Jenny Gartman, CEBS, Author at Word on Benefits

Alternatives to On-Site Child-Care Benefits

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

06 May 202506 May 2025

A recent report, Parents Under Pressure: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health & Well-Being of Parents, recommended ways for employers to expand policies and programs that support the well-being of parents and caregivers in the workplace. This can include offering access […]

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2025 Employee Benefits Reporting and Disclosure Calendars

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

01 May 202501 May 2025

Plan sponsors and administrators are encouraged to reference these comprehensive calendars to stay on track in 2025. Health and Welfare Plans Retirement Plans Defined Contribution Plans Defined Benefit Plans If you thought this information was helpful, and you’re an International Foundation or […]

Employee Benefits Health Care Legislative U.S.

Congress Could Expand Health Savings Accounts

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

29 Apr 202529 Apr 2025

Over a dozen bills that would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand health savings accounts (HSAs) have been introduced in Congress this year, according to the International Foundation’s U.S. Legislative Tracker (members only). If enacted, the bills aim to […]

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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 […]

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Data-Driven Workplace Mental Health Initiatives

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

08 Apr 202508 Apr 2025

At the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), data about their employee population has driven the evolution of its mental health program over the last five years. Speaker Laura Carter, associate director of benefits at HOOPP, said that a multipronged approach has […]

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 […]

Diversity and Inclusion Employee Benefits Human Resources (HR) Legislative LGBTQ+ U.S.

Executive Orders: Checking In on Benefits Watchlist Topics

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

19 Feb 202519 Feb 2025

Around one month into the Trump administration, many in the benefits community have been watching for new executive orders and evaluating how they affect their benefit plans. The Foundation identified eight executive order (EO) topics that have the greatest potential impact on […]

DOL Employee Benefits ERISA Legislative Retirement U.S.

Plan Sponsors Can Self-Correct Some Violations of ERISA—Here’s Where to Start

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

18 Feb 202518 Feb 2025

The Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (VFCP) encourages employers and plan sponsors to voluntarily correct certain violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). For certain categories of eligible transactions, the Department of Labor (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) intends for […]

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What Public Pension Plans Need to Know About the Social Security Fairness Act

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

30 Jan 202530 Jan 2025

Signed into law on January 5, 2025, the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) (HR 82) repeals two provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for some individuals who receive other benefits, such as certain state or local government pension benefits. The Social Security […]