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Lynne Wakefield

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Lynne regularly assists clients with issues relating to employer-sponsored health and welfare benefits, including the design, implementation, and administration of group health plans, cafeteria plans, health savings accounts (HSAs), health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), wellness programs, and retiree medical and private exchange coverage.

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In this episode of Troutman Pepper Locke’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation podcast, hosts Lydia Parker and Lynne Wakefield explore the complex legal landscape surrounding the coverage of GLP-1s prescribed for weight loss purposes within self-insured medical plans. As these medications gain popularity, plan sponsors face the challenge of controlling costs while meeting participant demand and maintaining legal compliance. The discussion covers various design alternatives, including cost-sharing strategies, waiting periods, and wellness program rewards, while addressing potential legal risks under HIPAA, the Affordable Care Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Tune in to explore how plan sponsors can navigate these issues effectively as a means to attract and retain employees, while mitigating financial exposure.

In this installment of our Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Considerations in Mergers and Acquisitions podcast series, Troutman Pepper Partners Jim Earle, Lynne Wakefield, and Lydia Parker discuss the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo on benefits-related regulations, including the Department of Labor’s Fiduciary Rule; environmental, social, and governance regulations; protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity under the Affordable Care Act; and much more.

In the inaugural episode of Troutman Pepper’s three-part Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation podcast miniseries, hosts Lynne Wakefield, Constance Brewster, and Brianna Hourihan discuss recent legislative developments and pressing issues in the qualified retirement plan space. They delve into the key provisions of SECURE 2.0, proposed regulations on the use of forfeitures, the expansion of the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS), and recent litigation trends, as well as year-end administrative tasks.