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In a 5 to 4 decision the Supreme Court has ruled that certain privately held corporations do not have to comply with some of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) contraception coverage requirements if they violate the owner’s religious views. The decision opens the door for companies that meet the IRS definition of a “closely held corporation” to opt-out of providing certain contraception coverage in their employer sponsored group health plan.

As cited in a Washington Post article, President Obama announced the Justice Department has indicted five Chinese military personnel on "charges of hacking into computers and stealing valuable trade secrets from leading steel, nuclear plant and solar power firms." Bringing these charges against a foreign country is a first for the United States, and though it is highly unlikely that China will turn over the accused cyber spies, this action will most likely have serious implications for US-China relations, both commercially and politically.

If you’re on the board of a private company, you could be personally liable for defense and settlement costs as a result of lawsuits for claims made against you. That is, unless you have the proper coverage in place through your insurance risk management program.

Individuals currently on COBRA have been offered a special one-time open enrollment period on the Federally Facilitated Marketplace. New FAQs, released by the Department of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury (IRS), clarify certain requirements in regard to the annual out-of-pocket maximum, coverage for preventive services, health FSA carryover, and summary of benefits and coverage (SBC). In addition, the DOL released notice of new proposed rules requiring plans to modify COBRA notices to inform COBRA qualified beneficiaries (QBs) of the availability of coverage and possible subsidies/cost-sharing through the Marketplace, as well as providing updated model COBRA notices and the CHIPRA notice to better describe the Marketplace and enrollment rights.