The Daily Brief for Benefits Professionals
BenefitsWire
Health & Welfare Plans
August 11, 2026
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6 items · ~2 min read
Top of the Brief
CMS Announces Updates Regarding IDR Operations and Portal“On August 7, 2026, the Departments published guidance clarifying the applicability dates and the implementation for each finalized provision. This document summarizes recent announcements and provides a timeline of each provision and applicability date. The Departments announced that in late 2026, the Federal IDR process will transition from single-use web forms to the secure, centralized IDR Gateway. In the IDR Gateway, users will be able to: The Departments also announced that the IDR Gateway will add identity verification and restrict access to U.S.-based users.”
In this issue
Regulatory Action and Guidance (2) · Health & Welfare Plans (3) · Litigation (1)
Regulatory Action and Guidance
2 items“If finalized, the rule would offer group health plan sponsors another option to deliver ERISA documents electronically, thereby reducing the cost and administrative burden of paper notice delivery while preserving the participant’s right to request paper copies and opt out of electronic delivery. This rule does not replace the existing 2002 safe harbor but would instead be an additional available safe harbor. The proposed DOL safe harbor applies to group health plans and does not extend to other welfare benefit plans (such as disability, life insurance, or other plans that are not group health plans).” MORE >>
Source: Troutman Pepper Locke
“On August 7, 2026, the Departments published guidance clarifying the applicability dates and the implementation for each finalized provision. This document summarizes recent announcements and provides a timeline of each provision and applicability date. The Departments announced that in late 2026, the Federal IDR process will transition from single-use web forms to the secure, centralized IDR Gateway. In the IDR Gateway, users will be able to: The Departments also announced that the IDR Gateway will add identity verification and restrict access to U.S.-based users.” MORE >>
Source: Groom Law Group
Health & Welfare Plans
3 items“Medical plan costs are projected to rise nearly 10% next year, according to the 2027 Segal Health Plan Cost Trend Survey. Prescription drug costs are forecast to climb even faster, at 11.5%. "Employers aren't facing a temporary spike in pharmacy costs but instead a consistent, year-over-year growth," said Matt Nguyen, vice president and health informatics consultant at Segal. "We're seeing a structural shift right now, driven by these drugs.” MORE >>
Source: Employee Benefit News
[Regulatory Action and Guidance]
CMS Prepares for New Federal PBM Rules for Self-Insured Employer Health Plans“The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, which took effect in February 2026, established rules governing PBMs in both self-insured employer plans and Medicare plans. CMS can implement the PBM rules for Medicare on its own. However, the PBM rules for employer plans will be issued by the collective action of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Labor Department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration. PBMs must comply with the new rules for Medicare plans no later than July 1, 2028. These rules require PBMs serving these plans to pass on any rebates or other discounts they receive to patients.” MORE >>
Source: Hall Benefits Law
“These requests may sound operationally sensible, but each also raises basic questions that too often get skipped: Why is the data needed, who really needs access, how much data is actually necessary and what contractual limits apply once the data leaves the plan's hands? For brokers and advisers, the first point to keep in mind is that HIPAA does not simply allow broad sharing because the end goal is worthwhile. Even where a use or disclosure is permitted, the plan still needs to think about the minimum necessary standard. That is where many arrangements start to drift.” MORE >>
Source: Employee Benefit News
Litigation
1 item“On July 22, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota dismissed a putative class action challenging Target Corporation’s tobacco surcharge under its employer-sponsored health plan.” MORE >>
Source: JD Supra