In this edition of Health Policy Breakroom, Sarah Raaii and Rachel Stauffer join Julia Grabo to explore a crucial virtual care provision from the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act, exploring its effects on patients, employers, and the broader landscape of virtual care policy.
Florida expands rules favoring noncompetes while other states limit them further
2025 has seen a flurry of new state laws regulating employee restrictive covenant agreements, especially in the healthcare sector, with many states tightening restrictions but Florida taking a different approach. This diverse legal landscape poses significant challenges for employers, particularly those operating in multiple states, as they must navigate and comply with a patchwork of varying regulations.
IRS reminds businesses about the Childcare Tax Credit
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released Tax Tip 2025-39, reminding businesses about the Childcare Tax Credit. Taxpayers may receive a credit of up to $150,000 per year to offset 10% of qualified childcare resource and referral costs and 25% of qualified childcare facility costs. To be eligible for the credit, an employer must have paid or incurred qualified childcare costs during the tax year to provide childcare services to employees.
Learn more about other new IRS guidance in this IRS roundup.
Unpacking health insurers’ prior authorization announcement
Health insurers recently announced steps to improve the prior authorization process, a move that was praised by US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz. This initiative responds to longstanding complaints from patients and providers about the complexity and burden of prior authorization, which often leads to denied coverage for necessary care. While CMS and HHS have already implemented regulations to address these issues, the question remains whether the new industry commitments add anything beyond what is already required.
FAQs regarding the Skrmetti decision for healthcare entities and payors
On June 18, 2025, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in United States v. Skrmetti, upholding Tennessee’s SB1 law that limits access to gender-affirming care for minors. The court’s 6-3 decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, deemed the law constitutional under a rational basis review, determining it classifies based on age and medical use rather than sex or transgender status.
These FAQs highlight key implications for healthcare providers, hospitals, health systems, health plans, and employer plan sponsors navigating the ruling’s consequences.
