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Brokers operating in the federally run exchange states remain frustrated with broker functions on the website, as the government announces lop-sided enrollment numbers for the state versus federal exchanges.

The lopsided enrollment between Medicaid, which is paid for with taxpayer money, and the private plans may boost criticism of the rising costs of the $1.4 trillion health law. High participation in the exchanges is critical to keeping the costs of medical coverage down.

As another flu season approaches, employers may be questioning the legality of requiring their employees to get a flu vaccination. While a different set of considerations come into play when a hospital is assessing how to implement a flu vaccine policy, nonhospital employers also have business needs and health concerns that may make them want to consider a mandatory flu vaccine policy. Here are five dos and three don’ts from law firm Drinker Biddle & Reath on what employers should consider. [Images: Shutterstock]

The number of people who died in hospitals as a result of medical mistakes is approaching half a million, according to Patient Safety America. Medical mistakes not only cost lives and misery but billions of dollars in extra costs, most of which is paid by employers.

Twenty-nine of the nation’s 100 largest have revised estimates in past year.

Statins will be recommended for almost 33 million Americans, about twice the number under previous guidelines. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, accounting for 1 in 4 U.S. deaths.

In a new survey of defined benefit retirement plan sponsors, 30% still have their pensions open to new hires, and 70% of those employers think they shall still be offering the plan to all employees five years from now, according a survey released Tuesday.

One retirement expert says ACA is destined to fail and the answer lies in what the 401(k) industry has been preaching for years.

Despite a recent show of political opposition, the U.S. Department of Labor seems poised to press ahead with a proposal to broaden the definition of fiduciary to cover advisers working in the retirement plan segment, a leading opponent of the measure warned on Monday.

While confusion and acrimony dominate discussions over Healthcare.gov, HR sources are reporting few if any concerns from their workforce populations, most of whom are snug and secure in their employer-sponsored health care.