Los Angeles Office
Strategic West Coast Expansion Strengthens HBL’s National Reach in Employee Benefits, ERISA, and Executive Compensation
Los Angeles, CA (June 18, 2025) Hall Benefits Law, a recognized leader in employee benefits and ERISA legal services, has opened a Los Angeles office, marking a significant milestone in the firm’s continued growth. Leading this expansion is Jean Yu, a seasoned attorney who brings
Federal Agencies Issue Statement on Non-enforcement of 2024 Mental Health Parity Regulations
The U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury recently issued a statement on enforcement of the final rule concerning the requirements of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). Due to litigation concerning the MHPAEA, the federal agencies have announced that they are reconsidering the regulations and may rescind or modify them through future rulemaking.
Sixth Circuit Reverses Dismissal of Michigan Company’s ERISA Excessive Healthcare Fee Case
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has revived an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) lawsuit filed by a yacht company against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) over excessive healthcare fees. The appellate court held that the lower federal district court erred in dismissing the suit, alleging that BCBSM had violated its fiduciary duties by
Workers Sue Cigna Alleging Misuse of Forfeited 401(k) Funds
Cigna employees have filed a lawsuit against the company for allegedly violating its fiduciary duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The claims stem from Cigna allegedly using forfeited funds from the company’s 401(k) plan to reduce its contributions to the plan rather than to reduce or eliminate participant administrative costs. The case is Reven et al. v.
HHS Settles Potential HIPAA Violations for $600,000 After Phishing Attack
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a $600,000 settlement with an entity covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) following a phishing attack. The settlement involves PIH Health, Inc., a California-based health network.
The HHS Office of Civil Rights (OCR) began investigating the incident after receiving a report in January
Episode 5: Driving Business Success Through Smart Compensation Strategy
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Listen to the Podcast Episode on
Episode Summary:
This episode highlights how in-house legal and HR leaders can work together to align compensation strategies with business objectives, manage compliance, and adapt to an evolving regulatory landscape. David Hall speaks with Mark Beatty, SVP of Global Total Rewards at Paramount, about his career shift from law to HR, the
New DOL/EBSA Opinion Letter Program Offers A Path to Clarity for Plan Sponsors
On June 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a significant expansion of its compliance assistance tools by launching an Opinion Letter Program across five key enforcement agencies, including the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). This initiative aims to provide employers, plan sponsors, and other stakeholders with clear, tailored guidance on complex issues related to employee benefit plans.
The Impact of Trump’s Tariffs on Individual 401(k) Retirement Plans
Retirement plan trading activity was high in the first quarter of 2025 —even before Trump announced his new tariff policy—and has fluctuated significantly on a day-to-day basis since. As a result, March 2025 was the most active month for retirement plan trading since 2020. However, the S&P 500 Index recently lost $2.4 trillion in one day.
Not surprisingly, Americans are
Senate Judiciary Committee Asks FTC to Release Prescription Drug Market Report
The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the bipartisan Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2025. The Act requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to issue a final report on the prescription drug market. The report must include the overall impact of how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and other third parties affect how much patients and insurance companies pay for