The Bar on Healthcare

Hosted by Aon

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Episodes

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

A monthly podcast highlighting changes to US health care public policy. Join hosts Kerri Willis and Ed Doherty of Aon's Compliance and Policy Consulting Group, as they discuss what these changes mean for both employers and employees.

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60 recent

September 25, 202614 min

Smoking FAQs

Welcome back to the Bar! This month, Kerri and Ed break down the new guidance from the Department of Labor around how what HIPAA says about tobacco surcharges and reasonable alternative standards. What do employer group health plans need to know about how these programs work? And in Last Call, Kerri talks about every bar owner’s nightmare – stolen beer. DISCLAIMER: The Bar on Healthcare is an Aon podcast. Aon is not engaged in the practice of law. The information in this podcast is not intended as and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult your own legal counsel to obtain such advice.

August 26, 202620 min

New Electronic Disclosure Rules Proposed

Welcome back to the Bar! As the summer winds down, we tackle the new proposed rules from the Department of Labor on electronic disclosures required under ERISA. Employers have been asking for an expansion of the safe harbor that allows electronic distribution of certain required documents and information. And in Last Call, Ed celebrates the dog days of summer by hanging 20 with the pups of the World Dog Surfing Championships. DISCLAIMER: The Bar on Healthcare is an Aon podcast. Aon is not engaged in the practice of law. The information in this podcast is not intended as and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult your own legal counsel to obtain such advice.

July 22, 202618 min

All About HIPAA

It’s summertime at the Bar! We’re talking about privacy, specifically HIPAA. We’ve seen some new enforcement actions from the Office of Civil Rights at the department of Health and Human Services. What do these new enforcement actions mean? What does your company need to know? Kerri and Ed are here to break down the risks, and the cross-functional teamwork that might be needed to navigate the risks. And in Last Call, Kerri pays tribute to a friend we’ve just reluctantly said goodbye to…the World Cup. DISCLAIMER: The Bar on Healthcare is an Aon podcast. Aon is not engaged in the practice of law. The information in this podcast is not intended as and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult your own legal counsel to obtain such advice.

June 24, 202617 min

Independent Disputes, Resolved

Here's the New York Times article Karen mentioned: A $440,000 Breast Reduction: How Doctors Cashed In on the No Surprises Act and Arbitration - The New York Times And here's an article from us last year about hidden medical costs: As Health Spend Soars, Employers Should Beware of Hidden Cost Threats DISCLAIMER: The Bar on Healthcare is an Aon podcast. Aon is not engaged in the practice of law. The information in this podcast is not intended as and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult your own legal counsel to obtain such advice.

May 27, 202618 min

New Fertility Benefits

Welcome back to the Bar! The administration has rolled out a proposed new regulation on standalone fertility benefits. Kerri and Ed break down what this new proposal does — and doesn’t — mean. How will these new benefits differ from current family-building benefits? And what should employers keep in mind when considering offering these benefits. And in Last Call, Kerri has recommendations for your TV viewing pleasure. DISCLAIMER: The Bar on Healthcare is an Aon podcast. Aon is not engaged in the practice of law. The information in this podcast is not intended as and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult your own legal counsel to obtain such advice.

April 23, 202624 min

Fiduciary Litigation and New CPT Codes

Welcome back to the Bar! A handful of court cases both new and old are on the menu this month. Ed and Kerri break down the latest developments in the fiduciary lawsuits brought against employers’ medical and prescription drug benefit plans. Also, Kerri discusses the news that the AMA has updated its CPT codes around pregnancy and birth. And in Last Call, Ed salutes his Illinois Fighting Illini and Kerri’s UConn men’s basketball team. DISCLAIMER: The Bar on Healthcare is an Aon podcast. Aon is not engaged in the practice of law. The information in this podcast is not intended as and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult your own legal counsel to obtain such advice.

March 19, 202619 min

A New View on Transparency

Welcome back to the Bar! Congress and the Department of Labor were at it again, with the latter releasing new proposed regulations on transparency for PBMs and the former passing legislation on similar topics a few days later. Kerri and Ed discuss what’s in the law, what’s in the regulations, and what comes next. And in Last Call, Kerri celebrates last weekend's Academy Awards with an amazing stat about one of this year’s nominees. DISCLAIMER: The Bar on Healthcare is an Aon podcast. Aon is not engaged in the practice of law. The information in this podcast is not intended as and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult your own legal counsel to obtain such advice.

January 15, 202626 min

New Year, New Guidance

Happy New Year from the Bar! Usually, we’re pouring your favorite beverage, but now we’re also poring over new guidance around provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill related to telehealth in high-deductible health plans, direct primary care arrangements, and onsite clinics. We also have an update on some fiduciary litigation. And in Last Call, Ed channels his inner Frodo and salutes the 25th anniversary of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. DISCLAIMER: The Bar on Healthcare is an Aon podcast. Aon is not engaged in the practice of law. The information in this podcast is not intended as and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult your own legal counsel to obtain such advice.

November 18, 202514 min

The Cost of Drugs

The Bar on Healthcare –The Cost of Drugs Welcome back to the Bar! This month, Kerri and Ed discuss the administration’s latest efforts to lower prescription drug price, including transparency efforts, “most favored nation” pricing, and direct-to-consumer programs. Also, a new GLP-1 program might affect employer group health plans, but how? And in Last Call, Kerri salutes the winners of the first true World Series in three decades. DISCLAIMER: The Bar on Healthcare is an Aon podcast. Aon is not engaged in the practice of law. The information in this podcast is not intended as and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult your own legal counsel to obtain such advice.

October 15, 202515 min

We're back!

Welcome back to the Bar! Summer Break is over, and there’s a lot to discuss. But first, welcome back to one of the original proprietors of the Bar, Kerri Willis, who joins Ed Doherty to discuss the Independent Dispute Resolution process that was created as part of the No Surprises Act. The process has created some surprising outcomes that may be interesting to those who run employer group health plans. And in Last Call, Ed asks “What’s your sign…no, what’s your sign really?” DISCLAIMER: The Bar on Healthcare is an Aon podcast. Aon is not engaged in the practice of law. The information in this podcast is not intended as and should not be considered legal advice. Please consult your own legal counsel to obtain such advice.