Trump Administration Archives - EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG

Trump Administration Takes Steps to Enhance Healthcare Price Transparency

by Jeffrey Davis and Leigh Feldman | Jun 5, 2025 | Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

In May, the Trump administration issued guidance and requests for information (RFIs) to enhance healthcare price transparency, focusing on both hospitals and health plans. For hospitals, the guidance reiterates the need to provide actual dollar amounts for payer-specific negotiated charges in machine-readable files (MRFs) rather than percentages, and it seeks input on improving the accuracy and completeness of MRF data. For health plans, the RFI addresses concerns about file size and data integrity, and it explores the implementation of net prices for covered prescription drugs, indicating that the administration plans to issue revised schemas and may pursue further transparency rulemaking.

Read more here.

One Big Beautiful Bill Act Has Compensation & Benefits Impacts for Nonprofit Health Systems

by Travis Jackson, Robert C. Louthian, III and Kristen O'Brien | Jun 3, 2025 | Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation, Health and Welfare Plans

The US House of Representatives passed its One Big Beautiful Bill Act on May 22, 2025 (the Act), but nonprofit health systems may not find much about the Act that’s attractive. If passed by the US Senate and signed into law, the Act would threaten already thin operating margins at nonprofit hospitals and health systems by expanding the executive compensation excise tax, taxing parking, and similar employee benefits.

Read more here.

New EO Targets Prescription Drug Costs – and Drug Manufacturers, Hospitals, and Health Centers

by Emily J. Cook, Michael Ryan and Sydney Merritt Martinez | May 15, 2025 | Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

On April 15, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order (EO) aimed at addressing the cost of prescription drugs. This EO, titled “Lowering Drug Prices by Once Again Putting Americans First,” outlines specific directives designed to reduce drug prices and improve access for US patients. Of particular note for sponsors and providers of employer health plans, the EO tasks the US secretary of labor with proposing regulations to improve employer health plan fiduciary transparency into direct and indirect compensation received by pharmacy benefit managers.

Read more here.

5 Trends in Health Plan Regulations to Watch in New Trump Administration

by Sarah Raaii and Alden Bianchi | May 8, 2025 | Health and Welfare Plans

With a new presidential administration, the changing regulatory landscape regarding health benefits – often, the second-largest expense for a business after salaries – has been top of mind for HR executives. Much of the early commentary focused on contested “red state/blue state” issues, such as gender-affirming care. The president’s ever-growing list of executive orders now gives us additional hints about the health benefits items that have attracted the administration’s interest and driven changes in health plan regulation trends.

In this HR Executive article, Sarah Raaii and Alden Bianchi discuss five key health plan regulation trends that HR executives should watch under the new administration.

Access the article.

Reproductive Health Under Trump: What’s New and What’s Next

by Stacey Callaghan, Evie Atwater, Dexter Golinghorst and Caroline Reignley | Apr 1, 2025 | Digital Health, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

Over the past two months, the second Trump administration has shifted federal policies and priorities regarding abortion, in vitro fertilization (IVF), contraception, and other reproductive-health-related matters – and it is expected to continue to do so.

Meanwhile, new regulatory developments in this area at the state level are also ongoing. Many states now require that insurance plans provide some combination of fertility benefits, fertility preservation, and coverage for a number of IVF cycles. After July 1, 2025, all large employers in California must provide insurance coverage for fertility treatments, including coverage for unlimited embryo transfers and up to three retrievals.

Read more here.

Price Transparency: A Trump Administration Regulatory Priority

by Jeffrey Davis and Leigh Feldman | Mar 13, 2025 | Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

On February 25, 2025, the Trump administration highlighted one of its priorities in an executive order on price transparency. While the order primarily focuses on enforcing existing price transparency requirements, it also suggests potential changes or expansions, which would necessitate rulemaking. Potential impacts on health plans include the requirement to make detailed pricing information publicly available and to provide an online shopping tool. This tool will allow consumers to see the rates negotiated by their providers and plans, as well as an estimate of their out-of-pocket costs for 500 of the most shoppable items and services.

Read more here.

Federal Court Blocks Trump’s Anti-DEI Executive Orders Nationwide

by Chris Braham, Rachel B. Cowen and Tara Ward | Mar 11, 2025 | Employment

On February 21, 2025, the US District Court for the District of Maryland granted a motion for a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration’s recent diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) executive orders. This decision followed a lawsuit that challenged the orders based on First and Fifth Amendment grounds.

Read more here.

Trump Administration Places DOL’s ESOP Proposals in Regulatory Moratorium

by Ted Becker, Allison Wilkerson, Erin Turley and Myriem Bennani | Feb 25, 2025 | Employee Benefits, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Retirement Plans

On January 16, 2025, the US Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration released two proposed regulations related to employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). One regulation aims to clarify the valuation process for non-publicly traded employer stock, while the other would provide a safe harbor for transactions involving newly established ESOPs.

However, on January 20, 2025, the Trump administration froze all pending proposals, including the DOL’s ESOP regulations. If finalized, these regulations would dramatically change the landscape for fiduciaries responsible for valuing stock in privately held corporations during transactions with ESOPs.

Read more here.

FAQs for Employers and Federal Contractors on Navigating the DEI Landscape

by Rachel B. Cowen, Stephania Sanon and Tara Ward | Feb 18, 2025 | Employment

Partners in our Employment and Government Contracts Groups recently presented a webinar on President Donald Trump’s executive order (EO) eliminating all affirmative action obligations under EO 11246. Following the webinar, we prepared FAQs to further assist employers and federal contractors in navigating the current landscape.

Access the FAQs.

Understanding the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders on DEI and Immigration

by Chris Braham, Rachel B. Cowen, Joseph K. Mulherin, Stephania Sanon and Tara Ward | Feb 14, 2025 | Employment, Labor

On January 20 and 22, 2025, President Donald Trump issued executive orders (EOs) rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and accessibility initiatives and advancing his immigration agenda.

In this webinar, members of McDermott’s Employment and Government Contracts Groups provided an explanation of these Trump administration EOs. They unpacked the implications of these orders on the future of DEI initiatives and immigration law compliance to help your organization navigate these changes effectively.

Access the recording and key takeaways here.

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