legislative Archives - Word on Benefits

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 […]

Canada Compliance Disability Benefits Employee Benefits Legislative

Ontario’s New Long-Term Illness Leave Takes Effect Soon: What Employers Need to Know

Amanda Wilke, CEBS

10 Jun 202510 Jun 2025

On December 19, 2024, Ontario’s Working for Workers Six Act, 2024 (Bill 229) received Royal Assent. Amongst the changes in the bill amending the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), was the introduction of unpaid long-term illness leave, effective June 19, 2025. While the law […]

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 […]

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 […]

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Employee Benefits Health Care Insurance Regulatory U.S.

ACA Employer Reporting Relief Options for Self-Funded Plans in 2025

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

14 Jan 202514 Jan 2025

On December 23, 2024, President Biden signed two laws intended to simplify employer’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting requirements. The Paperwork Burden Reduction Act (HR 3797) and the Employer Reporting Improvement Act (HR 3801) allow flexibility for employers to furnish 1095-B and […]

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Employee Benefits Legislative U.S.

Congress Passes Two Laws Allowing ACA Employer Reporting Relief

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

20 Dec 202420 Dec 2024

On December 10 and 11, Congress passed two bills, the Paperwork Reduction Act (HR 3797) and the Employer Reporting Improvement Act (HR 3801), intended to simplify employer’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting requirements. The bills are awaiting the president’s signature to become […]

DOL Employee Benefits Legislative Regulatory U.S.

How New Regulations Are Created

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

03 Dec 202403 Dec 2024

Recently, we wrote about how laws are created in the blog “U.S. Legislative Process: How a Bill Becomes a Law.” After legislation is passed by both the House and the Senate and signed by the president, it becomes law. The next step […]

Legislative U.S.

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

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

12 Sep 202412 Sep 2024

In March 1976, Saturday morning television featured a new video segment called “I’m Just a Bill” that used a fun cartoon aimed at children to visualize the complex path of the U.S. legislative process and describe how a bill becomes a law. […]

DOL ERISA Legislative U.S.

The Supreme Court and the Chevron Doctrine: Key Takeaways for Employee Benefit Plans

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

14 Aug 202414 Aug 2024

Employee benefit plan sponsors and administrators may feel the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the so-called Chevron doctrine for many years to come, predicts Katherine Hesse, CEBS, an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) attorney. Hesse, who is […]

Compliance DOL Legislative U.S.

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

Amanda Wilke, CEBS

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 […]