The Daily Brief for Benefits Professionals
BenefitsWire
Health & Welfare Plans · June 12, 2026
Expert Analysis
Monthly Roundup (May 2026)
“DOL Issues Field Assistance Bulletin on Guiding Principles for EBSA Enforcement PrioritiesMay 1, 2026 Groom Law Group Recognized in BTI Super Listener A-Team 2026May 4, 2026 Executive Order Directs Agencies to Promote Access to Individual Retirement AccountsMay 4, 2026 SEC Clarifies Registration Issues for PEPsMay 6, 2026 Happy Mother’s Day from the Departments!”
Groom Law Group
Regulatory Action and Guidance
Inflation Adjustments Issued for HSAs, HRAs, and Direct Primary Care Service Arrangements (“DPCSAs”)
“Today, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2026-24, which provides inflation adjustments for Health Savings Accounts ("HSAs"), Excepted Benefit Health Reimbursement Arrangements ("HRAs"), and the relatively new Direct Primary Care Service Arrangements ("DPCSAs") for 2027.”
Groom Law Group
The Departments Issue Final IDR Operations Rule
“The Final Rule will generally be effective 60 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register, which is July 31, 2026.”
Groom Law Group
Federal Independent Dispute Resolution Operations
“This document sets forth these final rules related to certain provisions of the No Surprises Act regarding the Federal independent dispute resolution (IDR) process, which was established as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA).”
Federal Register
Proposed Rule Will Allow Employers to Establish Stand-Alone Fertility Benefits
“On May 13, 2026, the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, and Department of Health and Human Services (collectively, the "Departments") published a Proposed Rule (the "Proposed Rule") that will, if adopted, allow employers to offer fertility coverage as a "limited excepted benefit.”
Trucker Huss
ERISA Litigation
What’s Next In Health Plan Fee Litigation? Stern, Navarro II, and Lewandowski II
“On March 9, 2026, the Southern District of New York found that the plaintiffs in Stern v. JPMorgan Chase adequately alleged Article III standing regarding their overpayment for prescription drugs and plausibly alleged that”
Groom Law Group
Employer Groups Urge 8th Circuit to Review ERISA Case Class Certification
“The case, brought by employees, alleges Compass violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by charging tobacco users higher health insurance premiums without properly providing or disclosing alternatives that would allow participants to avoid the surcharge. ... The employer groups warned that allowing the class certification order in the Compass case to stand could encourage similar rulings across the country and increase settlement pressure on companies defending ERISA cases.”
PLANSPONSOR
$23M Settlement Ends MetLife’s Mortality Table Case
“Plaintiffs alleged that MetLife had given them fewer benefits after using actuarial tables dating back to the disco era.”
PLANADVISER
City of Columbus et al. Challenge Provisions of the HHS 2027 Payment Notice Final Rule
“On June 3, 2026, plaintiffs City of Columbus et al. (including municipalities, local governments, and advocacy organizations) filed a complaint alleging that several policies in the HHS 2027 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters Final Rule (2027 Payment Notice Final Rule) are unlawful.”
Groom Law Group
Health & Welfare Plans
Virginia Expands Paid Sick Leave Program to Cover Most Employees
“On May 20, 2026, Governor Spanberger signed SB 199/HB 5, a new statewide Paid Sick Leave (“PSL”) program (“Act”). Virginia previously required PSL only for home health workers (codified Va.”
Groom Law Group
Benefits in General
Recommendations on Scale-Up and Postapproval Changes Guidances for Industry; Request for Comments; Reopening of the Comment Period
“The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) is reopening the comment period for the request for information and comments that appeared in the Federal Register of March 3, 2026.”
Federal Register