PRE-CONFERENCE INTENSIVE
Wellness Laws 101
This full-day session will survey important legal concepts for
designing a compliant and effective wellness program. The presenter will cover basic legal concepts so attendees know where to look for legal guidance. Then, the presenter will discuss the latest legal guidance and activity on wellness incentives, taxation issues regarding wellness plans (including recent activity regarding WIMPER benefits), scope of practice/licensing (and whether there should be standards for wellness professionals), discrimination by wellness programs, and data privacy issues. After the session, attendees will feel more prepared to recognize wellness programs that could pose higher legal risk.
Learning Objectives
- Identify where to look for legal guidance when creating or implementing workplace wellness programs.
- Describe the latest guidance for using wellness incentives.
- Explain the various legal risk areas when creating and implementing workplace wellness programs.
Barbara Zabawa, JD, MPH
Barbara J. Zabawa has devoted her legal career to health and wellness law. After earning a law degree from the University of Wisconsin, a master’s in public health degree from the University of Michigan, and participating in two different fellowships, she sought to carve out a new practice area for lawyers interested in helping health and wellness practitioners. Prior to joining the UMKC faculty in Fall 2023, she practiced Health Law in several law firms, including her own, the Center for Health and Wellness Law. She has written extensively on topics such as the Affordable Care Act, HIPAA, Medicaid, state licensure laws and federal employment discrimination laws. Her book, Rule the Rules of Workplace Wellness Programs (published by the American Bar Association) is used in several Wellness Law courses across the country. She currently teaches Health Law I, Health Law II and Healthcare Rights Law at UMKC.