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Final Regulations Issued by Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave – Health Maintenance During Leave

On January 6, 2023, the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) published new Paid Family and Medical Leave (MAPFML) regulations (the 2023 Regulations). These regulations make changes to Section 458 CMR...more

Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Update – Contribution Rate Will Decrease Effective January 1, 2023

The Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (the “Department”) has announced that, effective January 1, 2023, the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (MAPFML) contribution rate for employers with 25 or...more

Post-Dobbs Abortion-Related Travel Benefits: Surveying Employers’ Options

In a previous post, we reported on the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization which reversed Roe v. Wade, and renders a woman’s right to make decisions regarding, and seek medical treatment...more

Health Insurance Maintenance During Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave - Draft Regulations Issued

The Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) recently posted proposed changes to its Paid Family and Medical Leave (MAPFML) regulations. For the time being, these changes are presented as a “draft markup”,...more

Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave—Updates from the Department

The Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (the “Department”) has issued a number of changes relating to the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (“MAPFML”) since their last quarterly briefing. A number...more

Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law – January 2021 Update for Employers

Happy New Year! While many of us are thrilled to see 2020 in the rear view, 2021 ushers in a huge challenge for Massachusetts employers – the beginning of benefits and Job protections under the Massachusetts Paid Family and...more

REMINDER: Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Next Steps

The Department of Family and Medical Leave (the “Department”) has provided several updates and reminders to Massachusetts employers and employees regarding Massachusetts’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (“PFML”), and we want...more

Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave Finalizes Revised Regulations: Here’s What You Need to Know

Earlier this spring, the Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (the “Department”) issued revised regulations for Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (“MAPFML”). The regulations impact employers...more

Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave 2020 Regulations – Focus on the Private Plan Exemption

Under the Massachusetts Paid Family Leave Law, M.G.L. c. 175M (“MAPFML”), employees and other covered individuals in the Commonwealth will be entitled to a generous set of new leave benefits and rights beginning January 1,...more

The Impact of the CARES Act on 401(k) and Other Defined Contribution Plans

In a previous post, we covered the impact of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) on employee welfare benefit plans, programs, and arrangements. This post explains how this new law affects...more

Highlights from Three-Agency FAQs about the FFCRA and the CARES Act Relating to Group Health Plans

On April 11, 2020, the Departments of Labor (“DOL”), Health and Human Services (“HHS”), and the Treasury (collectively, “the Departments”) issued a set of FAQs intended to assist stakeholders grappling with the provisions of...more

The Impact of the CARES Act on Employee Welfare Benefit Plans, Programs, and Arrangements

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) is the third significant piece of federal legislation recently enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This latest law follows the Coronavirus...more

COBRA Coverage – FAQ for the COVID-19 Economy

Given the possible health impacts of COVID-19, maintaining access to health care and insurance coverage is front of the mind for just about everyone. Continuation coverage under COBRA offers employees a route to continue...more

In the COVID-19 Economy, Employers Should Be Prepared for Increased 401(k) Hardship Distributions

401(k) plans must, by law, limit the circumstances under which plan money can be withdrawn by active employees. However, 401(k) plans can (and most do) allow in-service withdrawals in the event of an employee’s financial...more

In Massachusetts, Health Insurance Carriers are Responding to COVID-19 – And Employers Can Help Spread the Word

In response to COVID-19, Massachusetts has directed health insurance carriers to, among other things, relax cost-sharing and enhance telemedicine services. These directives are part of the Commonwealth’s package of efforts...more

In Response to COVID-19, IRS Provides High Deductible Health Plan Relief

On March 12, 2020, the IRS issued notice 2020-15, providing that a health plan will not fail to be a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) merely because it provides testing for and treatment of COVID-19 without a deductible or...more

The Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Quarterly Contributions Are Due January 31, 2020

Under the new Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law, M.G.L c. 175M (“MAPFML”), employees and other covered individuals in the Commonwealth will be entitled to a generous set of new paid family and medical leave...more

The Massachusetts Paid Family Leave Self-Funded Private Plan Exemption – What We Know Now

Under the new Massachusetts Paid Family Leave Law, M.G.L c. 175M (“MAPFML”), employees and other covered individuals in the Commonwealth will be entitled to a generous set of new paid leave benefits and rights beginning...more

President Directs Agencies to Expand HSA and FSA Rules

In an Executive Order issued on June 24, 2019, President Trump directed several agencies to address a number of health care related matters through regulation. This post discusses Section 6 of the Executive Order, which takes...more

Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Final Regulations – Focus on the Private Plan Exemption

Under the new Massachusetts Paid Family Leave Law, M.G.L c. 175M (“MAPFML”) employees and other covered individuals in the Commonwealth will be entitled to a generous set of new leave benefits and rights beginning January 1,...more

Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave - Summary of Final Regulations

On the heels of the welcome news that employers have three more months to prepare for Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (“MAPFML”), last week the Massachusetts Department of Paid Family and Medical Leave (the...more

Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Breaking News: Final Regulations Are Out, Contributions and Notice Requirements...

The wait is over. Earlier today, June 18, 2019 (and earlier than the July 1, 2019 due date), the Department of Family and Medical Leave (the Department) issued much-anticipated final regulations for the new Massachusetts Paid...more

Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law – Focus on the Employer “Private Plan” Exemption

Employers in the Commonwealth are fast discovering that the new Massachusetts Paid Family Leave Law, M.G.L c. 175M (“MAPFML”), which begins to phase into effect June 30, 2019, asks much of employers, both administratively...more

Will Grandfathered Plans be Rescued?

On February 25, 2019 the Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (the “Departments”) published a request for information (the “ROI”) on grandfathered...more

What Employers Need to Know About COBRA Coverage for Terminated Employees

When the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed some nine years ago, many employers wondered what would become of COBRA (aka, the continuation coverage requirements of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of...more

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