DOL officials to discuss opinion letter revival during online revival

By Allison Bell – Employers and benefits advisors who want to know what officials at the Employee Benefits Security Administration really think now have a new chance to find out. The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is organizing a free, online forum that will feature speakers from EBSA as well as speakers from other DOL agencies. The division will start the two-day event May 6. Read Full Article... ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. EBSA Officials to Speak on DOL Guidance Initiatives: Officials from the Employee Benefits Security Administration will participate in panel discussions focused on regulatory guidance and compliance support for employers. One session will highlight efforts to revive the Department of Labor’s opinion letters program, which provides interpretive guidance on benefits-related questions. This initiative aims to help employers and advisors better understand permissible practices and reduce regulatory uncertainty.

2. Sessions to Address Key Employee Benefits Laws: The event will include presentations on major federal laws such as the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994. These sessions will cover topics including benefits continuation, job-protected leave, and protections for employees serving in the military. The discussions reflect the range of compliance requirements employers must manage in administering employee benefits.

3. Focus on Self-Audit Program and Ongoing Outreach: Another panel will examine the Department of Labor’s self-audit program, which is designed to help employers identify and correct compliance issues early. The event also highlights the division’s continued outreach efforts, with a record of hosting numerous events and maintaining a large following over time. This sustained engagement underscores ongoing demand for education and guidance in employee benefits compliance.

Industry Voices—Value-based care won the policy argument. Now it has to deliver

By Rachel Biblow, Josh M. Berlin, Bill Doherty, Sanjay Doddamani, M.D. – Value-based care has largely won the policy debate in American healthcare. Across Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and commercial insurance, payment models increasingly tie reimbursement to quality, outcomes and the total cost of care rather than the volume of services. Participation in alternative payment models is no longer experimental or optional for many organizations, as it’s often embedded in contracts, strategy and financial planning. Yet the healthcare system remains far from delivering the coordinated, efficient care that value-based reform promised. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. Policy Adoption Outpaces Operational Readiness: While value-based care models are now widespread and embedded in contracts and planning, many healthcare organizations struggle to implement them effectively. The shift from fee-for-service to value-based care has created operational strain, as existing systems and workflows are not fully aligned with new incentives. This misalignment leads to challenges in delivering the coordinated care that value-based models intend to promote.

2. Implementation and Infrastructure Are Central Challenges: The main barrier to realizing the benefits of value-based care is not policy design but execution. Many organizations attempt to layer value-based requirements onto legacy systems, resulting in increased complexity rather than improved coordination. Success in value-based care requires transforming operating models, building trust among clinicians, and investing in infrastructure that supports integrated and accountable care delivery.

3. Measurement, Equity, and Technology Require Nuanced Approaches: Quality measurement is both a powerful tool and a source of risk, as it directly impacts financial outcomes and regulatory exposure. In Medicaid and underserved communities, structural issues like workforce shortages and social determinants of health limit the effectiveness of measurement alone. Technology, including AI, can support value-based care by reducing administrative burden and improving coordination, but it cannot compensate for fundamental misalignments in governance or infrastructure.

The 'broken handoff' leaving retirees lost on Medicare choices

By Jimmy Nesbitt – When an employee retires after many years on a company-sponsored healthcare plan, they are often handed a COBRA notice and a last paycheck and given little advice about the transition to Medicare. The decisions they make in the next few months — such as costly lifetime premium penalties for late enrollment and wrong plan choices — can follow them for years. Gavino, founder of Medicare Transition Partners, refers to this process as the "broken handoff." Employees get lost in the shuffle because all of the people who are supposed to help them with the transition — from HR to brokers and financial advisers — think that someone else is taking care of it, Gavino says. Read Full Article... ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. Lack of Guidance During Medicare Transition: Many retirees receive minimal support from employers when transitioning from company health plans to Medicare, often resulting in confusion and costly mistakes. The absence of clear responsibility among HR, brokers, and financial advisers leads to a "broken handoff," leaving employees to navigate complex decisions on their own. This can result in penalties for late enrollment and suboptimal plan choices that have long-term financial consequences.

2. Impact on Retirement Timing and Employer Costs: Uncertainty about Medicare and health coverage causes some employees to delay retirement, even if they would prefer to leave the workforce. This hesitation can increase employer healthcare costs, as workers who might otherwise retire continue to draw benefits. According to recent surveys, the average annual cost of employer-sponsored health insurance is substantial, and delayed retirements can further strain company resources.

3. Need for Early Education and Proactive Planning: Experts recommend that employees begin planning for Medicare well before turning 65, ideally starting several years in advance. Without early education and guidance, retirees often rely on informal advice from friends and family, which may not be accurate or sufficient. Improved education and coordinated support from employers and advisers could help retirees make better decisions, reduce stress, and protect both employee well-being and company reputation.

US drug shortages trending upward in 2026

By Ella Jeffries – Active drug shortages in the U.S. reached 223 in the first quarter of 2026, increasing for the second consecutive quarter, according to an April report from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. That upward trend comes as global supply risks intensify. The U.S. relies heavily on overseas manufacturing for generic drugs, with India supplying roughly 47% of volume and depending on shipping routes affected by the U.S.-Iran conflict — disruptions that could further strain availability of essential medications. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. Drug Shortages Remain Below Peak but Persist: Active drug shortages reached 223 in the first quarter of 2026, which is lower than the peak of 323 recorded in the first quarter of 2024. While this represents a decline, the number remains elevated and indicates that shortages continue to be a significant issue. The data suggests some improvement in supply conditions, but not a full recovery to stable levels.

2. Controlled Substances Represent a Key Share of Shortages: Approximately 15% of current drug shortages involve controlled substances, affecting medications commonly used for chronic pain, ADHD, and certain procedures. These shortages can disrupt ongoing treatment plans and complicate care delivery, particularly for patients requiring consistent access. The impact extends to surgical and procedural settings where medication availability is critical.

3. Recent Shortages and Broad System Impact: About 77% of active shortages began in 2022 or later, highlighting ongoing instability in the drug supply chain. Even with fewer total shortages, individual drug disruptions can affect large patient populations, meaning overall patient impact may remain high. At the same time, hospitals are experiencing increased operational burden as pharmacy teams adjust workflows, automation systems, and care protocols to manage these shortages.

Hackers say they breached Medtronic's servers—the company confirms access from an 'unauthorized party'

By Chad Van Alstin – Multinational medical device company Medtronic revealed on Friday that it was the victim of a cyber-intrusion of its corporate IT systems. The company stopped short of calling the incident a data breach, but did say it was “working to identify any personal information that may have been accessed and will provide notifications and support services as needed.” The cyberattack is currently being investigated. In a statement, the Irish-American device manufacturer was light on the details, and did not say when or how the “unauthorized party” gained access to its systems. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. Uncertainty Surrounds Scope and Impact: Medtronic has confirmed a cyber-intrusion but has not provided specifics about the nature or extent of the breach. The company is still investigating what, if any, personal information was accessed and has not labeled the incident as a formal data breach. This lack of detail leaves open questions about the potential risks to patients and partners.

2. Claims of Massive Data Exposure Remain Unverified: A cybercrime group called ShinyHunters has claimed responsibility for the attack, alleging that they accessed records from 9 million people and terabytes of data. However, Medtronic has not verified these claims, and there is no public evidence yet that such a large volume of data has been leaked or sold on the dark web. The actual impact on patient data and regulatory reporting requirements remains unclear.

3. Business Operations Reportedly Unaffected: Despite the cyberattack, Medtronic has stated that there has been no impact on its products, patient safety, customer connections, manufacturing, distribution, or financial systems. The company has also not confirmed whether ransomware was deployed, and there is no indication that the alleged stolen data has been made available to the public. The situation is still developing as investigations continue.

Employers see 507% ROI from behavioral healthcare, new study shows

By Jimmy Nesbitt – Behavioral health services can deliver outsized financial returns for employers while improving depression and anxiety outcomes among workers, according to a new study that found a projected 507% return on investment. The Integrated Benefits Institute analyzed thousands of anonymized patient records from ComPsych and found employers saw an average annual return of $6.07 for every $1 invested in behavioral health services. Those savings were driven by a mix of factors, from avoiding costly ER visits and lowering prescription and medical spending to preventing disability claims through earlier treatment and boosting productivity with fewer absences and better on-the-job focus. Read Full Article... ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. Counseling Improves Mental Health and Workplace Outcomes: Employees who received counseling showed measurable improvements in mental health, with 63% experiencing reduced depression and 73% reduced anxiety. Additionally, 76% reported decreased workplace absenteeism and 90% indicated a strong therapeutic alliance with their counselor. These findings demonstrate that counseling can contribute to both improved well-being and increased workplace engagement.

2. Economic Value of Mental Health Support Gains Attention: The study emphasizes the importance of linking clinical outcomes to financial impact for employers. Results suggest that improvements in mental health can lead to lower healthcare costs, reduced disability claims, and enhanced productivity. This reflects increasing demand from organizations to quantify the return on investment for employee mental health programs.

3. Stigma, Culture, and Access Shape Utilization of Services: While awareness of mental health has grown, stigma continues to limit use of available benefits in some settings. Employers are encouraged to promote open communication, leadership involvement, and normalization of mental health discussions to increase engagement. Expanded access through telehealth and digital tools has improved flexibility, but organizational culture remains a key factor in whether employees seek support.

GLP-1 Drug Improved Motivation in Major Depressive Disorder

By Shannon Firth – Treatment with oral semaglutide (Rybelsus) significantly improved motivation measures in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), according to a secondary analysis of a randomized trial. Among 72 participants with MDD and overweight or obesity, those receiving oral semaglutide 14 mg showed an increased willingness to expend physical effort when higher expected rewards were present (treatment × visit × expected value interaction χ2 = 12.024; P=0.02), reported Rodrigo B. Mansur, MD, PhD, of University Health Network at the University of Toronto, and co-authors in JAMA Psychiatry. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. Semaglutide Shows Promise for Motivation in Depression: The study found that oral semaglutide improved motivation in people with major depressive disorder, particularly by increasing their willingness to exert effort when greater rewards were available. This effect was observed in a randomized trial involving participants with both depression and overweight or obesity. The findings suggest that metabolic pathways may play a role in motivational deficits seen in depression.

2. Implications for Treating Anhedonia and Reward Dysfunction: Anhedonia, or the reduced ability to experience pleasure, is a symptom of depression that is often resistant to standard antidepressant treatments. The results indicate that GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide could potentially address this unmet need by targeting reward-related behaviors. However, experts caution that more research is needed before these drugs can be recommended for this purpose in clinical practice.

3. Need for Larger and More Rigorous Studies: While the results are encouraging, both the study authors and outside experts emphasize that the findings are preliminary and require confirmation in larger, more diverse populations. The current study's tasks for measuring motivation may not fully translate to real-world settings, and the trial was not designed to assess overall antidepressant effects. Further research, including studies with brain imaging and broader participant groups, will be necessary to determine the true impact of semaglutide on motivation and depressive symptoms.