Regulatory Archives - Word on Benefits

DEI Programs: What Employers Need to Know About New Federal Guidance

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

17 Apr 202517 Apr 2025

In March, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released two technical assistance documents on the subject of discrimination related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at work. These documents are informal guidance that show how the agency may approach what it […]

Employee Benefits Legislative Regulatory U.S.

U.S. Legislative Process: How a Bill Becomes a Law

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

16 Apr 202516 Apr 2025

Including the Budget Reconciliation Process In March 1976, Saturday morning television featured a new video segment called, “I’m Just a Bill,” using a fun cartoon aimed at children to visualize the complex path of the U.S. legislative process describing how a bill […]

Compliance Employee Benefits Health Care Insurance Legislative Regulatory U.S.

2025 Status of Health Care Price Transparency

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

15 Apr 202515 Apr 2025

Americans know that health care costs are high but we don’t always know the specific cost of health care. Knowing about medical costs came to the forefront for many employees when they had an incentive to make health care decisions based on […]

Compliance DOL Employee Benefits Health Care Legislative Mental Health Regulatory U.S.

Mental Health Parity Pitfall to Avoid: Network Adequacy Data Part II

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

10 Apr 202510 Apr 2025

The Department of Labor (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)’s 2024 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) report to Congress, issued January 17, 2025, addressed the enforcement approach to nonquantitative treatment limitations (NQTLs) for network adequacy and network composition. The […]

Compliance DOL Employee Benefits Health Care Legislative Mental Health Regulatory U.S.

Mental Health Parity Pitfall to Avoid: Network Adequacy Data

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

27 Mar 202501 Apr 2025

The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires group health plans that provide mental health or substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits to offer parity between coverage of physical health conditions and mental health conditions. The […]

Employee Benefits Legislative Pensions Regulatory Retirement U.S.

Automation Speeds Up Social Security Fairness Act Processing

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

07 Mar 202507 Mar 2025

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has sped up implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) using automation, per Lee Dudek, acting commissioner of Social Security. The law requires SSA to adjust benefits for over three million people, the bulk of which […]

Compliance DOL Employee Benefits ERISA Health Care Insurance Legislative Regulatory U.S.

Health Plan Gag Clause Attestation Update

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

13 Feb 202513 Feb 2025

Health plans have a variety of reporting and disclosure requirements and other compliance issues to contend with. In recent years, requirements for plan sponsors have been included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) and No Surprises Act (NSA) signed into law […]

401(k) Plans Defined Contribution (DC) Plans Employee Benefits Multiemployer Regulatory Retirement SECURE 2.0 U.S.

SECURE 2.0 Update: IRS Issues Proposed Rules for Qualified Retirement Plans (Part Two)—Automatic Enrollment

Amanda Wilke, CEBS

12 Feb 202512 Feb 2025

On Friday, January 10, 2025, the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued proposed rules for several provisions of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0). Part One of the blog series covered catch-up contributions. This blog […]

401(k) Plans Defined Contribution (DC) Plans Employee Benefits Legislative Regulatory Retirement SECURE 2.0 U.S.

SECURE 2.0 Update: IRS Issues Proposed Rules for Qualified Retirement Plans (Part One)—Catch-Up Contributions

Amanda Wilke, CEBS

05 Feb 202505 Feb 2025

On Friday, January 10, 2025, the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance for several provisions of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0). This blog will primarily focus on the proposed rule for qualified retirement […]

Compliance Employee Benefits Legislative Regulatory U.S.

IRS Guidance: What Does It Mean?

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

23 Jan 202523 Jan 2025

A new year means renewed attention to the compliance requirements required of plan sponsors. In addition to legislation and regulations affecting employers, subregulatory guidance helps clarify the law and provides direction and insight into complex rules. What is subregulatory guidance? Regulations or […]