This website and our authorized third-party service providers use cookies to achieve the purposes described in our Privacy Policy. If you would like to learn more or withdraw your consent to some or all cookies, please review our Privacy Policy. By selecting “I ACCEPT” on this banner, scrolling this page, clicking any link, or continuing to browse this site, you agree to the use of cookies.
Alaska has obtained a Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to create the Alaska Reinsurance Program (ARP), which will be used to drive down costs to consumers while also providing coverage to those who lack insurance.
“The approval will temporarily stabilize Alaska’s individual insurance market, which only has one carrier and has experienced a 203 percent increase in insurance premiums since the Affordable Care Act began,” said Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The ARP is expected to lower premiums by 20 percent while providing new coverage for close to 1500 individuals. Under the ARP, the second-lowest-cost silver plan premium will be reduced, resulting in the federal government's spending less in premium tax credits.
CMS is actively urging other states to apply for a 1332 Waiver to help stabilize their markets and save the federal government some money.
Practical articles on HR, Safety, compliance, and people operations—written for real businesses, not legal textbooks.
U.S. Department of Labor Officially Restores Prior Overtime Exemption Rules
On May 14th, 2026, the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced it has officially rescinded the 2024 overtime exemption rules. Specifically, the WHD published a technical amendment to restore previous 2019 regulations that dictated overtime exemptions for...
NLRB General Counsel Takes Action to Tackle Current Case Backlog
On May 6th, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and NLRB General Counsel Crystal Stowe Carey announced the bulk transfer of thousands of labor practice cases. Specifically, this action fulfills an initiative signed by the NLRB General Counsel earlier this year. Overall, the initiative...
Privacy Agency Invites Comments from Businesses on the CCPA’s Usage of Personal Data
Recently, the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) issued a call for comments on the current state of personal data collection under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Specifically, the invitation to deliver remarks was issued on April 20th, 2026. The information provided by the...
DOL Proposes New Joint Employer Rule To Unify Standards Under Federal Labor Laws
In April 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a proposed rule to establish a single, clear standard for determining when joint-employer status applies under three major federal laws: the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Migrant and Seasonal...
DOL Updates Enforcement Approach for Employee Benefit Plans: What Employers Should Know
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced a significant change in its enforcement of employee benefit plan rules. The DOL will now focus more closely on serious violations that harm workers and retirees, meaning compliant employers may face less scrutiny under the updated approach.