"PBMs must now adhere to the same compensation disclosure rules applicable to other ERISA plan service providers and advisors, such as investment advisors, recordkeepers or brokers, and other entities receiving 'indirect compensation' (e.g., accounting, auditing, actuarial, banking, and consulting service providers), which, in turn, will enable employers sponsoring group health plans to better evaluate and negotiate PBM compensation under their contracts."  MORE >>

"Group health plans can access a model notice as well as a Word version of a model notice on the HHS website. Under the HIPAA privacy rules, group health plans and other covered entities that receive, maintain or transmit certain SUD treatment records must update their NPPs to include specific content related to how they use or disclose the records. The deadline for updating the NPP was February 16, 2026."  MORE >>

"[Rev. Rul. 2025-4] outlines the federal income tax withholding and reporting obligations for employers with respect to state-run PFML programs.... IRS issued Notice 2026-6, delaying the compliance deadline until 2027 for some of the most complicated aspects of Rev. Rul. 2025-4.... [T]he extension applies to withholding and reporting obligations in connection with medical leave benefits paid by a state that are attributable to employer contributions."  MORE >>

"An employer offering group medical coverage to Illinois employees must provide a comparison of the plan's covered benefits with the essential health benefits (EHBs) provided by the Illinois benchmark plan. The law applies to fully insured and self-funded medical plans. Regulators have posted a sample template and FAQ. Although employers don't have to offer the EHBs listed, they do have to identify which EHBs the employer-sponsored plan includes and excludes."  MORE >>

16 pages. "Mental health and wellness programs (65%) top the list of employee concerns, signaling a strong need for emotional and psychological support in the workplace ... Healthcare affordability is a growing issue, with 55% of employers citing rising costs as a key concern among employees.... Forward-looking organizations are leveraging AI not just to automate tasks, but to architect benefits ecosystems that are data-driven, emotionally intelligent, and aligned with workforce expectations."  MORE >>

"A 65-year-old man enrolled in a Medigap plan with average premiums will need to have saved $120,000 to have a 50 percent chance of having enough to cover premiums and median prescription drug expenditures, and a 65-year-old woman will need to have saved $146,000.... [A] couple with particularly high prescription drug expenditures will need to have saved $469,000 to have a 90 percent chance of having enough money to cover their health care costs in retirement."  MORE >>