Sarah Raaii
Subscribe to Sarah Raaii's PostsSarah G. Raaii focuses her practice on employee benefits and matters related to health care reform, data privacy and HIPAA compliance, executive compensation, and health and welfare, cafeteria, 401(k), 403(b) and pension plans. Read Sarah Raaii's full bio.
Employers Seek Clarity on Reproductive Healthcare Benefits Litigation Following EEOC Commissioner Filing
By Rachel B. Cowen and Sarah Raaii on Nov 28, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
Following the US Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, many employers extended travel benefits to women residing in states where abortion or reproductive health procedures may now be unlawful. Recently, US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioner Andrea Lucas filed a Commissioner’s Charge against at least three companies alleging that doing so...
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Legal Risks Loom For Employers Protecting Abortion Access
By Sarah Raaii on Nov 8, 2022
Posted In Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
US employers are taking steps to provide abortion access to workers despite threats from anti-abortion activists and conservative lawmakers. In this Law360 article, McDermott’s Sarah Raaii said that “we’re certainly continuing to monitor” threats against employers. “And we’re now in the position — really an unprecedented position for employers — of having to potentially look at 50...
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How Employers, Insurers Are Coping with Abortion After Dobbs
By Sarah Raaii on Oct 4, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
The US Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade has created more complexity to the country’s patchwork of abortion laws. In this Managed Healthcare Executive article, McDermott’s Sarah Raaii offers perspective about how insurers are navigating healthcare plans state-by-state. Access the article.
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How the Overturning of Roe v. Wade May Affect US Employer Benefits Plans
By Sarah Raaii on Sep 22, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
The US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has led to a flurry of confusion and questions from employers. In this Benefits Canada article, McDermott’s Sarah Raaii explains how some states are imposing criminal penalties for anyone who assists with abortion within their borders. “If a court determines state abortion restrictions are generally...
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Want to Provide Abortion Travel Benefits at Your Company? Here’s How to Protect Employees
By Sarah Raaii on Sep 1, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
How can companies provide abortion travel benefits to their workers without disclosing sensitive medical information? In this Corporate Counsel article, McDermott’s Sarah Raaii provides insight into how the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) offer protections for workers seeking reproductive healthcare services. “The most common way...
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What Should GCs Know About the Abortion Landscape?
By Sarah Raaii on Aug 19, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
What should company general counsels (GCs) know about abortion trigger bans, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and how not to break the law in light of the new abortion landscape in the United States? In this MedCity News article, McDermott’s Sarah Raaii offers insight into how companies can protect abortion access for...
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How Can Employers Protect Workers Who Seek Abortion Care?
By David Quinn Gacioch and Sarah Raaii on Aug 17, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
As US states seek to reduce abortion access in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, how can employers protect workers who seek abortion care? In this Fortune article, McDermott’s David Gacioch, Sarah Raaii and Ellen Bronchetti offer insight into what the US Supreme Court’s decision means for employee healthcare data, employee benefits...
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Fired for Having an Abortion? Unlikely, but It’s Complicated
By Sarah Raaii on Jul 28, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
Could a worker be fired for having an abortion? According to this Insider article, workplace laws would likely protect pregnant people from discrimination. McDermott’s Sarah Raaii said employers should make sure abortion health plan coverage does not conflict with federal laws. “Incorporating abortion benefits into an employer’s existing health plan might help mitigate worker privacy...
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Complex Patchwork of Laws Await Companies Offering Out-of-State Abortion Travel
By Sarah Raaii on Jul 19, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
Employers seeking to provide their employees with abortion services are facing a dizzying patchwork of laws that differ from state to state, according to this Corporate Counsel article. McDermott’s Sarah Raaii said companies with employees in multiple states “would really need to do a state-by-state analysis of what the abortion laws are, whether and under...
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Employers, Employees Search for Answers After Dobbs Decision
By Sarah Raaii on Jul 7, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
The US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has left employers—and employees—with more questions than answers. While many employers have promised to pay for their employees to travel across state lines for an abortion, it’s unclear if employers might be sued for doing so. In this USA TODAY article, McDermott’s Sarah Raaii said...
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