The Weekly Highlights for Benefits Professionals
BenefitsWire
Health & Welfare Plans
Week of October 9, 2026
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12 items · ~3 min read
Regulatory Action and Guidance
12 items“Updates to the Transparency in Coverage (TiC) rules, finalized today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in partnership with the Departments of Labor and the Treasury (the Departments), build on the historic health care price transparency rules established during President Trump’s first term. The final rules improve the underlying healthcare pricing data by reducing duplicative and unnecessary information, providing more context about in-network prices, increasing available out-of-network pricing information, and strengthening accountability for the completeness and accuracy of published data. Reporting frequency for pricing information will change from monthly to quarterl” MORE >>
Source: CMS
Source: Federal Register
“The final rule stems from multiple agencies’ 2025 proposal that leaves plan sponsors with increased compliance and governance responsibilities.” MORE >>
Source: Roberts Disability Law
“The Department of Labor's ("DOL") Employee Benefits Security Administration ("EBSA") recently issued Field Assistance Bulletin 2026-03 ("FAB 2026-03"), outlining a narrowed enforcement approach to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act's ("MHPAEA") nonquantitative treatment limitation ("NQTL") comparative analysis requirements.” MORE >>
Source: HUB International
“The DOL’s Employee Benefit Security Administration (EBSA) recently issued helpful guidance on its current enforcement priorities with respect to the non-quantitative treatment limitation (NQTL) requirements of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA).” MORE >>
Source: PLANSPONSOR
“The Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury finalized new regulations updating “Transparency in Coverage,” a federal framework for employer-sponsored health plans and health insurers.” MORE >>
Source: PLANADVISER
“On September 30, 2026, the federal district court in California blocked the agencies from enforcing or implementing the proclamation-based payment requirement unless and until they comply with the rulemaking requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act. Impact on Employers For employers, the practical impact is straightforward: the proclamation-based $100,000 H-1B payment is not currently being enforced. Employers filing H-1B petitions, including cases requiring consular processing or admission from abroad, are therefore not currently required to pay the $100,000 amount.” MORE >>
Source: Ogletree Deakins
“FBT Gibbons represented BARCODE, a U.S. performance hydration brand, in connection with Axum Capital Partners’ agreement to acquire a controlling interest in the company. The transaction closed in the third quarter of 2026.” MORE >>
Source: Miller & Chevalier
“The District of Columbia City Council has passed legislation, effective October 1, 2026, that reduces the number of weeks of paid leave available to workers in the District under the D.C. Universal Paid Leave Act (UPLA).” MORE >>
Source: Jackson Lewis P.C.
“Find Your Next Job ! Effective September 30, 2026, Florida’s minimum wage increased from $14.00 per hour to $15.00 per hour for employees working in Florida.” MORE >>
Source: Ascensus
The Senate unanimously approved the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act, a bipartisan package of reforms aimed at modernizing the IRS, strengthening taxpayer rights, and improving tax administration. MORE >>
Source: Senate Finance Committee
“The IRS issued these proposed regulations because Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) Section 128, governing Trump Accounts, incorporates the provisions of Code Section 129(d)(2), (3), (6), (7), and (8) by reference. These proposed regulations contain definitions and the nondiscrimination rules applicable to DCAPs. The proposed regulations will apply to plan years beginning on or after the date final regulations are published, but employers may rely on them prior to that date.” MORE >>
Source: Boutwell Fay