Caroline Pieper
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Articles by Caroline Pieper
Know Before You Owe: New Rules Expand Health Plan Price Transparency Requirements | JD Supra
Seyfarth Synopsis:Background The Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services (the "Departments") have finalized significant revisions to the Transparency in Coverage regulations (the "Amendments"). The Amendments require telephone access to personalized cost sharing information upon request, substantially restructure the machine readable file framework, and align certain Transparency in Coverage requirements with overlapping No Surprises Act obligations.
Know Before You Owe: New Rules Expand Health Plan Price Transparency Requirements
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services (the “Departments”) have finalized significant revisions to the Transparency in Coverage regulations (the “Amendments”). The Amendments require telephone access to personalized cost sharing information upon request, substantially restructure the machine readable file framework, and align certain Transparency in Coverage requirements with overlapping No Surprises Act obligations.
Provider Enforcement Takes a Hit: What NSA IDR Litigation Means for Health Plan Sponsors
Seyfarth Synopsis: Recent litigation is reshaping the No Surprises Act (NSA) federal Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) landscape in ways that matter directly to group health plan sponsors and their claims administrators.
Provider Enforcement Takes a Hit: What NSA IDR Litigation Means for Health Plan Sponsors
Seyfarth Synopsis: Recent litigation is reshaping the No Surprises Act (NSA) federal Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) landscape in ways that matter directly to group health plan sponsors and their claims administrators.
Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up , EXPERT INSIGHTS—DOL hands employers a mental health parity roadmap , (Sep 17, 2026)
Seyfarth Synopsis: The DOL's latest MHPAEA guidance gives plan sponsors a practical roadmap for where parity compliance reviews should focus next. Although the DOL has announced limited nonenforcement relief for certain portions of the 2024 Final Rul ...
DOL Hands Employers A Mental Health Parity Roadmap
SS Seyfarth Shaw LLP More With more than 1,000 lawyers across 19 offices, Seyfarth Shaw LLP provides advisory, litigation, and transactional legal services to clients worldwide. Our high-caliber legal representation and advanced delivery capabilities allow us to take on our clients’ unique challenges and opportunities-no matter the scale or complexity.
Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up , EXPERT INSIGHTS—Worth the wait: after 45 years, dependent care assistance programs finally get regulations , (Sep 15, 2026)
EXPERT INSIGHTS—Worth the wait: after 45 years, dependent care assistance programs finally get regulations By Danita Merlau, Caroline Pieper and Rebecca Singerman of Seyfarth Shaw LLP Seyfarth Synopsis: On August 11, 2026, the Internal Revenue Service issued proposed regulations addressing nondiscrimination rules for dependent care assistance programs ("DCAPs") under Section 129 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "IRC"). More than ...
Worth The Wait: After 45 Years, Dependent Care Assistance Programs Finally Get Regulations
Danita N. Merlau’s articles from Seyfarth Shaw LLP are most popular: within Employment and HR topic(s) with Senior Company Executives and HR in United States with readers working within the Healthcare, Media & Information and Retail & Leisure industries Seyfarth Synopsis: On August 11, 2026, the Internal Revenue Service issued proposed regulations addressing nondiscrimination rules for dependent care assistance programs (“DCAPs”) under Section 129 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “IRC”).
DOL Hands Employers a Mental Health Parity Roadmap
Seyfarth Synopsis: The DOL’s latest MHPAEA guidance gives plan sponsors a practical roadmap for where parity compliance reviews should focus next. Although the DOL has announced limited nonenforcement relief for certain portions of the 2024 Final Rule, the agency made clear that it continues to enforce MHPAEA’s core statutory requirements, including the obligation to prepare and maintain written NQTL comparative analyses.
DOL Hands Employers a Mental Health Parity Roadmap
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Employer Contributions to Trump Accounts: Partially Explained
Seyfarth Synopsis: The IRS has issued another round of guidance on Trump Accounts, this time addressing employer contributions to Trump Accounts and eligible investments in which Trump Account funds may be invested. While the new guidance answers many of the questions we have all been asking since these investment accounts were originally announced, there are still operational and administrative challenges that remain unresolved.
Been Wanting To Learn More About Trump Accounts?
SS Seyfarth Shaw LLP More With more than 1,000 lawyers across 19 offices, Seyfarth Shaw LLP provides advisory, litigation, and transactional legal services to clients worldwide. Our high-caliber legal representation and advanced delivery capabilities allow us to take on our clients’ unique challenges and opportunities-no matter the scale or complexity.
From Mailbox to Inbox: DOL Proposes New Electronic Disclosure Safe Harbor for Group Health Plans
Seyfarth Synopsis: On July 23, 2026, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued proposed regulations that would significantly expand the ability of group health plans to furnish required ERISA disclosures electronically (“Proposed Rule”). The proposal would create a new electronic disclosure safe harbor for group health plans modeled largely after the DOL’s 2020 electronic disclosure framework for retirement plan notices.
AI & Health Care: The Future Of Health Plan Administration
SS Seyfarth Shaw LLP More With more than 975 lawyers across 17 offices, Seyfarth Shaw LLP provides advisory, litigation, and transactional legal services to clients worldwide. Our high-caliber legal representation and advanced delivery capabilities allow us to take on our clients’ unique challenges and opportunities-no matter the scale or complexity.
From Telehealth To Trump Accounts: Breaking Down The One Big Beautiful Bill's Impact On Employee Benefits
Seyfarth Synopsis: On July 4, 2025, Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) into law. Although most have focused on the sweeping tax reform included in the OBBB, a number of key employee benefits provisions are included in the OBBB as well.
From Telehealth to Trump Accounts: Breaking Down the One Big Beautiful Bill’s Impact on Employee Benefits | JD Supra
Seyfarth Synopsis: On July 4, 2025, Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) into law. Although most have focused on the sweeping tax reform included in the OBBB, a number of key employee benefits provisions are included in the OBBB as well.
From Telehealth to Trump Accounts: Breaking Down the One Big Beautiful Bill’s Impact on Employee Benefits
Seyfarth Synopsis: On July 4, 2025, Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) into law. Although most have focused on the sweeping tax reform included in the OBBB, a number of key employee benefits provisions are included in the OBBB as well.
Time To Revisit Your HIPAA Documents After Reproductive Health Privacy Rule Vacated
Seyfarth Synopsis: In the wake of a recent federal District Court decision, the reproductive health care HIPAA Privacy rules finalized during the Biden Administration have been vacated and plan sponsors should re-evaluate the language included in their HIPAA compliance documents.
Time to Revisit Your HIPAA Documents After Reproductive Health Privacy Rule Vacated | JD Supra
June 25, 2025 To embed, copy and paste the code into your website or blog: Send Print Report DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations. Attorney Advertising.
Parity In Peril? Plan Sponsors Breathe Easier As Trump Administration Hits Pause On Enforcement Of Mental Health Parity Final Rule
Seyfarth Synopsis: On May 15, 2025 the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury (the "Departments") announced they will temporarily not enforce their new standards published under the mental health parity Final Rule last fall.
Parity in Peril? Plan Sponsors Breathe Easier As Trump Administration Hits Pause on Enforcement of Mental Health Parity Final Rule | JD Supra
Seyfarth Synopsis: On May 15, 2025 the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury (the “Departments”) announced they will temporarily not enforce their new standards published under the mental health parity Final Rule last fall.
Federal Lawsuit And Tri-Agency Report Shake Up Mental Health Parity
SS Seyfarth Shaw LLP More With more than 900 lawyers across 18 offices, Seyfarth Shaw LLP provides advisory, litigation, and transactional legal services to clients worldwide. Our high-caliber legal representation and advanced delivery capabilities allow us to take on our clients’ unique challenges and opportunities-no matter the scale or complexity.
Federal Lawsuit and Tri-Agency Report Shake Up Mental Health Parity | JD Supra
Seyfarth Synopsis: On January 17, 2025, the U.S. Departments of Treasury, Labor and Health and Human Services (the “Agencies”) released its annual report to Congress assessing compliance with statutory mental health parity requirements under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (“MHPAEA”). On the same day, a federal lawsuit was filed against the Agencies challenging the recently published final rule governing MHPAEA compliance (the “Final Rule”).
EXPERT INSIGHTS-FINAL RULES RELATED TO THE MENTAL HEALTH PARITY AND ADDICTION EQUITY ACT MAY DRIVE YOU WILD
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Final Rules Related To The Mental Health Parity And Addiction Equity Act May Drive You Wild
SS Seyfarth Shaw LLP More With more than 900 lawyers across 18 offices, Seyfarth Shaw LLP provides advisory, litigation, and transactional legal services to clients worldwide. Our high-caliber legal representation and advanced delivery capabilities allow us to take on our clients’ unique challenges and opportunities-no matter the scale or complexity.
Final Rules Related to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act May Drive You Wild | JD Supra
Seyfarth Synopsis: On September 9, 2024, the Departments of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services (the “Departments”) released highly anticipated Final Rules under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). Instead of providing the guidance hoped for by stakeholders, the new rules may leave employers wondering if they should continue to offer mental health (MH) and substance use disorder (SUD) benefits.
Top 5 Reasons to Remember Your Business Associate Agreements This Fall
As organizations begin renewing and entering into new contractual relationships for 2024, an oft-forgotten aspect of the contracting process is determining whether a Business Associate Agreement (a “BAA”) is required. Under HIPAA, health care providers, health plans and health care clearinghouses (“Covered Entities”) are required to enter into BAAs with any vendor (“Business Associate”) that may have access to Protected Health Information (“PHI”).
Mental Health Compliance Report Issued to Congress Spoiler Alert - Plans All Fail
By Nancy Chawla, Ben Conley, Caroline Pieper, Joy Sellstrom, and Joel Wilde Seyfarth Synopsis: The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires group health plans and insurers to cover treatments for mental health and substance use disorders in a manner that is equitable to the plans’ coverage of medical and surgical treatments. Exactly how that is accomplished and how compliance is proven have been the subject of prescriptive yet ambiguous guidance for several years.
Mental Health Compliance Report Issued to Congress Spoiler Alert – Plans All Fail | JD Supra
Seyfarth Synopsis:The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires group health plans and insurers to cover treatments for mental health and substance use disorders in a manner that is equitable to the plans' coverage of medical and surgical treatments. Exactly how that is accomplished and how compliance is proven have been the subject of prescriptive yet ambiguous guidance for several years.
Mental Health Request for Public Comment Spoiler Alert – The Departments Need Help | JD Supra
Seyfarth Synopsis:The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires group health plans and insurers to cover treatments for mental health and substance use disorders in a manner that is equitable to the plans' coverage of medical and surgical treatments. Exactly how that is accomplished and how compliance is proven have been the subject of prescriptive yet ambiguous guidance for several years.
Mental Health Parody: In A Cruel Prank, Agencies Respond to Employer Pleas for Guidance with More Stringent Regulations | JD Supra
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires group health plans and insurers to cover treatments for mental health and substance use disorders in a manner that is equitable to the plans' coverage of medical and surgical treatments. Exactly how that is accomplished and how compliance is proven have been the subject of prescriptive yet ambiguous guidance for several years.
Mental Health Compliance Report Issued to Congress Spoiler Alert – Plans All Fail
Seyfarth Synopsis:The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires group health plans and insurers to cover treatments for mental health and substance use disorders in a manner that is equitable to the plans' coverage of medical and surgical treatments. Exactly how that is accomplished and how compliance is proven have been the subject of prescriptive yet ambiguous guidance for several years.
Mental Health Parody: In A Cruel Prank, Agencies Respond To Employer Pleas For Guidance With More Stringent Regulations
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires group health plans and insurers to cover treatments for mental health and substance use disorders in a manner that is equitable to the plans' coverage of medical and surgical treatments. Exactly how that is accomplished and how compliance is proven have been the subject of prescriptive yet ambiguous guidance for several years.
Mental Health Request for Public Comment Spoiler Alert - The Departments Need Help
Seyfarth Synopsis:The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires group health plans and insurers to cover treatments for mental health and substance use disorders in a manner that is equitable to the plans' coverage of medical and surgical treatments. Exactly how that is accomplished and how compliance is proven have been the subject of prescriptive yet ambiguous guidance for several years.
Mental Health Parody: In A Cruel Prank, Agencies Respond to Employer Pleas for Guidance with More Stringent Regulations
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires group health plans and insurers to cover treatments for mental health and substance use disorders in a manner that is equitable to the plans' coverage of medical and surgical treatments. Exactly how that is accomplished and how compliance is proven have been the subject of prescriptive yet ambiguous guidance for several years.
EXPERT INSIGHTS-WHO DO I NEED TO SUE TO GET A DECENT CUP OF COFFEE? JITTERY FIDUCIARIES CONSIDER OPTIONS AS HEALTH PLAN LITIGATION FROTHS UP
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Who Do I Need To Sue To Get A Decent Cup Of Coffee? Jittery Fiduciaries Consider Options As Health Plan Litigation Froths Up
Seyfarth Synopsis: In light of a recent focus on price transparency, claims data, and hidden fees in the health plan world, employer-sponsored health plans have been bringing their fight to the courtroom in an effort to lower costs and demonstrate good fiduciary governance.
Who Do I Need to Sue to Get a Decent Cup of Coffee? Jittery Fiduciaries Consider Options as Health Plan Litigation Froths Up | JD Supra
July 13, 2023 To embed, copy and paste the code into your website or blog: Seyfarth Synopsis: In light of a recent focus on price transparency, claims data, and hidden fees in the health plan world, employer-sponsored health plans have been bringing their fight to the courtroom in an effort to lower costs and demonstrate good fiduciary governance.
Who Do I Need to Sue to Get a Decent Cup of Coffee? Jittery Fiduciaries Consider Options as Health Plan Litigation Froths Up
Seyfarth Synopsis: In light of a recent focus on price transparency, claims data, and hidden fees in the health plan world, employer-sponsored health plans have been bringing their fight to the courtroom in an effort to lower costs and demonstrate good fiduciary governance.
Who Do I Need to Sue to Get a Decent Cup of Coffee? Jittery Fiduciaries Consider Options as Health Plan Litigation Froths Up
Seyfarth Synopsis: In light of a recent focus on price transparency, claims data, and hidden fees in the health plan world, employer-sponsored health plans have been bringing their fight to the courtroom in an effort to lower costs and demonstrate good fiduciary governance.
Who Do I Need to Sue to Get a Decent Cup of Coffee? Jittery Fiduciaries Consider Options as Health Plan Litigation Froths Up
Seyfarth Synopsis: In light of a recent focus on price transparency, claims data, and hidden fees in the health plan world, employer-sponsored health plans have been bringing their fight to the courtroom in an effort to lower costs and demonstrate good fiduciary governance.
Coffee Talk With Benefits Episode 14: Benefit Attorneys in the Wild
Click here to listen to the audio On this episode of Coffee Talk With Benefits, Richard and Sarah venture out of the office as part of an Employee Benefits retreat and engage in brief discussions with their colleagues, Diane Dygert, Caroline Pieper, Alisha Sullivan, Ben Conley, Jen Kraft, Sam Schwartz-Fenwick, and Ada Dolph covering a range of interesting topics.
Preventive Care Mandate Returned to Status Quo — Temporarily | JD Supra
Seyfarth Synopsis: The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has stayed enforcement of a Texas federal district court ruling that voided the ACA requirement for health plans to cover preventive care items and services (without cost sharing) recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (“USPSTF”) effective as of March 23, 2010.
Preventive Care Mandate Returned to Status Quo - Temporarily
Seyfarth Synopsis: The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has stayed enforcement of a Texas federal district court ruling that that voided the ACA requirement for health plans to cover preventive care items and services (without cost sharing) recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (“USPSTF”) effective as of March 23, 2010.
FAQs Address ACA Preventive Care Questions Post-Braidwood | JD Supra
April 24, 2023 To embed, copy and paste the code into your website or blog: Seyfarth Synopsis: The Tri-Agencies issued Frequently Asked Questions addressing the impact of the Braidwood decision on the ACA’s preventive care mandate, including guidance on certain preventive care services that must continue to be covered under the ACA and how the ruling impacts first dollar coverage under high deductible health plans.
FAQs Address ACA Preventive Care Questions Post-Braidwood
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Tri-Agencies issued Frequently Asked Questions addressing the impact of the Braidwood decision on the ACA’s preventive care mandate, including guidance on certain preventive care services that must continue to be covered under the ACA and how the ruling impacts first dollar coverage under high deductible health plans.
FAQs Address ACA Preventive Care Questions Post-Braidwood
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Tri-Agencies issued Frequently Asked Questions addressing the impact of the Braidwood decision on the ACA’s preventive care mandate, including guidance on certain preventive care services that must continue to be covered under the ACA and how the ruling impacts first dollar coverage under high deductible health plans.
Another Health Plan Reporting Deadline Is “In the Air” | JD Supra
Seyfarth Synopsis: Under a Tri-Agency Proposed Rule, health plans could be required to report information relating to air ambulance services by March 31, 2023. As this proposed deadline approaches, plan sponsors should reach out to their third party administrators to determine what assistance, if any, will be provided relating to these reporting requirements.
Another Health Plan Reporting Deadline Is “In the Air”
Seyfarth Synopsis: Under a Tri-Agency Proposed Rule, health plans could be required to report information relating to air ambulance services by March 31, 2023. As this proposed deadline approaches, plan sponsors should reach out to their third party administrators to determine what assistance, if any, will be provided relating to these reporting requirements.
Another Health Plan Reporting Deadline Is “In the Air”
Seyfarth Synopsis: Under a Tri-Agency Proposed Rule, health plans could be required to report information relating to air ambulance services by March 31, 2023. As this proposed deadline approaches, plan sponsors should reach out to their third party administrators to determine what assistance, if any, will be provided relating to these reporting requirements.
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