DOL Archives - Word on Benefits

DOL Guidance on Mental Health Parity: Proposed Rules for NQTL Comparative Analyses

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

13 Sep 202313 Sep 2023

Many health plan sponsors continue to struggle to comply with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), particularly the requirement to conduct a comparative analysis of nonquantitative treatment limitations (NQTLs) that has been effective under the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act […]

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Defined Benefit (DB) Plans DOL Employee Benefits ERISA MPRA Retirement

How SFA Rules Impact Annual Funding Notice Requirements

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

09 May 202309 May 2023

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 authorized special financial assistance (SFA) through the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to eligible severely underfunded multiemployer plans. ARPA added section 4262 to Title IV of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The multiemployer plans […]

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Compliance DOL Employee Benefits Health Care Human Resources (HR) Insurance Prescription Drugs

**ACA Preventive Services Requirements Struck Down: Braidwood Management v. Becerra Explainer**

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

26 Apr 202326 Apr 2023

As a result of ongoing litigation, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury (the departments) cannot enforce some Affordable Care Act (ACA) preventive care requirements, but the departments strongly encourage plan sponsors to keep coverage without […]

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Compliance DOL Employee Benefits ERISA PBGC Pensions U.S.

Where We Are Now: Special Financial Assistance Under the American Rescue Plan Act

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

28 Mar 202328 Mar 2023

From capital market return expectations to the rules that cover the program, a lot has changed in the two years since the American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law and created the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) program for struggling multiemployer pension […]

Compliance DOL Employee Benefits ERISA Legislative Regulatory Retirement U.S.

Legal and Legislative Reporter: Fiduciary Duties Breached

Guest Contributor

10 Jan 202310 Mar 2023

Every month, the International Foundation releases the Legal and Legislative Reporter, a compilation of new employee benefits-related case summaries. Below is a summary we thought you’d be interested in. Content provided by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. The U.S. District Court for the […]

DOL Employee Benefits Legislative Talking Benefits Podcast U.S.

2022 Year in Review: Benefits Past, Present and Future

Anne Patterson

22 Dec 202227 Jan 2023

Here in the benefits world, there doesn’t seem to be a slow year. The latest Talking Benefits podcast episode takes a look at the top benefits stories of the past year which has become our year-end tradition. Hear how the team did […]

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Dependent Care Diversity and Inclusion DOL Employee Benefits Flexible Work Options Health Care Human Resources (HR) Parental Leave Wellness Work Life Balance

Supporting Working Parents

Eli Argueta

04 Oct 202227 Jan 2023

Employer considerations for working parents includes a review of current laws and best practices when supporting nursing mothers.

Compliance Cybersecurity DOL Employee Benefits

Five Critical Components of a Cybersecurity Compliance Review

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

15 Sep 202215 Sep 2022

Cybersecurity should be top of mind for retirement plan fiduciaries, not only because the risks of a data breach or fraud are on the rise but also because the Department of Labor (DOL) has begun auditing retirement plans with a focus on […]

DOL Employee Benefits Retirement U.S.

Is Your Plan Ready for a DOL Investigation? Nine Key Areas to Review

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

29 Aug 202229 Aug 2022

When it comes to Department of Labor (DOL) retirement plan investigations, the best defense for plan fiduciaries is often a good offense—conducting a compliance self-review before DOL officials come knocking. That’s the contention made by attorneys Elizabeth S. Goldberg and William J. […]

Communication Compliance Defined Benefit (DB) Plans Defined Contribution (DC) Plans DOL Employee Benefits Legislative Public Plans Regulatory Retirement U.S.

Everything Plan Sponsors Need to Know About SECURE Act 2.0

Amanda Wilke

26 May 202226 May 2022

On March 29, 2022, the House of Representatives passed the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022 (HR 2954), otherwise known as SECURE Act 2.0, by a vote of 414-5. Secure Act 2.0 builds on the 2019 Setting Every Community Up for […]