January 2025 As the holidays end, some people give up alcohol in what’s known as “Dry January.” The monthlong wellness challenge can serve as a reset after overindulging during the holidays or as an opportunity to reassess one’s relationship with alcohol. While a month of sobriety can seem overwhelming to some, it can provide multiple…

Health care costs in the United States are likely to increase by 7%-8% in 2025, marking multiple years of compounding costs. As 2025 begins, many employers remain curious about what is driving these increases. Here are key factors that will impact rising health care costs: GLP-1 Drugs Although initially approved as Type 2 diabetes treatments,…

The IRS recently issued Notice 2024-83 to increase the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee amount for plan years ending on or after Oct. 1, 2024, and before Oct. 1, 2025. The updated PCORI fee amount is $3.47 multiplied by the average number of lives covered under the plan. For plan years that ended on…

February 2024 Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that heart disease causes 1 in every 5 deaths. Heart disease refers to several different types of heart conditions. Coronary artery disease—caused by…

Employers subject to Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting under Internal Revenue Code Sections 6055 or 6056 should prepare to comply with upcoming reporting deadlines. For the 2023 calendar year, covered employers must: Furnish statements to individuals by March 1, 2024 (an alternative method of furnishing statements to covered individuals is available in certain situations). File…

In today’s market, HR professionals must adapt to the changing expectations of organizations and employees amid difficult economic conditions. To aid HR professionals in meeting these challenges, here are three HR trends to follow in 2024. In 2023, many employers adopted artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline operations, enhance workflows and improve customer experience. Looking forward,…

March 2025 Protein is having a moment, and it’s for good reason. While some focus on it for muscle-building, others view it from a weight- loss perspective. Regardless of personal goals, protein is a macronutrient essential for body function. It is made up of many building blocks called amino acids and is fundamental for good…

March 2025At the end of 2024, Congress passed two new laws, the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act and the Employer Reporting Improvement Act. These laws eased the Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting requirements for employers and set new limits on the IRS’ assessment of “pay-or-play” penalties, among other changes. As background, the ACA requires applicable large…

On Jan. 24, 2025, a U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey dismissed two claims in a class-action lawsuit filed against Johnson & Johnson (J&J), which alleged that the company breached its fiduciary duties under ERISA by mismanaging its prescription drug benefits plan and costing the plan and its participants millions of dollars…