HHS GRANTS ACA RELIEF TO THE TERRITORIES

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has decided, based on the definition of “state” in title I of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, that the following provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will not apply to individual or group health insurers in the U.S. territories: guaranteed availability, community rating, single risk pool, rate review, medical loss ratio, and essential health benefits.  Letters were sent to insurance commissioners in Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.

CHANGES TO CONNECTICUT PAID SICK LEAVE LAW HELP SOME EMPLOYERS

Connecticut has amended its paid sick leave law to make some changes that will make compliance easier for some employers.  The changes are effective January 1, 2015.

SAME-SEX HEALTH BENEFITS AND DISCRIMINATION

Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler and Human Rights Commission (HRC) Executive Director Sharon Ortiz have released a joint letter to Washington state employers, insurance companies and benefit plan administrators regarding healthcare benefits.  The letter applies in Washington state; however, the logic may apply elsewhere, too.

MINNESOTA WOMEN’S ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT AFFECTS LEAVES

The Minnesota Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA) is a law with multiple parts affecting wages, unemployment benefits, leave rights and protections for pregnant and nursing mothers, among other things.  Some of the provisions of this new law took effect immediately, while others have later effective dates.

FLORIDA SUPREME COURT RULES ON PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION

The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that pregnancy discrimination constitutes prohibited sex discrimination under state law.  The issue in this case was whether discrimination on the basis of pregnancy is prohibited by the provision in the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 (FCRA), that makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discriminate based on an individual’s sex.

NEW PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION LAWS

New Jersey and Philadelphia have enacted new laws to protect employees from discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions.  Both laws amend existing laws prohibiting discrimination for other causes and became effective immediately upon signature—January 20, 2014 in Philadelphia and January 21, 2014 in New Jersey.