Compliance Archives - Word on Benefits

Introduction of Employee Benefits Compliance Issues for Mergers and Acquisitions

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

16 Jan 202616 Jan 2026

Today’s blog is an introductory overview of the mergers & acquisition (M&A) process and the various elements that benefits professionals need to consider.

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Mental Health Parity: What Plan Sponsors Need to Know During Period of Nonenforcement of 2024 Final Rule

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

19 Jun 202519 Jun 2025

Following the announcement last month that the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury will put a hold on enforcing the 2024 final rule on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), health plan sponsors […]

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Workplace Accommodations: Compliance Issues and Tips

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

03 Jun 202503 Jun 2025

Injuries and sicknesses resulting in disability and, potentially, time away from work happen to employees all the time requiring employers to develop a disability management process. This process is a series of coordinated stages to prevent, manage, and reduce workplace disabilities, alleviate […]

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 […]

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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 […]

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IRS Guidance: What Does It Mean?

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

23 Jan 202514 May 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 […]

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New Mental Health Parity Guidance: More Clarity, But More Compliance Obligations

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

27 Sep 202327 Sep 2023

According to speaker John Barlament, Shareholder, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, S.C., in his webcast “New Mental Health Parity Guidance: More Clarity, But More Compliance Obligations,” held on August 30, 2023, new guidance has been “desperately needed” on the topic of mental health […]

Canada Compliance Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disability Benefits Disease Management Employee Benefits Flexible Work Options Health Care Human Resources (HR) U.S. Wellness

2023 Outlook on Respiratory Illnesses and the Workforce

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

26 Jan 202310 Mar 2023

At this time of year in cold climates, airborne illnesses (influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and COVID-19) persistently impact families and workplaces. Influenza is a well-known endemic. Endemic means persistent—It will not go away, and it won’t get much worse or better. Influenza […]

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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 […]

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Unraveling Post-Dobbs Implications

Staff

28 Jul 202228 Jul 2022

The legal environment relating to abortion coverage has become quite complex following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Health plan sponsors should review their coverage of abortion services to ensure that their health plans reflect the […]