Episode 279: Empowering Plans: P240 – Tobacco Surcharge Litigation Is Hitting a New Level

Episode 283: Empowering Plans: P244 – The Appeal and the Risks of Alternative Health Care Arrangements

On this week's Empowering Plans Podcast, attorneys Ron Peck and Nick Bonds discuss the growing popularity of alternative healthcare arrangements. What's driving interest in these alternatives? What financial pressures are fueling their growth? Can they deliver on their promise? In a landscape of ever-increasing healthcare costs, these arrangements often offer a more affordable alternative to traditional coverage, but in exchange plans and participants can be left holding more risk than they realize. Be informed before you roll the dice! The Phia Group is here to help.

Episode 282: Empowering Plans: P243 – Navigating Medicare Incentivization Rules

In this installment of The Phia Group’s Empowering Plans podcast, attorneys Kendall Jackson and Jon Jablon break down the Medicare Secondary Payer Act and what it means for self-funded group health plans. From prohibited incentives to noncompliant plan language, and the surprisingly thin line between educating and encouraging employees about Medicare, this episode covers the compliance pitfalls that plan sponsors, TPAs, and brokers sometimes overlook when trying to be cost-conscious.

Episode 281: Empowering Plans: P242 – Surprises and The No Surprises Act

Join attorneys Cindy Merrell and Bryan Dunton as they take a deep dive into real-world cases involving the No Surprises Act. Cindy and Bryan break down how the Act is being applied, highlight common issues and pitfalls, and discuss what these cases mean for payors, providers, and other stakeholders navigating these billing disputes.

Episode 280: Empowering Plans: P241 – Headlines and Finish Lines – Phia’s Derby Preview

It is time again for the fastest 20 minutes in podcasting as Cindy Merrell and Corey Crigger take over the Empowering Plans podcast to preview The Kentucky Derby. Don’t worry, this podcast isn’t solely about horse racing! Cindy and Corey also discuss two big news items that affect the healthcare industry – litigation surrounding Roundup and a major article in the New York Times about the No Surprises Act. Don’t be left in the dust. Tune in to hear their insights into healthcare and  horse racing prognostication!

Episode 279: Empowering Plans: P240 – Tobacco Surcharge Litigation Is Hitting a New Level

As a follow-up to this past January’s podcast episode on tobacco surcharges, new litigation has been filing and this time, it’s on a much larger scale. Humana is facing a class-action lawsuit, filed on March 17, 2026, alleging violations of the wellness program rules and fiduciary duties related to tobacco surcharge as part of a wellness program. Join attorneys Kelly Dempsey and Naga Vivekanandan as they compare this new suit to prior cases, and explain why this is different and what it could mean for future ligation and plans’ continuing struggles to comply with wellness program rules.