Sevita Health’s Employee Tobacco Penalty Draws Federal Lawsuit

Current and former Sevita Health employees filed a proposed class action accusing the residential healthcare services company of mismanaging a program that charges extra fees to tobacco-using workers on its health plan.

The lawsuit says Sevita, formally known as National Mentor Holdings LLC, requires workers who smoke to pay an additional $50 per month for health coverage without explaining that they can submit notes from their doctors that will be considered when assessing the penalties. This flouts federal legal requirements, which mandate that this information be included in all communications describing the wellness plan, the employees said in a complaint ...