Mental Health Parity Compliance Remains a Key Focus in 2024 The federal government is continuing its efforts to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) care in 2024, with a top enforcement priority being compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) for employer-sponsored health plans. MHPAEA is a federal law that prevents group health plans and health insurance issuers that provide MH/SUD benefits from imposing more restrictions on those benefits than what generally applies to comparable medical or surgical benefits.  The U.S. Depa ..read more

Study Shows 40% of Insured Workers Delay Health Care Due to Cost A study by employee health payment platform Paytient revealed the challenges Americans face with employer-sponsored insurance. Notably, 40% of workers admit they have delayed health care due to costs, negatively impacting their mental health, productivity and workplace culture. “When folks are uncertain about their ability to pay for care, it shapes behaviors and changes decisions.” -Brian Whorley, founder and CEO of Paytient Despite having access to health benefits, many Americans are delaying care, which has consequences o ..read more

U.S. Supreme Court Rules That Mandatory Job Transfer Can Be Discriminatory Under Title VII On April 17, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Muldrow v. City of St. Louis, holding that a mandatory job transfer can constitute illegal discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) if it causes harm with respect to an identifiable term or condition of employment, even if the harm is not significant.  Background Title VII makes it unlawful for an employer “to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise discriminate ..read more

Health Care Costs and Your Employee Health Plan Health care costs, and consequently employee health benefits costs, have been increasing at an alarming rate for nearly a decade. Avoiding rising health care costs is nearly impossible, but you can learn about why they continue to rise and what you can do to manage costs for your organization and your employees. To assist you, this article explains factors leading to continued rate hikes, the latest health care cost figures and strategies that businesses around the United States are implementing to help manage costs. Factors Leading to Increased ..read more

Breaking Down Mental Health Stigma May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a national health observance dedicated to shedding light on mental health conditions and fostering understanding and support for those experiencing them. Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 adults experience a mental health disorder each year. Despite the prevalence of illnesses and increasing recognition of mental health as a critical component of overall well-being, stigma remains a significant barrier to ..read more

Mental Health in America and How to Get Help More than half of adults in the United States will experience mental illness—which refers to a variety of conditions that affect one’s mood, behavior, feelings or thinking—at some point in their life. Mental illnesses can occur occasionally, while others are chronic. Common mental illnesses include anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Mental Health Awareness Month, observed every May, is a time to raise awareness about mental health, break the stigma and support people with mental illness. Access to mental health care is crucial ..read more

OSHA Announces Final Rule on Worker Walkaround Representative Designation OSHA recently announced its final rule that clarifies the rights of employees to authorize a representative to accompany an OSHA compliance safety and health officer (CSHO) during a walkaround inspection of their workplace. The final rule was published in the Federal Register on April 1, 2024. The rule will go into effect May 31, 2024. Final Rule Overview The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) gives employers and employees the right to authorize a representative to accompany OSHA officials during a w ..read more

Cloud Security Management Explained  Cloud computing refers to a pay-per-use service that equips users with on-demand access to a range of IT resources (e.g., databases, software, servers, networking and analytics tools, and artificial intelligence applications) via the internet. By leveraging cloud-based platforms, organizations can minimize the need to purchase and maintain physical data centers and servers, ultimately streamlining their digital infrastructures and allowing for greater IT flexibility. Although cloud computing can provide a number of benefits, it also carries unique cybe ..read more

OSHA’s Worker Walkaround Designation Process Frequently Asked Questions On March 29, 2024, OSHA announced its final rule that clarifies the rights of employees to authorize a nonemployee, third-party representative to accompany an OSHA compliance safety and health officer (CSHO) during a walkaround inspection of their workplace.  The final rule was published in the Federal Register on April 1, 2024. The rule becomes effective May 31, 2024. The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) gives employers and employees the right to authorize a representative to accompany OSHA offi ..read more

Preparing for the DOL’s New Overtime Rule In early March 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposed overtime rule, announced in August 2023, entered its last stage of review. Publication of the final rule is expected soon. The rule would amend the requirements that employees in certain white-collar occupations must satisfy to qualify for an overtime exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA white-collar exemptions apply to individuals in executive, administrative, and some outside sales personnel and computer-related occupations. Some highly compensated employees ..read more