The Weekly Highlights for Benefits Professionals
BenefitsWire
Health & Welfare Plans
Week of August 21, 2026
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12 items · ~4 min read
In this issue
Regulatory Action and Guidance (9) · Health & Welfare Plans (3)
Regulatory Action and Guidance
9 items“Groom principal Lisa Campbell was quoted on how the proposal builds on the DOL’s 2020 e-delivery framework for retirement plans and could bring similar efficiencies to group health plans. “It seems like a good step forward for electronic disclosure,” Campbell told Law360. She noted that there was “a lot of disappointment” when the 2020 rules did not apply to group health plans and that stakeholders had hoped the new proposal would closely mirror the retirement plan framework.” MORE >>
Source: Groom Law Group
The FDA released final guidance to help industry answer frequently asked questions and address common issues in developing cellular and gene therapy products, covering regulatory review, CMC, and clinical aspects. MORE >>
Source: Federal Register
“The Section 503 final rule makes significant changes, most notably rescinding the requirement that contractors affirmatively invite applicants and employees to voluntarily self-identify a current or former disability (using the CC-305 form), eliminating the 7 percent utilization goal for individuals with disabilities, and removing data collection and utilization analysis requirements. The rule also updates the basic coverage threshold from $15,000 to $20,000 to reflect recent inflationary adjustments. Despite the many rescissions, the rule retains Section 503’s core disability nondiscrimination protections, reasonable accommodation requirements, outreach assessment obligations, and AAP requi” MORE >>
Source: Ogletree Deakins
“Contributions of up to $5,000 per year (indexed for inflation after 2027) can be made to the Accounts. Employers can contribute up to $2,500 (indexed for inflation after 2027) per employee to the Accounts of employees or their dependents. The federal government will provide a $1,000 seed contribution for eligible children born in 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028. Many large companies and private donors have pledged to match the federal government’s seed contribution made to employees’ dependents’ Accounts or to make separate contributions to the Accounts.” MORE >>
Source: Boutwell Fay
“The new safe harbor would allow plans to provide many required disclosures electronically by posting them on a secure website or portal if they send participants an electronic Notice of Internet Availability (NOIA) of the required disclosures. ... This proposed rule would create an additional optional safe harbor allowing group health plans to provide required documents electronically through an NOIA model, while preserving individuals’ rights to request free paper copies or opt out of electronic delivery.” MORE >>
Source: Segal
“In the News Alexander MacDonald explains why the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s newly finalized rules spelling out its “ABC test” for worker classification will make it harder for people to work independently in New Jersey.” MORE >>
Source: Littler
“The proposal would create a new CPO registration exemption for SEC-registered investment advisers (RIAs) operating commodity pools limited to sophisticated investors (Proposed Regulation 4.13(a)(4)); restore a related CTA registration exemption; and double the small pool exemption’s gross capital contributions threshold from $400,000 to $800,000. Comments are due 45 days after Federal Register publication. ... The proposal would codify that no-action position as a formal regulation, providing greater durability and legal certainty. Only CPOs that are SEC-registered investment advisers are eligible. State-registered and exempt reporting advisers do not qualify.” MORE >>
Source: Faegre Drinker
“Notice on public inspection, scheduled to publish 2026-08-17.” MORE >>
Source: Federal Register
“Forgot Your Password? If you do not yet have an ERIC Online profile or user name and password, please create one using Create Profile Form. If you need assistance with your user name/password or profile, please contact ERIC at (202) 789-1400.” MORE >>
Source: ERIC
Health & Welfare Plans
3 items“Virginia stole the spotlight by passing two major paid leave laws: paid family and medical leave (PFML) and paid sick and safe leave (PSSL). Major pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) laws were passed in several states, including Tennessee where the law was immediately challenged in court. A few states — Alabama, Georgia, and Texas — addressed artificial intelligence (AI) use in benefits.” MORE >>
Source: Mercer
“Employers have spent years arguing over how much GLP-1 coverage should cost. A harder question is starting to take over: Is it paying off?” MORE >>
Source: Employee Benefit News
“For employer-sponsored health plans, prescription drugs may represent one of the most expensive, fastest-growing, and least transparent areas of benefit costs. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) play a central role in administering pharmacy benefits; establishing retail, mail order, and specialty pharmacy networks; negotiating pharmacy reimbursement terms; remitting rebates from drug manufacturers; managing formularies; and processing claims. Given the complexity of managing these benefits, even well-run plans can face issues such as pricing discrepancies, operational errors, or contract terms that no longer reflect current market standards. PBM audits play an important part in minimizing thes” MORE >>
Source: Milliman