The Daily Brief for Benefits Professionals
BenefitsWire
Health & Welfare Plans
August 5, 2026
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6 items · ~2 min read
In this issue
Regulatory Action and Guidance (2) · General Benefits (3) · Health & Welfare Plans (1)
Regulatory Action and Guidance
2 items“The Plan agreed to pay $245,000 and implement a monitored two-year Corrective Action Plan (CAP). The CAP requires the Plan to come into compliance with HIPAA by undertaking these requirements: conduct a comprehensive risk analysis for ePHI, develop and implement a risk management plan, update policies and procedures, and provide workforce training. The CAP requires the OCR’s approval of the risk management plan and revised policies, and the Plan must submit periodic reports to OCR with documentation proving and attesting to compliance with HIPAA.” MORE >>
Source: Troutman Pepper Locke
“In a welcome move, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a proposed rule that would bring health plans in line with the already applicable to retirement plans, creating a safe harbor to allow health plans to provide required disclosures electronically....” MORE >>
Source: JD Supra
General Benefits
3 items“A joint McKinsey and Kellogg Foundation study found US adults cited affordability as an overarching barrier to financial progress.” MORE >>
Source: PLANSPONSOR
[Regulatory Action and Guidance]
Women on GLP-1s and hormone therapy seek better clinical support“Women are using GLP-1 and hormone therapy prescriptions to better manage their health, but when it comes to corresponding clinical support, their needs are going unfilled. In a recent study of more than 1,500 women aged 30-60 and 520 healthcare providers who treat women in this age group, virtual women's and family clinic Maven found that 26% of the women respondents had tried GLP-1s or hormone replacement therapies, and of those nearly 37% said "the care they received afterward felt limited, inconsistent, or like there was no follow-up at all." Help with weight is the No. 1 request of women in the clinic's employer and health plan-sponsored menopause program, and assistance with sleep, mood” MORE >>
Source: Employee Benefit News
“Across life stages, backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses, nearly two-thirds of American survey respondents agreed that affordability is the overarching barrier to economic progress, according to a study conducted by the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, In Pursuit of Progress: Americans’ Aspirations for Economic Mobility, released today. The results come as the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. recently released its “CFP Professionals Sentiment Indices — Summer 2026” report, finding clients expressed concerns about cost of living impacting their outlook on life goals—particularly for those close to retirement. Want the latest retire” MORE >>
Source: PLANADVISER
Health & Welfare Plans
1 item[General Benefits]
Sunlight Will Soon Shine on Group Health Plan Fees“While a successful push by regulators towards retirement plan fee transparency began well over a decade ago, plan sponsors have remained largely in the dark during much of that time with respect to the fees paid by their group health plans. The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021 expanded service provider fee disclosure requirements already in place for retirement plans to apply to group health plans.” MORE >>
Source: JD Supra