22 pages; Rev. Jun. 2026."What's New: Sections 4375 and 4376 patient-centered outcomes research fee increase. The fee for policy and plan years ending on or after October 1, 2025, but before October 1, 2026, is increased to the applicable rate of $3.84 ... The fee for policy and plan years ending on or after October 1, 2024, but before October 1, 2025, remains at the applicable rate of $3.47 ... File Form 720 annually to report and pay the fee on the second-quarter Form 720 no later than July 31 of the calendar year immediately following the last day of the policy year or plan year to which the fee applies." [Also available: IRS Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return (Rev. Jun. 2026)]  MORE >>

"The filing and payment to the IRS is due by July 31, 2026, and applies to policy and plan years ending during the 2025 calendar year. The applicable PCORI fee is based on the plan year-end date: $3.84 per covered life for plan years ending on or after Oct. 1, 2025 and before Oct. 1, 2026; $3.47 per covered life for plan years ending before Oct. 1, 2025."  MORE >>

"The Final Rule is effective August 3, 2026, with staggered applicability dates for specific provisions. The Final Rule represents the most comprehensive revision to the Federal IDR process since its establishment. Key Takeaways [1] Reduction in administrative fees ... [2] Comprehensive open negotiation reforms ... [3] Standardized communication codes ... [4] Revised batching rules and 50-item cap ... [5] New plan and issuer registration requirement."  MORE >>

"With the passage of Senate Bill 3060 Substitute B, Rhode Island has adopted a comprehensive Pharmacy Benefit Managers Act that places PBMs under the direct oversight of the Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC). While the legislation does not impose the type of sweeping reimbursement reforms recently seen in states such as Arkansas and Tennessee, it reflects a broader trend that is reshaping the PBM landscape across the country: increased transparency, greater accountability and more aggressive state oversight."  MORE >>

"Whether the Florida CVS Caremark investigation ultimately results in litigation, a settlement, policy changes or no enforcement action at all, one thing is already clear: state regulators are becoming increasingly willing to use their existing enforcement authority ... Florida does not appear to be focused on a single disputed claim, a single pharmacy contract or a single reimbursement issue. Instead, the state appears to be examining how PBM vertical integration may affect competition across the pharmacy marketplace."  MORE >>

"Colorado, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Virginia have one thing in common, enacting Paid Family and Medical Leave laws in the 2020s. Who will be the next PFML state this decade? Here are some relevant factors: [1] Legislative composition.... [2] Election shifts.... [3] Popular demand.... [4] Voluntary before mandatory.... [5] Peer pressure.... [6] Wild cards."  MORE >>

"If your company sponsors a health plan, especially a self-funded one, there is a good chance that you, or someone on your team, is an ERISA fiduciary. Most people in that position have never been told so. Here is what the role requires, why it has become one of the fastest-growing areas of litigation and enforcement risk for employers, and what to do if a claim or an investigator ever comes knocking."  MORE >>

"Absent a second income -- and physical support from a spouse or partner -- single retirees may: [1] Lack the economies of scale that are derived from shared expenses. [2] Allocate a larger percentage of their retirement income to health care costs. [3] Rely more heavily on paid long-term care services."  MORE >>

"[Technical Release 2026-02] states that Trump Accounts for children are not 'employee pension benefit plans' governed by ERISA.... Title I of ERISA defines mandatory standards for transparency, fiduciary conduct, vesting, and claims procedures for employer-sponsored retirement plans and health/welfare plans. These rules generally will not apply to the newly established Trump Accounts."  MORE >>