The Daily Brief for Benefits Professionals
BenefitsWire
Health & Welfare Plans
June 19, 2026
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18 items · ~4 min read
In this issue
Expert Analysis (12) · Regulatory Action and Guidance (5) · ERISA Litigation (1)
Expert Analysis
12 items“In this episode, Jana Kolarik, a partner in Foley’s Health Care Practice Group, and Angie Caldwell, principal and CFO of PYA, continue their discussion on the importance of work relative value units (wRVUs) and fair market value (FMV) under the Stark Law and what this can mean for how health care organizations pay their physicians.” MORE >>
Source: Foley & Lardner
“By Allison B. Bans On May 28, 2026, the federal government issued Final Rules and a Fact Sheet that change how payment disputes between health plans and out-of-network providers are handled under the No Surprises Act’s (“NSA”) binding arbitration system.” MORE >>
Source: swlaw.com
“On May 28, 2026, the US Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury, along with the Office of Personnel Management (collectively, the Departments), released a final rule addressing operational aspects of the federal No Surprises Act (NSA) independent dispute resolution (IDR) process.” MORE >>
Source: mondaq.com
“Regulation Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Behavioral Health Integration Have a New Regulatory Architecture in 2026. The Open Question Is Whether the Financing Will Survive Long Enough to Use It.” MORE >>
Source: acuity.news
“Articles | June 18, 2026 By Sarah Gunderson Access to affordable and reliable mental healthcare remains a critical challenge. Nearly 40 percent of Americans live in areas without enough mental health professionals to meet demand for care.” MORE >>
Source: Segal
“Quick Hits On June 3, 2026, Judge Grant Dorfman for the Texas Business Court Eleventh Division issued a minute entry in Tate Group Automotive, LLC v.” MORE >>
Source: Ogletree Deakins
“Alert / ERISA June 11, 2026 Two federal actions—the DOL’s proposed pharmacy benefit management rule and the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2026—would expand PBM pricing and compensation transparency, and strengthen audit rights.” MORE >>
Source: nixonpeabody.com
“In the News Robert Pritchard says a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) wage and hour opinion letter emphasizes that “timekeeping practices that used to be commonplace — such as rounding — will face increasing scrutiny as technology enables increasingly precise time tracking.” MORE >>
Source: Littler
“Michaela has a vast background in health services, health care, and health law.” MORE >>
Source: Bricker Graydon
“The US Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has issued a technical release providing targeted guidance on when proxy advisory firms could be viewed as acting as Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) fiduciaries and how ERISA preemption is viewed by the Department in relation to certain state disclosure laws that pertain to proxy voting.” MORE >>
Source: morganlewis.com
“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.” MORE >>
Source: KFF
“In the 2026 Chambers & Partners USA Guide, Groom Law Group (“Groom”) is again recognized as a national leader, with rankings in Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, ERISA Litigation, and Healthcare.” MORE >>
Source: Groom Law Group
Regulatory Action and Guidance
5 items“Group health plans, their employer or union plan sponsors, and fiduciaries update their processes for handling out-of-network provider charge disputes in response to the CMS, Federal Independent Dispute Resolution Operations; Final Rules (CMS-9897-F, full text PDF) released on May 28, 2026 to implement the No Surprises Act (“NSA”).” MORE >>
Source: slphrbenefitsupdate.com
“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.” MORE >>
Source: Federal Register
“The DOL has issued new guidance outlining the EBSA’s enforcement priorities, alongside the 2025 MHPAEA report to Congress, which was jointly filed by DOL, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of the Treasury (collectively, the “Departments”).” MORE >>
Source: agg.com
“Articles + Publications June 17, 2026 Thomas M. Rose Nicole A. Edmonds Shona Smith Alexander T. Yarbrough Taylor M. Williams Jason L. Langford It is time to assess “foreign private issuer” status.” MORE >>
Source: Troutman Pepper Locke
“Congress put two sets of PBM rules in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 package. One affects self-insured employer plans. CMS is starting by implementing the other set of PBM rules, which affects Medicare drug plans.” MORE >>
Source: benefitspro.com
ERISA Litigation
1 item“Illinois’ law, called the Prescription Drug Affordability Act, clashes with ERISA, the PBM lobby argued in a complaint filed Tuesday.” MORE >>
Source: Healthcare Dive
Also of Note
- Oregon Expands Protections for Immigration Status in the Workplace — “The law creates a clear prohibition on employers' taking adverse action against employees who update—or attempt to update—their "personal information" following a lawful change in work authorization status, effectively recognizing such updates as a protected activity.” (Littler)
- 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)
- Government Owned Inventions Available for License: 4-Amino-2-(Piperidin-3-yl)Isoindoline-1,3-Diones as Anti-Inflammatory Agents for Systemic Degenerative and Neurodegenerative Disorders — “This site displays a prototype of a “Web 2.0” version of the daily Federal Register.” (Federal Register)
- Virginia Expands Paid Sick Leave Program to Cover Most Employees — “Employers must permit eligible employees to accrue at least one hour of PSL per 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours per year.” (Groom Law Group)
- 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 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)
- Medical Stop-Loss Premiums Increase Nearly 13% | Segal — “Reports and Surveys | June 8, 2026 By Michael S. Tesoriero Rate of increase in medical stop-loss premiums has accelerated.” (Segal)
- 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).” (Foley & Lardner)
- Congressional Budget Office calls for more research on No Surprises Act unintended impacts — “The nonpartisan office is seeking more information on the law’s impact on healthcare prices, network participation, ownership structures and more.” (FierceHealthcare)
- 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)
- What 2026 Healthcare Renewal Data Says About Affordability — “2026 renewal data shows wider cost variation, rising deductibles, and shifting employer contributions.” (Sequoia)
- Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program — “This site displays a prototype of a “Web 2.0” version of the daily Federal Register.” (Federal Register)