"Employers should continue to exercise care to ensure that requests for medical records and similar information are justified by applicable law ... but can now be assured that, where necessary, HIPAA does not excuse the employee's obligation to provide it.... Employers should also continue to maintain medical records separately from personnel files, limit access to those with a need to know, and state in forms and notices how information will be used and protected, aligning with federal and state privacy obligations.​" [Trumper v. Women's Healthcare Assoc. LLC, No. 1010 (Ore. App. Nov. 26, 2025)]  MORE >>

"For plan sponsors, the issue is less about the use of AI itself and more about whether existing claims oversight and payment-integrity controls are keeping pace with increasingly automated billing environments. While these technologies improve efficiency, they also introduce a growing risk for self-insured health plans: an increase in duplicate and near-duplicate claims."  MORE >>

"While AI can enable PBMs to operate more efficiently and optimize pricing to help lower drug costs, this new technology raises several data privacy, regulatory, and contractual risks for employers that sponsor health plans. This Insight explains how plan sponsors can spot potential red flags and avoid potential liability while benefiting from the advantages that AI can bring to healthcare costs and administration."  MORE >>

"Employers generally seek to include all ERISA welfare benefit plans under the umbrella of a single 'mega' wrap plan document and SPD. This approach facilitates multiple efficiencies and is generally considered the best practice method to streamline plan administrative burdens."  MORE >>

"A committee to which fiduciary duties are delegated helps the employer fulfill its responsibilities and offers several key advantages: [1] Delegation and accountability ... [2] Better decision-making ... [3] Risk management ... [4] Vendor oversight ... [5] Stronger documentation."  MORE >>

"Overall, the data show a significant uptick in the volume of IDR cases and corresponding administrative costs. This article also offers a brief update on recent developments in litigation over the No Surprises Act, which has contributed to a more costly IDR system. Indeed, many lawsuits in the most recent wave of litigation -- in which payers are suing high-volume IDR middlemen and providers -- reflect allegations that are consistent with the trends observed in the data below."  MORE >>

"Over the past decade, private equity has significantly accelerated consolidation across the retirement and benefits industries.... For plan sponsors, the key takeaway is not to avoid PE-backed firms -- but to ensure that evaluation processes remain objective, transparent, and well documented."  MORE >>