#regulations

Must say...so many layoffs came and went....there are cosmetic layoff's in his empire but nothing significant. All his directs are still there. It can't be his or his directs' performance..none of them have any kind of pedigree in real data work. The whole thing is a house built on cards that will collapse when there is a proper regulatory exam under a proper administration.
Tim Ryan must be one helluva godfather

Been here for a little while now and it is very obvious that there is a lack of understanding Medicaid state requirements. Even in markets with years of MCO experience the barriers to regulatory requirements are difficult to ignore. Are the higher up’s starting to understand that Medicaid is not as pretty as Medicare or are they oblivious?

H1B and other immigrant hiring salaries are to be revised again and proposal to stop spouse work visa's( H4 visa holders) are in progress. This might give some relief to economy in tough market conditions.

When H1b visa cost more chances are more for employers to hire US students, Citizens and Nationals.

STOP Hiring Foreign Nationals for SMALL Chunks/Chores and Support only High Talented Hires.

If you wish to support this, please comment on the website:
https://www.regulations.gov/document/ETA-2026-0001-0001

Will there be more layoffs?

New Texas SNAP Rules Now in Effect, Candy and Sweet Drinks No Longer Covered

Starting Wednesday, April 1, 2026, Texans who receive SNAP benefits can no longer use them to buy candy, drinks with artificial sweeteners, or beverages with 5 grams or more of added sugar under new statewide restrictions.

AI WILL REPLACE FCC SWITCH REPORTABLES. Regulated AI.

OpenAI's Altman says world 'urgently' needs AI regulation https://share.google/B1jHOswL7EwmG2pAX

2013 changes to risk capital largely led banks to withdraw from the market. Now its companies like Rocketmortage. This has led to higher mortage rates because banks have cheaper funding (deposits).

Fed is going to change the rules so to incentivize banks to re enter the market, both the risk weights for mortages and mortage servicing rights.

Itll be a growth market for banks.

Too bad chainsaw charlie doesnt know how to grow a business and after 5 years of bi weekly thrashing to the corporate culture no one wants to work at Wells Fu----u

I see the recent legislature will exempt or at least require GPO transparency, but I have no idea what that means for OptumRx. Does anyone have an estimate of how much $ Emisar captures for us? I realize this is probably known by only a few, very select employees and probably not casual readers of this site, nor something they would share openly. So I’m asking this group - any idea how much revenue Emisar pulls? When/if that company gets eliminated, how will the flat rate policy instructed in the legislation impact our revenue? I also realize that this is almost 2 years away, but wondering if layoffs will begin to wind down operations long before then.

BlackRock must be held accountable for its recent layoffs of American workers while retaining H-1B employees in similar roles.
These decisions raise serious concerns about whether BlackRock is abusing the H-1B program—by laying off qualified U.S. workers instead of redeploying them internally, while continuing to sponsor visa workers for comparable positions. This directly undermines the purpose of the H-1B system, which is meant to fill genuine skill gaps, not displace American employees.
As a result, multiple complaints have already been filed with various government authorities, calling for investigations into BlackRock’s labor practices and H-1B sponsorship legitimacy. Regulators must closely examine whether these layoffs violate federal labor and immigration rules.
American workers deserve protection. BlackRock misused the H-1B program while cutting U.S. jobs, it should face consequences.

Let the games begin!
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/01/08/congress/insurer-ceos-testifying-before-house-health-subcommittee-jan-22-00716104

It looks like the Republicans have found there talking point to go after the ACA. They are blaming health insurance providers for the high cost of healthcare and pointing to the profits they've made since Obamacare started. 2026 is going to be a tough year for this industry.

I obtained the language from an offer letter provided to a colleague who was transitioned to Infinite in July. I subsequently had this document reviewed by my employment attorney / father-in-law. His reaction was immediate and unequivocal. Despite the paper transfer, the same employees continue to perform the exact same work they performed at Fiserv, for the same clients, using the same systems and devices, and reporting into the same leadership. Day-to-day direction, supervision, and control remain firmly with Fiserv. A payroll change does not alter economic reality.

Based on these facts, he concluded that this structure exposes Fiserv to extraordinary legal and regulatory risk. Employees who were nominally transferred but remain substantively controlled by Fiserv have clear and actionable claims. This is not a gray area, nor a technical compliance issues, it is a textbook example of form being used to disguise substance.

He further stated that if this model is applied broadly, Fiserv’s potential exposure is staggering. The company could face hundreds of millions of dollars in liability to the IRS for unpaid or improperly allocated payroll taxes, penalties, and interest, in addition to serious exposure under Department of Labor enforcement. Using a third party as a payroll conduit does not insulate the controlling employer from federal tax or labor law obligations.

In his professional judgment, this structure is unsustainable. He believes it is only a matter of time before it draws regulatory scrutiny and becomes public, resulting in significant enforcement actions and reputational damage. No amount of contractual language can override the reality of who controls the work. I understand the initial contract was executed by Frank and Guy, but WTH, 🤦 Mike? Last nail in the coffin?

https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osec/osec20250919

https://www.smart-union.org/fra-doubles-our-risk-by-reducing-track-inspections/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAOkREZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEez2nlxKWUV9immdhCtH0C_pjWMwQY-y46lPtIjh0pPoQ0LNn8esjymAAW8Aw_aem_NTTBUPC9VWEhVoGOdOK0rQ

Verizon has not officially filed a public WARN notice for mass layoffs in 2025, although there are reports that the company is preparing for restructuring, staff cuts, and retail store closures. Verizon is also cutting about 2,500 jobs as part of a plan to reduce its workforce by 5% over 12 to 18 months, notes Workforce Bulletin. In September 2025, Ohio enacted its own "mini-WARN" Act, which supplements federal WARN requirements for mass layoff events.

Company news and reports
Reported layoffs: Verizon is reportedly preparing for significant staff cuts and retail store closures as part of a broader restructuring initiative, according to The Economic Times.

Workforce reduction plan: In March 2025, the company revealed plans to lay off about 2,500 employees, or 5% of its workforce, over the next 12 to 18 months, reports Fierce Network.

What is a WARN notice?
A WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notice is a US federal law that requires employers to provide workers with at least 60 days' advance notice of plant closings or mass layoffs, explains the U.S. Department of Labor.

The notice provides employees with time to prepare for job loss and seek alternative employment, says Cincinnati Enquirer.

State-level WARN acts
Ohio: On September 29, 2025, Ohio joined 13 other states by enacting a "mini-WARN" Act, which supplements federal WARN notice requirements for employers in the state, notes Workforce Bulletin.
California: In October 2025, California expanded its Cal-WARN Act with the signing of Senate Bill 617, expanding the state's requirements starting in January 2026, reports California Employment Law Report.

Honest question. How does Verizon circumvent both Federal and State Law to RIF? How are they allowed not to be required to submit notice to WARN Act States?

When Americans talk about why prescription dr-gs cost so much, we often point fingers at pharmaceutical companies. But behind the scenes, a quiet and far more insidious force drives prices higher — Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or PBMs.

These middlemen were supposed to save us money by negotiating discounts and managing benefits between dr-gmakers, pharmacies, and insurance companies. Instead, they’ve built a cartel-like empire that manipulates prices, restricts access, and drains billions from patients and small pharmacies alike.

Three PBMs — CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx — now control nearly 80 percent of the prescription dr-g market. That’s not competition. That’s consolidation, and it gives them unchecked power to dictate what dr-gs Americans can take and how much we pay for them.

Here’s how the scheme works: PBMs negotiate secret rebates with dr-g manufacturers in exchange for preferred placement on insurance formularies. The larger the rebate, the more likely a dr-g will be covered — even if a cheaper or more effective alternative exists. But those rebates don’t go to patients. Instead, PBMs and insurers often pocket the difference, leaving patients at the pharmacy counter paying inflated copays or list prices.

Independent pharmacies suffer too. PBMs reimburse them below cost, while steering patients to their own mail-order or corporate-owned pharmacies. Many small-town pharmacies — often the only healthcare access point for miles — have closed under this pressure.

It’s legalized extortion wrapped in healthcare jargon.

The result? A system where everyone but the patient profits. Dr-gmakers inflate prices to fund rebates. PBMs boast about “savings” that never reach consumers. Insurers look the other way because they share in the cut. And the average American pays more for prescription dr-gs than anyone else on Earth.

The good news is that lawmakers are finally paying attention. Bipartisan bills in Congress and state legislatures aim to require transparency, ban spread pricing, and force rebates to flow directly to patients. But reform will fail unless regulators confront the core problem: PBMs have become too big, too secretive, and too conflicted to serve the public good.

The United States cannot claim to have a free market in healthcare when three corporations act as gatekeepers to every pill that reaches a patient. We broke up oil trusts and telecom monopolies before. It’s time to do the same for the PBM cartel.

Because healthcare should serve people, not middlemen.

I believe that as our government and our citizens realize just how potentially DANGEROUS that Artificial Intelligence can be…to our National Security, our electrical infrastructure, our financial banking systems, our social media, our news media, our children’s safety, and yes even our healthcare and PHI data protection.

And as a side benefit to increased regulations, I hope that acts as almost a complete deterrent from corporations having the ability to replace human jobs with Artificial Intelligence.

The U.S. healthcare system is heading into another profit bo-m — for insurers, not patients. Premiums are set to surge an average of 18% in 2026, the steepest increase in over a decade. For millions of Americans already struggling to afford coverage, it’s a blow. For insurance companies, it’s a bonanza.

Behind the numbers lies a troubling truth: the business model of health insurance has become less about protecting patients and more about protecting profits. Advanced algorithms now scan every claim, searching for reasons to deny coverage. Doctors spend hours fighting for payment while patients are buried in appeals and paperwork. Every denied claim is another dollar saved — and another point for Wall Street.

Medicare Advantage, once sold as a way to give seniors more choice, has become a profit machine. Private insurers pocket billions in federal payments while restricting care through narrow networks and prior-authorization hurdles. Meanwhile, these same companies report record revenues, buy back their own stock, and reward executives with multimillion-dollar bonuses.

Healthcare costs rise, but care quality doesn’t. Hospitals close, families skip treatments, and the sick get sicker — all while insurers post double-digit earnings growth.

It’s time to ask what kind of system we’ve built — one where access to care depends not on need, but on profitability. Regulators, lawmakers, and voters must decide whether healthcare remains a public good or continues to serve as one of the most lucrative industries in America.

Because if current trends continue, 2026 will be remembered not as the year healthcare got better, but as the year insurance profits went stratospheric.

October 29, 2025

BY U.S. EPA

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued three final Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class VI permits to ExxonMobil for a project in Jefferson County, Texas. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, these permits allow ExxonMobil to convert three existing test wells permitted by the state to carbon dioxide (CO2) storage injection wells for long-term storage.

“Texas has successfully managed underground injection wells for decades while protecting drinking water, and I'm confident they'll continue this success with Class VI wells,” said EPA Regional Administrator Scott Mason. “These permits advance ExxonMobil's Rose carbon storage project, creating jobs and protecting health and the environment through advanced technology. EPA is committed to removing bureaucratic barriers to unleash American energy.”

“We appreciate all the work from the EPA, under the Trump administration, to issue these permits for our Rose carbon storage project. It marks an important step in strengthening America’s energy industry through safe, permanent CO₂ storage,” said Barry Engle, president of ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions. “We’ve worked diligently to meet or exceed the rigorous standards set. Carbon capture and storage projects will create growth, jobs and economic opportunity, and we’re pleased to play a leading role in advancing their deployment.”

Class VI injection wells store CO2 deep underground after it has been captured from an emissions source or the atmosphere. These Class VI permits allow ExxonMobil to inject an average of 1.1 to 1.67 million metric tons of CO2 per year into each well, with a maximum total of 5 million metric tons per year across all three injection wells. Over the 13-year injection period, ExxonMobil would be allowed to inject a maximum of 53 million metric tons of CO2.

EPA regulations require ExxonMobil to conduct comprehensive site analyses ensuring the wells protect the environment during construction and operation, including preventing drinking water contamination and human-induced seismic activity. EPA also mandates that all operational plans meet site-specific conditions, covering construction materials, mechanical integrity, and emergency response protocols.

EPA proposed to approve the permits in August of this year and took public comments and held a virtual hearing. The final permit documents, responses to public comments, and other finalized or updated documents are available on the docket.

https://carboncapturemagazine.com/articles/epa-issues-three-class-vi-permits-to-exxonmobil-in-jefferson-county-texas

From summer 2026, new EU rules will come into force, introducing far-reaching changes in employers’ obligations regarding pay and pay transparency. The objective of Directive (EU) 2023/970 is to ensure effective equal pay for equal work and work of equal value, as well as to strengthen the transparency of recruitment and pay practices.

The upcoming rules raise a number of questions and practical challenges for employers, who should already start preparing now

New York Amends WARN Act to Require Disclosure of AI-Related Layoffs

https://www.kaufmandolowich.com/news-resources/new-york-amends-warn-act-to-require-disclosure-of-ai-related-layoffs-by-keith-j-gutstein-esq-and-shiddhartha-uddin-esq-8-4-2025/

It’s so infuriating to read in the news how the Provincial government tries to tie the layoffs to the feds, focusing solely on the pipeline or some perceived “red tape.” I’m with IRP, and there was no shortage of projects (less so now, no one knows what to do). For approvals, we asked AER or provincial bodies.

Those corporations don’t care about ease of regulations - they only understand regulatory consequences and cost impacts. Right now, it’s very cheap for them to get rid of all of us with no reason given. I almost can’t blame IOL (or more so Exxon) for what they did. It aligns very well with the nonsensical decisions they were making. BTC, DTI, how is this allowed in Canada

https://www.fec.gov/files/legal/aos/2014-11/1303261.pdf

Word on the street is they want more critical right after the contract has been settled and the job security for no layoffs per merger, but they need their quotas for criticals that just went up ! Again dealing with this company there always a get one over on the worker clause

Podcast: What's Behind The Latest Boeing 777X Certification Delay? | Aviation Week Network https://share.google/XM6VQqfqFok5o9Olz

• SK Hynix and Samsung will need licenses for China equipment
• U.S. equipment makers KLA Corp, Lam Research and Applied Materials likely impacted
• New rule takes effect in 120 days

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/us-makes-it-harder-sk-hynix-samsung-make-chips-china-2025-08-29/

Has anyone heard how ELV plans to handle the new CMS regulation on TAT from 14 days to 5 days for acute UM?

Could big oil have to give up equity share to the government to pay back green energy and carbon capture grants given to them? This could lead to a national oil company which the administration would live to have.