The Daily Brief for Benefits Professionals
BenefitsWire
Health & Welfare Plans
June 22, 2026
— § —
11 items · ~2 min read
Top of the Brief
Auditing the adviser business model in a fiduciary era“Most employers are overpaying for healthcare by about $4,000 per employee each year, and the first step in reclaiming that lost profit is establishing proper governance and oversight.”
In this issue
Expert Analysis (7) · Regulatory Action and Guidance (2) · ERISA Litigation (2)
Expert Analysis
7 items“Most employers are overpaying for healthcare by about $4,000 per employee each year, and the first step in reclaiming that lost profit is establishing proper governance and oversight.” MORE >>
Source: Employee Benefit News
“The Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury, as well as the Office of Personnel Management (Departments) recently finalized the Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) Operations rule under the No Surprises Act (NSA).” MORE >>
Source: Thompson Hine (ERISA Litigation & Compliance)
“However, the HR organization’s latest annual employee benefits survey also revealed greater investment in menopause- and pet-related benefits, analysts said at SHRM26. ORLANDO, Fla.” MORE >>
Source: HR Dive
“The average healthy 65-year-old couple retiring this year is projected to spend up to $637,000 on healthcare expenses over the course of their remaining lifetimes, according to the 2026 Milliman Retiree Health Cost Index.” MORE >>
Source: PLANSPONSOR
“See how enterprise employers are approaching benefits cost control in 2026 through healthcare cost management, self-funding, wellbeing program evaluation, and family-forming benefits strategies.” MORE >>
Source: Sequoia
“The average healthy 65-year-old couple retiring this year is projected to spend up to $637,000 on healthcare expenses over the course of their remaining lifetimes, according to the 2026 Milliman Retiree Health Cost Index.” MORE >>
Source: PLANADVISER
[Regulatory Action and Guidance]
The Senate HELP Committee Just Took Real Steps on Drug Affordability — But One Amendment Could Undo the Progress“The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted to advance two important pieces of drug affordability legislation: the Medication Affordability and Patent Integrity Act (S.” MORE >>
Source: ERIC
Regulatory Action and Guidance
2 items“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
“On June 3, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) issued a new draft guidance titled Drug and Device Manufacturer Communications With Payors, Formulary Committees, and Similar Entities — Questions and Answers (the 2026 Draft Payor Guidance).” MORE >>
Source: Arnold & Porter
ERISA Litigation
2 items“66 Franklin Street, Suite 300 Oakland, CA 94607 In Lucas v. Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company, No. 24-CV-7561 (VEC), 2026 WL 1759034 (S.D.N.Y.” MORE >>
Source: Roberts Disability Law
“66 Franklin Street, Suite 300 Oakland, CA 94607 In Isoviv v. Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company, No. 1:25-CV-5865-TWT, 2026 WL 1760334 (N.D. Ga. June 18, 2026), United States District Judge Thomas W.” MORE >>
Source: Roberts Disability Law
Also of Note
- ERISA Industry Committee Supports PBM Kickback Prohibition Act Before House — “James Gelfand, CEO of the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), a major employer group, recently expressed support for the PBM Kickback Prohibition Act at a hearing before the House Education & the Workforce Committee’s health subcommittee.” (Hall Benefits Law)
- If It Glitters, Is It Gold? Taking a Practical Look at Planning with Grantor Trusts — “5, 2026 Frisco, TX Kate J. Dickinson Troutman Pepper Locke’s Kate Dickinson presents “If It Glitters, Is It Gold?” (Troutman Pepper Locke)
- Republican Data Privacy Bills Could Impact Employers, Benefit Advisors — “The House is considering two data privacy bills that would go beyond existing federal privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which covers health information, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), which covers personal information.” (Hall Benefits Law)
- Did Member States Meet the Deadline? Status of Implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive — “Although governments were required to transpose the EU Pay Transparency Directive into national law by June 7, 2026, many European countries have only taken partial steps.” (Littler)
- Hospitals irate after Eli Lilly follows through on 340B ultimatum — “It's a major loss for affected hospitals, which now have to purchase eligible Lilly drugs at wholesale prices instead of getting them at a 20% to 50% discount.” (Healthcare Dive)
- How to Avoid Misunderstanding and Misinformation — “Like so many things in the ERISA fiduciary world, it really does come down to process," Goldberg says.” (PLANSPONSOR)
- With 42% of men skipping preventative care, improving these 4 health categories is critical — “Forty-two percent of men skipped recommended preventive care last year, 60% said they delay care unless family encourages them to go, and 82% reported putting their family's needs ahead of their own health, according to eHealth's findings.” (Employee Benefit News)
- Agency Information Collection Request; 30-Day Public Comment Request — “This site displays a prototype of a “Web 2.0” version of the daily Federal Register.” (Federal Register)