Chris Deacon, a distinguished consultant and legal expert in employee health benefits, dives into the complexities of employer-sponsored healthcare. She discusses the systemic issues driving costs and the lack of accountability under ERISA. The conversation highlights the need for employers to reclaim negotiation power to enhance employee care. Chris also unpacks the implications of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, revealing how it introduces new transparency requirements and could lead to significant legal challenges for self-insured employers.

Chris Deacon, an expert in healthcare legal issues, discusses the different categories of legal activities impacting self-insured employers, carriers, hospitals, and taxing authorities. Some interesting topics include breach of fiduciary cases, carrier versus hospital cases, and taxing authority versus nonprofit hospital cases. Throughout the podcast, they delve into specific examples of ongoing lawsuits, such as Bricklayers vs Anthem and United vs TeamHealth, highlighting the complexities of the legal landscape in the healthcare industry.