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… of employees. Covered employees receive: One week of unpaid leave, if the employer has 20-49 employees; and Two weeks of unpaid leave if the employer has 50 or greater employees. Employees may take this unpaid leave intermittently or on a reduced work schedule. VESSA also entitles covered employees to benefits and employment protection. Employees cannot lose any accrued benefits while on leave, and their employer must maintain their healthcare coverage. Additionally, employers must return employees to their same or an equivalent position upon their return from leave. Finally, VESSA requires employers to make reasonable safety accommodations for employees who …

… Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). The DOL and New York Attorney General (NYAG) settled with United Behavioral Health and United Healthcare Insurance Co. (United) following litigation and investigation into MHPAEA violations. According to the settlement, United must pay affected participants and beneficiaries, pay penalties and take corrective actions. The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) investigates alleged violations of the MHPAEA, including those alleged in Walsh v. United Behavioral Health and UnitedHealthcare Insurance. The MHPAEA requires group health plans (GHPs), whether fully insured or self-funded, to provide the same level of benefits to participants for mental health and substance …

… by debit card transactions to the plan. When a debit card transaction gives the required information, substantiation occurs automatically or as a real-time substantiation. The rules also permit an FSA plan sponsor to coordinate with the participant’s health plan to use the information provided in an explanation of benefits (EOB) to substantiate a debit card charge without requiring more information. Further, the debit card rules allow automatic substantiation when a plan approves a recurring QME payment incurred at certain providers that match the amount, medical care provider and time period of previously approved QMEs. These rules permit an