Supreme Court backs faith-based hospitals' ERISA exemptions

Modern Healthcare:  The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday unanimously issued a decision that revives a decades-old practice exempting faith-based hospitals from federal pension regulations. The eight justices ruled that faith-based hospitals' pension plans qualify for the so-called "church plan" exemption from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Hospitals and health systems ranging from Dignity Health and Advocate Health Care down to one-hospital systems such as St. Peter's Healthcare System in New Brunswick, N.J., will not have to pay premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. or fully fund their pensions to meet ERISA requirements.

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