As more employers incorporate wearable technology in the workplace, including those enhanced by artificial intelligence, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s new fact sheet “Wearables in the Workplace: The Use of Wearables and Other Monitoring Technology Under Federal Employment Discrimination Laws,” offers important considerations for employers. The EEOC explains how employers can navigate the complexities of using wearable
Healthcare
Washington Updates Paid Family and Medical Leave Premium Rates, Maximum Weekly Benefits for 2025
The Washington Employment Security Department has announced the Paid Family and Medical Leave 2025 premium rates and weekly benefit maximums.
Beginning on January 1, 2025, the Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave Program’s total premium rate will increase to 0.92% from 0.74%. This rate is recalculated annually in October, based on contributions from premiums and benefits paid during the previous…
How Will Proposed Amendments to Illinois’s BIPA Affect the Use of Biometric Data?
How Will Proposed Amendments to Illinois’s BIPA Affect the Use of Biometric Data?
By Alan S Wernick, Esq.
Summary
- The Illinois legislature has passed amendments (SB 2979) to the Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”) and has sent the legislation to Governor Pritzker for review and approval. If the governor signs it, the BIPA amendments take effect immediately.
- SB 2979’s proposed
…
The Double-Edged Sword of Vertical Integration in Healthcare
How It May Be Hurting Our Physical and Financial Well-Being
In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, vertical integration—a trend where healthcare organizations expand their services to encompass multiple stages of the healthcare continuum—has emerged as a prominent strategy. While touted for its potential to streamline care delivery and improve coordination, vertical integration also comes with a notable caveat: the potential…
The Safegard University Podcast – PBMs with Jordan Close, SmithRx
Brian Courtney does a sit-down interview with Jordan Close of SmithRx to discuss Pharmacy Benefit Management, their role in the healthcare delivery system and the challenges with a vertically integrated healthcare system.
Mastering Healthcare Costs
The Power of Self-Funded Health Insurance
In an era where healthcare costs continue to rise unabated, individuals and organizations are seeking innovative solutions to gain control and transparency over their healthcare spend. One such solution gaining traction is self-funded health insurance—a game-changer that empowers stakeholders to take charge of their healthcare finances while promoting cost control and transparency. In this…
2nd Circuit Court of Appeals Refers Attorney Who Cited Nonexistent Case Provided by ChatGPT for Discipline Investigation

In its January 30, 2024, decision in Park v. Kim, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit responded to an attorney who submitted a reply brief in the appeal that cited a nonexistent case that, as it turns out, the attorney obtained through ChatGPT.
The Court informed Counsel it could not locate the case and requested she…
Updates to the Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave Program
The Washington Employment Security Department has announced the Paid Family and Medical Leave 2024 premium rates and weekly benefit maximums.
Beginning on January 1, 2024, the Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave Program’s total premium rate will decrease from 0.8% to 0.74%. This rate is recalculated annually in October, based on contributions from premiums and benefits paid during the previous…
Washington State Provides Employers Access to Paid Family and Medical Leave Claim Data
Signed into law by Governor Inslee on May 9, 2023 and effective January 1, 2024, new legislation allows certain interested parties to have access to information from the Washington Security Department, the state agency who administers the paid family and medical leave program, regarding an employee’s leave including:
- Type of leave being taken;
- Requested duration – including the approved dates
…
Overview of Common Healthcare Fraud Schemes
Fraud in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and durable medical equipment industries is significant and contributes substantially to rising healthcare costs. President Biden spoke passionately about it in his State of the Union address.
Sadly, fraud was pervasive during the COVID pandemic.
Some typical fraudulent schemes and techniques we have experienced in government healthcare programs include:
The Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Laws…