Benefits literacy varies greatly among industries, income levels

By Alan Goforth – Employee benefits knowledge varies widely by industry and income, with a 27-point gap between the highest and lowest literacy scoring industries, according to the 2026 Benefits Insights Benchmarks Report from Businessolver. Read Full Article... ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. Significant Literacy Gaps Across Industries: The report highlights a substantial divide in benefits knowledge between sectors, with software employees achieving the highest literacy scores and retail workers the lowest. This 27-point gap underscores how differently employees understand and engage with their benefits depending on their industry. Such disparities can influence how effectively workers use available programs and make enrollment decisions. Employers may need to tailor communication strategies based on sector-specific literacy levels.

2. Income and Financial Stress Shape Benefits Priorities: Lower-income employees prioritize twice as many affordability-focused benefits as higher earners, reflecting greater sensitivity to out-of-pocket costs. Feelings of panic over a $6,000 emergency department bill also vary sharply by industry, ranging from 66% in education to 29% in finance. These differences suggest that financial security and compensation levels strongly affect how employees perceive risk and value certain benefits. Plan design and messaging may need to account for these stress indicators to better support workers.

3. Industry-Specific Needs Call for Tailored Strategies: The analysis of five industries shows distinct workforce characteristics that influence benefits engagement, such as aging populations in business services and digital-savvy but lower-paid workers in health care. Hospitality and retail workers tend to prefer affordability and simplified decision-making tools, while finance employees seek optimization and data-driven guidance. Manufacturing workers exhibit stable financial habits but lower engagement with digital tools, signaling a need for activation and education efforts. The report concludes that employers and benefits partners must anticipate these patterns to deliver more strategic, timely support.

Eli Lilly to offer early access to next-gen obesity drug to some patients

By Sneha S K and Deena Beasley – Eli Lilly (LLY.N), said on Monday it would allow a limited number of patients to have early access to its experimental obesity drug, ‌retatrutide, before its U.S. FDA approval. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. Expanded Access Program With Strict Eligibility Criteria: Eli Lilly has created an expanded access program to provide retatrutide to a limited group of patients prior to regulatory approval. To qualify, patients must be at least 18 years old, have refractory obesity despite tolerating the highest approved obesity therapy dose, and suffer from at least two serious or life-threatening obesity-related conditions. They also must be unable to participate in an ongoing clinical trial of retatrutide or a comparable investigational therapy. The company said it is actively reviewing requests submitted by healthcare providers.

2. Next-Generation Drug Targets Three Hormones: Retatrutide is designed to act on three metabolic hormones — GLP-1, GIP and glucagon — distinguishing it from Lilly’s currently approved obesity drug, Zepbound, which targets two of those pathways. By engaging an additional hormone, the drug aims to enhance metabolic effects and weight reduction. In an 80-week trial involving adults with severe obesity and established heart disease, the highest weekly dose produced an average weight loss of 22.6%. These results position retatrutide as a potentially more potent option in the competitive obesity treatment market.

3. Regulatory Timeline and Prior Special Access: Lilly plans to submit retatrutide for U.S. FDA approval in the first quarter of next year. The expanded access initiative follows earlier reports that a single 79-year-old patient had been granted special access to the drug. The move comes amid heightened competition in the obesity drug sector and ongoing clinical development efforts. Providing early access may offer treatment options to patients with limited alternatives while formal regulatory review is pending.

Michigan revives Eli Lilly insulin pricing probe

By Ella Jeffries – The Michigan Supreme Court ruled July 31 that the state’s attorney general may continue pursuing an investigation into Eli Lilly’s insulin pricing practices under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, reversing lower court rulings that had blocked the case. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. State Supreme Court Clarifies Consumer Protection Scope: In a 4-3 decision, the Michigan Supreme Court determined that courts must evaluate whether the specific conduct in question is authorized by law, rather than broadly exempting companies because they operate in regulated industries. This overturns prior precedents set in Smith v. Globe Life Insurance Co. and Liss v. Lewiston-Richards. The ruling narrows the shield previously available to regulated businesses and allows the attorney general’s probe to move forward. It signals a more conduct-focused interpretation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act.

2. Investigation Revived After Earlier Dismissals: The dispute began in January 2022 when Attorney General Dana Nessel sought court approval to investigate insulin pricing practices. Although a court initially authorized the investigation, the case was dismissed later that year and the dismissal was upheld by the Michigan Court of Appeals in 2023. The latest ruling reverses those outcomes and reinstates the state’s authority to continue examining the drugmaker’s pricing. The decision effectively resets the legal trajectory of the case in favor of the state’s enforcement efforts.

3. Part of Broader National Insulin Pricing Litigation: The Michigan case unfolds amid multiple lawsuits targeting insulin manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers across the country. Missouri’s attorney general has filed suit against 19 manufacturers and PBMs over alleged pricing disparities, while Jefferson Health and Texas Health Resources have brought federal claims alleging coordinated price inflation and undisclosed rebates. These cases reflect increasing scrutiny of insulin list prices and rebate practices within the pharmaceutical supply chain. Collectively, they indicate expanding legal challenges to long-standing pricing structures in the insulin market.

VA to explore GLP-1 treatment for alcohol use disorder: 4 notes

By Ella Ruder – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is launching a clinical trial to evaluate whether semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist used to treat diabetes, can treat alcohol use disorder among veterans, according to a July 30 news release. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. Large, multi-site VA clinical trial underway: The Cessation or Reduction of Alcohol Consumption in Veterans trial will enroll more than 600 veterans across 18 VA medical centers nationwide. Participants between ages 18 and 80 with moderate or severe alcohol use disorder will receive weekly injections of semaglutide or a placebo for 24 weeks. The study also includes a safety follow-up period to monitor outcomes. Researchers aim to determine whether the medication can meaningfully reduce alcohol consumption and improve overall health.

2. Emerging evidence links GLP-1 drugs to lower substance use risk: Prior research cited by the VA found that GLP-1 receptor agonist use was associated with a 75% reduction in the odds of any substance use disorder among adults with Type 2 diabetes or obesity. Among individuals with alcohol use disorder specifically, the odds were 74% lower for GLP-1 users compared with non-users. The department also noted associations between GLP-1 use and fewer emergency visits and hospitalizations in people with existing substance use disorders. These findings have prompted further exploration of the drugs’ role beyond diabetes and weight management.

3. High prevalence of alcohol use disorder among veterans: More than 400,000 veterans nationwide are diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, according to the VA. The department also cited estimates suggesting nearly 11% of U.S. adults are affected by the condition. Recruitment for the trial began July 28, 2026, as officials seek to evaluate new treatment options for this population. Investigators will assess changes in drinking patterns, health outcomes and quality of life to gauge the therapy’s potential impact.

Leadership is about resilience & relationships

By Susan L. Combs – August always feels like a reset. The vacations are winding down, kids are heading back to school, and many of us are taking a deep breath before the busy season begins. It's also a good time to look back on the past year and realize that some of our biggest accomplishments weren't the ones we planned. They were the moments that challenged us, stretched us, and reminded us of what we're capable of. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. Leadership Rooted in Resilience and Presence: The article emphasizes that effective leadership is not defined by volume or visibility, but by consistency and commitment. Strong leaders continue to show up for others during demanding personal and professional seasons. By remaining steady and dependable, they build credibility and trust over time. This approach frames resilience as an active, daily practice rather than a reaction to crisis.

2. Balancing Professional Success with Personal Milestones: Through Amy Spring’s story, the piece illustrates how leaders often manage significant business responsibilities alongside major life events. Successfully navigating a company merger while maintaining client relationships demonstrates the importance of prioritization and adaptability. At the same time, personal milestones such as family celebrations and health achievements underscore that leadership extends beyond the workplace. The takeaway is that meaningful success integrates both career accomplishments and personal fulfillment.

3. Mentorship and Relationship-Building as Core Leadership Skills: Casey Molda’s experience highlights the value of returning to fundamentals like listening, field engagement, and intentional relationship-building. By mentoring new female consultants, she found that leadership growth often comes through investing in others. Supporting colleagues’ development can be as rewarding as individual performance achievements. The article ultimately positions leadership as a relational endeavor that multiplies impact through guidance and example.

Why payers should have these 3 pipeline drugs on their radar

By Paige Minemyer – Optum Rx's latest look at the drug development pipeline highlights three drugs for rare and chronic conditions that payers and plan sponsors should have on their radar. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. New Indications Can Dramatically Expand Utilization: Tryngolza recently gained an additional FDA-approved indication, broadening its potential patient population from a very rare condition to millions of people with severe hypertriglyceridemia. This shift illustrates how label expansions can significantly increase utilization and budget impact for payers. The drug is administered monthly via subcutaneous injection and has demonstrated reductions in triglyceride levels and the risk of acute pancreatitis. Its approval also signals growing momentum in lipid management beyond the dominant focus on GLP-1 therapies.

2. Pipeline Drugs Target Areas of Unmet Need but Face Market Complexities: Oveporexton, under FDA review with a decision expected around Aug. 10, offers a novel approach for narcolepsy patients who often rely on multiple medications. However, limited data on its use alongside existing narcolepsy treatments and the presence of generic competitors could complicate formulary decisions. Brepocitinib, with an FDA decision expected Sept. 3, is being reviewed for dermatomyositis, another condition with limited treatment options. Both drugs represent potential therapeutic advances but will require careful clinical and competitive evaluation.

3. High Costs Will Drive Formulary and Budget Scrutiny: All three drugs are projected to carry substantial wholesale acquisition costs, ranging from $40,000 annually for Tryngolza to as much as $360,000 per year for brepocitinib. Oveporexton is expected to be priced at about $162,000 annually. These price points reflect a broader trend of expensive specialty medications entering markets with limited prior treatment options. As a result, payers and plan sponsors may need to weigh clinical value against affordability and consider utilization management strategies.

With or without GLP-1s, your business needs a metabolic health strategy

By Lee Hafner – Metabolic conditions negatively impact other health areas from head to toe — heart, sleep, brain, hormones — so coming up with a long-term, sustainable benefits plan to help employees avoid or manage them is smart business. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. Metabolic health has major financial and productivity implications: The article highlights projections showing that heart-related healthcare costs could rise from $393 billion in 2020 to $1.49 trillion by 2050. In addition, productivity losses tied to these conditions are expected to climb by 54%, according to research from the American Heart Association. These figures underscore that metabolic disease is not just a clinical issue but a long-term business risk. Employers that fail to plan strategically may face escalating medical claims and reduced workforce output.

2. GLP-1 coverage requires thoughtful integration, not standalone adoption: Benefit leaders are weighing how to balance access to GLP-1 medications with broader cost-control goals and employee expectations. Experts emphasize that clinical trials for GLP-1s included nutritional and exercise support, meaning medication alone may not deliver optimal outcomes. Employers must decide where they fall on a spectrum between strict cost containment and broad access to treatment. Integrating clinician guidance, nutrition counseling and lifestyle coaching can help improve results while managing spending.

3. Avoidable waste can undermine metabolic health investments: The interview outlines several areas where employers may overspend, such as paying for GLP-1 prescriptions that employees discontinue after only a few months. Additional inefficiencies arise when medications are offered without supportive care or when employers assume lifelong usage is necessary without evaluating offboarding strategies. Data from providers like Virta Health suggest that many patients can sustain weight loss after stopping GLP-1s if they adopt lasting nutritional changes. Identifying and addressing these gaps can help employers design programs that are both effective and financially sustainable.

Breakdown of the Workforce

By James Van Bramer – The American workforce is undergoing a quiet, but profound, transformation. Workers are getting older. Fewer people are participating in the labor force. And, across industries, employers are struggling to find workers with the right skills. Artificial intelligence could easily further transform the face of labor. Together, these factors are reshaping not only hiring practices, but the benefits employers offer. Read Full Article... ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. Workforce Demographics Are Reshaping Employer Benefit Strategies: Employers are adapting benefits to address an aging workforce, increasing caregiving responsibilities, and persistent talent shortages that are changing workforce needs. The World Economic Forum found that 42% of employers expect skilled worker availability to decline through 2030, while the OECD projects there will be 52 adults age 65 and older for every 100 working-age adults by 2050, up from 33 today. These demographic shifts are driving greater emphasis on retirement readiness, financial wellness, flexible work arrangements, and caregiving support.

2. Retirement and Financial Wellness Benefits Are Becoming a Higher Priority: Employers are expanding retirement-related offerings through phased retirement options, flexible retirement income solutions, financial planning tools, and broader financial wellness programs that address both long-term savings and immediate financial needs. Despite these efforts, 42% of U.S. workers still lack access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, prompting more states to implement retirement savings programs. As of April, 22 states had enacted retirement savings initiatives, with 20 active state-run programs serving nearly 1.2 million funded accounts, 382,045 registered employers, and approximately $2.96 billion in accumulated retirement savings.

3. Skills Development and Caregiver Support Are Emerging as Competitive Priorities: Employers are increasingly investing in workforce development as skill shortages remain a significant business challenge, with 63% of employers identifying skills gaps as the leading barrier to business transformation and as many as three-quarters of U.S. companies reporting difficulty finding qualified workers. In response, 85% of employers plan to increase investments in upskilling existing employees rather than relying solely on external hiring. At the same time, organizations are expanding benefits such as elder care assistance, flexible work arrangements, and paid leave to help employees balance growing caregiving responsibilities across multiple generations.