New Claims Procedure Rules - Drastic Changes For Group Health Plans And Disability Plans

The IRS has released Revenue Procedure 2026-24, establishing new inflation-adjusted limits for Health Savings Accounts and high-deductible health plans effective in 2027. These updates include increased contribution limits, higher minimum deductibles, and expanded out-of-pocket maximums, along with new provisions for direct primary care service arrangements under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act. How will these changes impact employee benefit planning and healthcare coverage strategies?

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and IRS recently issued temporary regulations that provide an immediately effective framework for establishing and administering “Trump Accounts,” including broad automatic enrollment and large-scale contributions funded by governmental and charitable donors. The regulations became effective September 30, 2026, apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and expire September 30, 2029.

On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the Allegheny County Council passed legislation requiring employers with at least 15 workers to provide 12 weeks of paid parental leave, ending months-long debate on the proposal. We previously reported on the initial 18-week proposal in May 2026 (summarized here), the revised proposed legislation (summarized here), and the Allegheny County Board of Health passing the legislation (summarized here). The measure was passed in an 11-4 vote. It will become effective in one year, as County Executive Sara Innamorato signed the bill on, October 22, 2026.

The Trump Administration has launched an unprecedented enforcement action suspending permanent labor certification processing for eight major employers, linking immigration sponsorship to layoff histories and recruitment practices. This development signals a fundamental shift in how the government evaluates employer access to H-1B and green card programs, with investigations already underway and subpoenas served.

The Proposed Rule largely restores the 2021 independent contractor final rule issued during the first Trump Administration.

Former employees in California may still have legal options to report sexual harassment that occurred during their employment, even after quitting or being terminated. Understanding filing deadlines, evidence preservation, and retaliation protections is crucial for workers considering legal action against workplace misconduct.

On March 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a notice in the Federal Register seeking to restructure the calculation used to issue prevailing wages for employers seeking to hire temporary foreign employees...

OSHA's revised Hazard Communication Standard requires covered employers to update chemical labels, written hazard communication programs, and employee training by November 20, 2026. The revisions align with the UN's Globally Harmonized System and introduce new hazard classifications, downstream use considerations, and updated requirements for compressed gases and aerosols. Employers must navigate separate compliance timelines for chemical mixtures while ensuring their workplace practices meet the updated st

While it’s difficult to think about winter and the new year as we swelter through our hottest weeks of the year, the approach of Q4 means that California employers are budgeting for 2027.

In July 2026, the Department of Labor’s internal watchdog (its Office of Inspector General) said it is investigating fraud and worker abuse (such as fake applications and schemes where workers are forced to pay back part of their wages) in the H-1B program and the PERM green card process.

Guidance on tokenized assets and pilot program using tokenized collateral for derivatives expands the adoption of digital assets in U.S. financial markets as "a significant step forward" to help make America...

The Internal Revenue Service recently announced 2026 dollar limits for qualified retirement plans (including 401(k) plans), deferred compensation plans, and health and welfare plans.

On January 1, 2026, a statewide minimum wage increase will go into effect in California, as well as numerous local wage increases in specific cities and counties.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Responsible AI Safety and Education Act ("RAISE Act"), which established the nation's first comprehensive reporting and safety governance regime...

New enhanced supplemental leverage ratio calculation allows for a range of low-risk activities such as U.S. Treasury market intermediation...

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued Revised Inventorship Guidance for AI-Assisted Inventions (Updated Guidance), providing a more streamlined and traditional framework...

When we talk about advertising claims, we stress that "claims must be truthful, not misleading, and substantiated."

Washington state has enacted sweeping new taxes on high-value vehicles, recreational watercraft, and noncommercial aircraft under Engrossed Substitute...

As our readers know, AI is emerging as a transformative technology that is enabling new systems, tools, applications, and use cases.

Today, the Supreme Court issued its much-anticipated decision in two cases challenging race conscious university admissions policies, Students for Fair Admission v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina.