22 pages. "What's new: [1] Telehealth and other remote care services.... [2] Health Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA) contribution and carryover for 2025."  MORE >>

"Four major pharmacy developments in the last few weeks have grabbed headlines: ... The key themes across these moves are greater transparency to employer plan sponsors and fiduciaries, rebate pass-throughs and expanded federal oversight -- each of which, over time, should help spur meaningful change in pharmacy benefits contracts."  MORE >>

"Recent federal actions signal a renewed focus on prescription drug pricing transparency and cost containment. While each development addresses a different part of the pharmacy ecosystem, taken together they reflect a broader shift toward increased visibility, alternative purchasing models and closer scrutiny of pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices. Each of these events will have a significant impact on the future of pharmacy benefits."  MORE >>

"[M]any HIPAA covered entities must implement updates to align certain Part 2 regulations with the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Guidance is now available for Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) updates. OCR's Part 2 enforcement authority becomes active on February 16, 2026, and OCR has opened its portal for Part 2 complaints. To the extent separate from their HIPAA NPP, SUD providers now have a model Part 2 Patient Notice from OCR."  MORE >>

"If enacted, this regulation would ensure that critical data on drug utilization, pricing, rebates and PBM business practices are consistently reported to CHIA to enhance transparency, better-informed policy decisions and a more equitable healthcare system."  MORE >>

"Employers should carefully consider whether Voluntary Benefit Plans not intended to be subject to ERISA should be listed or included in an ERISA wrap document or summary plan description (SPD).... Employers and plan administrators who offer Voluntary Benefit Plans that are intended to be exempt from ERISA should ... include clear written statement that such plans are intended to meet the ERISA exemption in the plan's offering materials.... If a Voluntary Benefit Plan is not required to file a Form 5500 because it is not subject to ERISA, employers should not file one or include information relating to such benefits on the Form 5500 for its ERISA welfare plans."  MORE >>

"Now insurers are raising what they charge for ACA marketplace plans by substantial amounts, and ... the loss of enhanced subsidies means many consumers are seeing much steeper jumps in what they actually pay each month.... [F]or families the reality is dollar amounts that rival a second rent or mortgage payment -- with premiums doubling and even tripling for a standard plan in 19 states for those making an average of about $63,000. That represents more than 25% of annual income, roughly what financial experts say is the max one should spend on housing."  MORE >>

"[I]ndividuals and businesses in the State of Louisiana affected by severe winter ice storms that began on Jan. 22, 2026 ... now have until March 31, 2026, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments."  MORE >>

"[To] receive the true benefit of the mailbox rule in litigation, a plan sponsor must ensure that a postmark is placed on or before the deadline to provide a required notice. Plan sponsors can no longer assume that as long as it was mailed by that date, it would also be postmarked on that date.... [P]lan administrators might consider [these] steps to ensure any required notices are postmarked timely[.]"  MORE >>