DOL Archives - Word on Benefits

Understanding ERISA Liability in the Context of Pharmacy Benefits

Anne Newhouse

17 Jul 202417 Jul 2024

Fiduciary responsibility has always been a concern for retirement plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The language on the Department of Labor (DOL) Fiduciary Responsibilities webpage explains, “The primary responsibility of fiduciaries is to run the […]

Affordable Care Act (ACA) DOL Health Care Legislative U.S.

ACA Litigation Update: Preventive Services Requirements Upheld

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

12 Jul 202412 Jul 2024

What’s new? On June 21, 2024, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Braidwood v. Becerra that the lower court had overreached when it struck down the Affordable Care Act (ACA) preventive services mandate nationwide. The Fifth Circuit held that federal […]

401(k) Plans Compliance DOL Employee Benefits ERISA Retirement SECURE 2.0 U.S.

Three DOL Developments for Retirement Plan Sponsors

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

09 Jul 202409 Jul 2024

So far in 2024, the Department of Labor (DOL) has released proposals for plan administrators to populate a missing participant database and automatic portability of retirement plan accruals when employees change jobs. The DOL also finalized a retirement security rule package and […]

401(k) Plans Compliance DOL Employee Benefits ERISA ERISA50 Legislative Pensions Retirement U.S.

The DOL Retirement Security Final Rule: Highlights for Plan Sponsors

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

20 Jun 202420 Jun 2024

On April 25, 2024, the Department of Labor (DOL) published the retirement security final rule defining fiduciary status for investment advice to retirement investors under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). It is set to […]

Compliance DOL Legislative U.S.

What to Know Before the Overtime Final Rule Takes Effect July 1

Amanda Wilke

11 Jun 202411 Jun 2024

After much anticipation, on April 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released its overtime final rule, updating the salary threshold for overtime exemptions for executive, administrative and professional (EAP) employees and highly compensated employees (HCEs). The rule is slated to […]

DOL Employee Benefits FMLA Legislative Paid Leave Parental Leave Regulatory U.S.

Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: An Update

Anne Patterson

08 May 202408 May 2024

Back in July of 2023, I wrote a blog on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and what plan sponsors needed to know at that time. I was pregnant while writing that first blog and curious not only how the law would impact […]

Compliance DOL Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Employee Benefits Health Care Mental Health Opioid Abuse U.S.

Mental Health Parity—Pitfalls to Avoid

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

04 Apr 202408 May 2024

Recent DOL reports on Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act enforcement indicate pitfalls that plan sponsors should avoid in order to be compliant with parity rules. Learn more about impermissible exclusions of key treatments for MH/SUD and parity enforcement.

Benefits Magazine Defined Benefit (DB) Plans Defined Contribution (DC) Plans Employee Benefits Multiemployer Regulatory SECURE 2.0 U.S.

Missing Participants: Help From SECURE 2.0 and the Latest Best Practices

Guest Contributor

27 Feb 202428 Feb 2024

Benefits Magazine Extras articles provide you with bonus content on a mix of benefits topics as well as deep dives and analyses on the latest benefit trends and compliance issues. Foundation members can visit ifebp.org/benefitsmagazine to view the full bimonthly print edition of the […]

Communication DOL Employee Benefits ERISA Legislative Multiemployer U.S.

FAQs on Workplace Emergency Savings Accounts Under SECURE 2.0

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

22 Feb 202422 Feb 2024

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has issued FAQs on optional pension-linked emergency savings accounts (PLESAs) as part of the implementation of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (ERISA section 801). SECURE 2.0 authorized 401(k), 403(b) and governmental […]

Cybersecurity Employee Benefits Fraud Health Care HIPAA Human Resources (HR)

What’s Going On With Health Information and Cybersecurity

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

14 Feb 202421 Feb 2024

Health plan sponsors should take note: Regulators are increasing their focus on the privacy and security of health information. And failure to comply with the latest guidance on these areas could prove costly. In their article “Risks Abound: What’s Going on With […]