The Daily Brief for Benefits Professionals
BenefitsWire
Health & Welfare Plans · June 16, 2026
Expert Analysis
US worker rights agency nixes Biden-era enforcement plan, will focus on DEI
“In the News James Paretti comments on the EEOC’s decision to scrap its 5-year workplace discrimination enforcement plan two years early and replace it with priorities mirroring President Donald Trump's agenda.”
Littler
Out-of-Pocket Costs for Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Among Individuals Enrolled in Employer Sponsored Insurance Plans
“Despite the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requiring contraceptives to be covered without cost-sharing, many privately insured long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) users still face out-of-pocket expenses.”
KFF
ERIC Health Care Policy Highlights: NSA IDR Final Rule; CASMB Briefing; and More
“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.”
ERIC
Treasury and IRS Release Updated Guidance on Energy Communities
“Articles + Publications June 15, 2026 Ben Arthur Cheatham Adam C. Kobos Anne C. Loomis West Ailsworth Mitchell T. Emmert Joel M. Post McKenzie L. Bayliss Scott Grundei Tsitsi M.”
Troutman Pepper Locke
Robert R. Saelinger
“Bob is actively involved in the operations of the St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy. Having been instrumental in the pharmacy's creation, he has served on the Board of Directors from day one.”
Bricker Graydon
Groom’s Excellence Recognized in the Legal 500 – US Nationwide 2026 Guide
“In the Legal 500 – US Nationwide 2026 Guide, Groom is again recognized for its national leadership in benefits, executive compensation, retirement, healthcare, and ERISA litigation.”
Groom Law Group
Designing Executive Loan Programs in the Context of Incentive Equity: Key Considerations and Practices
“If an executive loan program is structured improperly, the loan can be deemed disguised compensation by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and subject to taxation as income, resulting in a heavy tax burden for the executive. To avoid this, a loan must be structured as a "bona fide loan" and be treated as such by the company.”
Morgan Lewis (ML BeneBits)
New Jersey Appellate Court Questions Whether Firm’s Workplace Investigation Docs Are Privileged
“Quick Hits On June 1, 2026, the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, in C.S. v.”
Ogletree Deakins
Total Portfolio Approach (TPA) by CalPERS a ruse to reduce transparency and accountability and protect bonuses
“The California Public Employees’ Retirement System is presenting its new “Total Portfolio Approach” (“TPA”) as a sophisticated modernization of pension investing.”
The Commonsense 401(k) Project
Regulatory Action and Guidance
Medicare Program; Strengthening Oversight of Accrediting Organizations (AOs) and Preventing AO Conflicts of Interest, and Related Provisions
“This site displays a prototype of a “Web 2.0” version of the daily Federal Register. It is not an official legal edition of the Federal Register, and does not replace the official print version or the official electronic version on GPO’s govinfo.”
Federal Register
ACA Dollar Amounts and Percentages | Segal
“Compliance News | June 3, 2026 Many ACA provisions contain numbers or percentages that are indexed to various measures of inflation, and the federal government announces new numbers throughout the year.”
Segal
House Committee Advances Fiscal 2027 Funding That Includes EBSA Budget Cut
“The House Committee on Appropriations approved legislation funding the Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services for fiscal 2027, advancing the measure by a 34 to 28 vote.”
PLANSPONSOR
2027 Budget Cuts for DOL, EBSA Approved by House Committee
“The House Committee on Appropriations approved legislation funding the Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services for fiscal 2027, advancing the measure by a 34 to 28 vote.”
PLANADVISER
House Appropriations Committee Advances 2027 Funding Cuts to EBSA
“The House Appropriations Committee on June 9 moved forward with an annual spending bill that would cut funding from the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).”
401(k) Specialist
EEOC Issues New Enforcement Plan for Fiscal Years 2025-2029
“On June 4, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a revised National Enforcement Plan (NEP). The NEP sets forth the agency’s enforcement agenda and supersedes (and starkly departs from) the 2024-2028 Strategic Enforcement Plan.”
Foley & Lardner
ERISA Litigation
Express Scripts, PCMA sue to block Tennesee law breaking up PBMs and pharmacies
“Express Scripts would be forced to close a dispensing facility in Memphis that manages a "significant portion" of the company's operations nationwide, Cigna said in its suit. The facility holds about $900 million in inventory on a given day, and sends drugs to nearly half a million patients across the country, according to the company's complaint.”
Healthcare Dive
Amazon settles lawsuit alleging it asked for workers’ family medical histories
“All described the same process of submitting to a pre-employment physical and being either directly or indirectly asked to supply their family medical histories. All disclosed genetic information, including conditions of family members, and said they were not told by Amazon not to do so.”
HR Dive
Health & Welfare Plans
AI is reshaping jobs, not replacing them
“Eighty-eight percent of organizations are using AI, with 57% feeling optimistic about it being integrated into current workflows, according to a recent survey from talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half. And while the workforce's continued trepidation is valid, more than half of organizations predict that AI will increase headcount in the next two years, not decrease it.”
Employee Benefit News
Also of Note
- Long-Awaited Rule Aims To Boost ACA Choices While Embracing Higher DeductiblesKFF Health News
- Michaela Taylor SheppardBricker Graydon
- Executive Employment Agreements: 10 Key Issues to Get RightFoley & Lardner
- No Longer Sidelined, Private Equity Firms Bet Big On SportsTroutman Pepper Locke
- Jamie D. ScottBricker Graydon