Weekly HR & Benefits Compliance Updates
Health Plan Knowledge Is Often Lacking Among Health Plan Participants (PDF)
“Eighty-six percent understood that premiums are the amount paid for health insurance, regardless of using care, and 82 percent understood that the deductible is the amount you have to pay out of pocket before your plan begins to pay for care. However, there was confusion among enrollees over prescription copays: only about one in four knew that the amount is not the same for all groups of prescriptions. And there was confusion about out-of-pocket maximums.” Full Article
The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI)
Fiduciary Claims May Leave Health Plans on Life Support
“A rapidly growing line of ERISA cases seeks to impose fiduciary standards of conduct -- developed by courts largely in the retirement plan context -- to health plan design choices. The most recent ... involves a new and potentially disruptive twist: plaintiffs allege that the university violated ERISA fiduciary duties by offering an allegedly imprudent health plan option. Barbich v. Northwestern Univ., No. 25-6849 (N.D. Ill. complaint filed Jun. 20, 2025).” Full Article
Thompson Hine, LLP
How the Big Beautiful Bill Will Impact Your Employee Benefits and Compensation Strategy
"From additional tax deductions for workers to new savings vehicles for children, the benefits- related sections introduce changes that span traditional compensation structures, family support programs, and organizational compliance obligations.” Full Article
Amundsen Davis, LLC
Is My Group Health Plan Covered by State PBM Reporting Laws?
“All 50 states have laws that regulate PBMs in some way, but all are unique. Most have the same primary goals of reducing governmental waste and addressing the rising cost of drugs. Many states have started implementing laws that have either a direct reference to self- insured plans or, even when silent on whether they apply to self-insured plans, still have a direct effect on the actions of the plan administrators.” Full Article
Bricker Graydon, LLP
District Court Vacates HIPAA Privacy Rule Supporting Reproductive Health Care Privacy
"Next steps for covered entities: [1] Update HIPAA policies and procedures.... [2] Update HIPAA training.... [3] Eliminate attestation requirement.... [4] Revise business associate agreements.... [5] Revise Notice of Privacy Practices.... [6] Coordinating with third party administrators.” Full Article
Trucker Huss, APC
MHPAEA July 2025 Update: What Employers and Plans Need to Know about Federal Non-Enforcement
“The 2024 Rule is not currently enforced due to litigation and agency reconsideration. Employers must comply with the 2013 Rule and the CAA. Enhanced requirements from the 2024 Rule are on hold but may return in future rulemaking. State enforcement may vary; fully insured plans must monitor both federal and state requirements. Continue to perform and document NQTL comparative analyses and prepare for further regulatory updates.” Full Article
Husch Blackwell, LLP
This Weekly Digest is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel for legal advice.