Roundup of selected state health developments, fourth-quarter 2020 

To wrap up 2020, states clarified employer reporting obligations, attempted to rein in prescription drug costs, and moved forward with state health plan initiatives, including updates to employer healthcare expenditures and changes to individual health plan options. Insurance laws and regulations addressed COVID-19 vaccine coverage, surprise medical bills, insulin cost sharing, mental health parity and telemedicine. States also updated or expanded paid and unpaid leave laws in the fourth quarter. Other benefit-related activity focused on employee status, pretax transportation fringe benefits, privacy and long-term care.

Download the 14-page print-friendly PDF for state-by-state details. Here are highlights of the coverage.

• New push for ACA innovation waivers aims to rekindle states’ interest (May 21, 2019)
• California's data privacy law appears not to reach HIPAA-covered group health plans but other impacts unclear (April 8, 2019)