Parrott Benefit Group

06/01/2026

Employers should be aware that Medicare-eligible employees may have questions about the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program, and should direct employees to their doctor for guidance.

CMS has announced it will provide eligible Medicare beneficiaries access to certain GLP-1 medications for $50 per month beginning July 1st.

05/29/2026

🥗 The latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans are keeping it simple: Eat real food.
The new recommendations focus on whole, minimally processed foods and encourage limiting added sugars, sugary beverages, refined grains, and highly processed products. Small changes can make a big difference for your health.
Visit RealFood.gov to learn more.

05/28/2026

Regular checkups help doctors catch diseases like cancer earlier, manage chronic conditions more effectively, and step in before patients need more serious and costly treatment.

Just 17% of employees plan to get an annual physical this year, down 45% from 2024, as a nationwide survey signals a steep decline in preventive care use.

05/27/2026

Workplace conversations about mental health aren’t an annual event. When organizational leadership talks openly about mental health, employees are more likely to feel comfortable about the concept and reach out to managers or co-workers if they’re struggling.

Mental Health Awareness Month can be a good time to kick off conversations and keep the momentum and support going year-round.

05/26/2026

Researchers found that telemedicine visits dropped by 2.4% and spending declined by 0.5% among all insurance types from 2019 through 2023.

"Much more work is needed to understand telemedicine's longer-term effects on quality of care, health outcomes and spending, and whether those effects differ across the diverse populations who depend on it," said Dr. Katherine Kahn of the UCLA medical school.

05/25/2026

REMEMBER AND HONOR.
Parrott Benefit Group will be closed today, in observance of Memorial Day. Regular office hours will resume tomorrow, May 26th.

05/22/2026

The report cited several factors that likely will drive the activity through the remainder of 2026: Medicaid funding and coverage losses, widening gap between haves and have-nots, pressure on and from payors, and labor and supply cost pressures.

Health care Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings rose by one-third from January through March, from nine in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 12 in the first quarter of this year.

05/21/2026

REMINDER: The next prescription drug data collection (RxDC) report is due by Monday, June 1, 2026. Employers should start reaching out to their issuers, TPAs or PBMs, as applicable, to confirm that they will submit the RxDC files for their health plans by this deadline.
For more information, visit our website: https://parrottbenefitgroup.com/2026-caa-compliance-rxdc-report/

05/20/2026

Going with a lower-tier ACA plan isn't necessarily the best solution for employees, and employers can provide education that equips them to make more informed decisions during this year's open enrollment.

New higher premiums are driving many to opt for a lower-cost Bronze plan, but that may lead to higher-deductible hardships in the long run.

05/19/2026

What's needed is an integrated, strategic approach that recognizes the complexity of chronic conditions and aligns benefit design, vendor strategy, and employee support programs around prevention and whole-person care.

Virtual chronic care platforms, nutrition support and targeted coaching are helping organizations address cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes.