On September 9th, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury (collectively, the “Departments”) issued the much anticipated final rule under the Mental Health...more
10/31/2024
/ Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Drug Treatment ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
Final Rules ,
Health Insurance ,
Mental Health ,
Mental Health Parity Rule ,
MHPAEA ,
NQTLs ,
Substance Abuse ,
U.S. Treasury
Congress extended the availability of refundable tax credits for Eligible Employers who provide paid family leave or sick leave from April 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021 in connection with COVID-related illness. Under ARPA,...more
8/27/2021
/ Benefit Plan Sponsors ,
COBRA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Defined Contribution Plans ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Executive Compensation ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Retirement Plan ,
Tax Credits ,
Vaccinations
ARPA provides that, for the period from April 1, 2021 until September 30, 2021, if an individual’s Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”) qualifying event is an involuntary termination of employment or a...more
4/1/2021
/ American Health Care Act (AHCA) ,
COBRA ,
Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
Flexible Spending Accounts ,
Health Insurance ,
Mental Health Parity Rule ,
Multiemployer Plan ,
Pensions ,
Premium Subsidies ,
Relief Measures ,
Retirement Plan ,
Safe Harbors
In this edition of our newsletter, we have summarized key third quarter guidance from the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), Department of Labor ("DOL"), and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation ("PBGC"). As we look back on...more
10/28/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Drug Pricing ,
Employee Benefits ,
Executive Orders ,
Guidance Update ,
IRA Rollovers ,
IRS ,
PBGC ,
Proxy Season ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Retirement Plan ,
Safe Harbors ,
SECURE Act ,
Self-Insured Health Plans
In the second quarter of 2020, we have seen employers faced with continued challenges as they manage the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their businesses and begin the process of returning to normal operations. The flurry...more
7/23/2020
/ Benefit Plan Sponsors ,
CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Benefits ,
Guidance Update ,
IRS ,
PBGC ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Required Minimum Distributions ,
Retirement Plan ,
Safe Harbors
Top-Hat plans are unfunded plans for a select group of management or highly compensated employees that are exempt from a number of ERISA provisions (such as reporting, funding, testing, and certain fiduciary obligations). In...more
Previously we posted on our blog about a deadline looming in the distance for 403(b) plan sponsors to adopt a pre-approved plan document. Now that 2020 has arrived, the deadline is just around the corner and imminent action...more
On March 6, 2019, the IRS announced that it will not amend the minimum required distribution regulations under Code section 401(a)(9) to expressly prohibit lump-sum window elections for retirees who are already receiving...more
Last year when the IRS announced that the initial remedial amendment period for 403(b) plans will end March 31, 2020, the natural reaction to this very important (but rather remote) deadline was to immediately put it on the...more
In today’s virtual world, we suspect most plan sponsors rely upon the self-certification process to document and process 401(k) distributions made on account of financial hardship. The IRS has recently issued examination...more
Last month, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) published updates to its proxy voting guidelines effective for meetings on or after February 1, 2017. Key compensation-related changes include the following...more
For many years, the PBGC has been helping reunite missing participants with their benefits under single-employer defined benefit plans. Now, a new PBGC proposed rule may open up the program to missing participants under other...more
The new Department of Labor rule defining the scope of who is an ERISA fiduciary has caused much consternation among investment professionals. Much of the new rule is focused on reworking the outer fringes of the ERISA...more
One might be led to believe that the current administration is in favor of expanding retirement savings opportunities. After all, the DOL has somewhat apologetically subverted ERISA to allow the States to sponsor...more
On December 3, 2015, the President signed into law the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (the “FAST Act”) which provides for five years of funding for highway projects. If you just skimmed the news on this one, you...more
Late last year, while you were probably busy picking out which bubbly to pop at the stroke of midnight, the IRS gave us another reason to celebrate. You may remember (as we wrote previously) the IRS said it would not require...more