"This agreement is an example of what independent, flexible work with dignity should look like in the 21st Century. We are thrilled to see more policymakers supporting portable benefits and innovative frameworks to improve independent work," Uber CLO Tony West said.

Five of the suits were filed by Esperion Therapeutics, which seeks to stop competitors from selling generic versions of the company's cholesterol drug Nexletol.

The three health insurers have been hit with lawsuits by the Healthcare Justice Coalition NJ, which claims that doctors are paid just a fraction of their bills for out-of-network services provided.

On Feb. 1, the CMS will send its initial offer of a fair price for each of the 10 selected prescription drugs to the drugmakers, who have all filed lawsuits attempting to block the government's effort to control drug prices.

The health insurer breached its contract and sought to unilaterally reduce its reimbursement rates to Envision, a company that staffs doctors in emergency rooms, according to an agreement by an arbitration panel.

The decision goes beyond the scope of a November 2020 ruling in "Loeb v. Vantage Custom Classics," which allowed a plaintiff to proceed with a whistleblower suit related to COVID, said Christopher Eibeler, the plaintiff's lawyer.

"I think it's going to force more companies to take a closer, more active look and engage themselves with pay equity more. And it will also give people more of a chance to say 'I don't think my pay is fair,' and engage on that issue," says attorney David Rapuano.

"Employers might not be as generous with time off as they were during COVID. I'm not sure monkeypox is going to require that. It's going to be interesting," said attorney Katherine Dudley Helms of Ogletree Deakins.