Takeaways-
• Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives attempt to deliver on President Trump’s campaign promises in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (BBB or the Act), which passed the House by a razor-thin margin of...more
6/17/2025
/ Drug Pricing ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Executive Compensation ,
Executive Orders ,
Health Savings Accounts ,
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare Part D ,
Most-Favored Nations ,
New Legislation ,
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Student Loans ,
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ,
Tax Reform ,
Taxation ,
Trump Administration
As we prepare for another change in Administration in the White House, it is crucial for employers and plan sponsors to stay informed and prepared. While much of what lies ahead is speculative, understanding these possible...more
12/2/2024
/ 401k ,
Affordable Care Act ,
Benefit Plan Sponsors ,
Employee Benefits ,
Flexible Spending Accounts ,
Health and Welfare Plans ,
HSA ,
ICHRA ,
Immigration ,
Retirement Plan ,
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ,
Trump Administration ,
Wage and Hour
On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, a massive omnibus spending bill that will keep the government funded through the end of its September 30, 2023, fiscal year. Included in...more
As we enter the fourth quarter of 2022, sponsors and administrators of employee benefit plans have a lot to juggle. From open enrollment and required notices to plan document deadlines, it is a busy time of year. Yet, there...more
9/28/2022
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
HDHP ,
Health Insurance ,
Health Plan Sponsors ,
HSA ,
IRS ,
Prescription Drug Coverage ,
SECURE Act
As the year draws to a close, it is helpful for employers to pause to evaluate employee benefit plan amendment deadlines and other crucial fourth quarter considerations, including:...more
10/1/2021
/ 401k ,
Billing ,
Cafeteria Plans ,
CARES Act ,
Carryover Basis ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
Flexible Spending Accounts ,
Health Insurance ,
MHPAEA ,
Remote Working ,
Retirement Plan ,
SECURE Act ,
W-4
As the COVID-19 vaccine has become readily available, and many employers contemplate employees returning to the office to work, both employers and employees have accelerated demands for new and permanent remote work location...more
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently addressed several issues of first impression in Bafford v. Northrop Grumman (9th Cir. April 15, 2021), a lawsuit involving retirees who received vastly overstated pension benefit...more
4/26/2021
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Defined Benefit Plans ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
ERISA Litigation ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Fiduciary-Standards ,
Pensions ,
Preemption ,
Professional Negligence ,
Retirement Plan
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) is the latest federal COVID-19 relief bill, which the President signed into law March 11, 2021. ARPA includes new COBRA continuation coverage election, notice, and subsidy...more
3/12/2021
/ Affordable Care Act ,
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ,
Biden Administration ,
COBRA ,
Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Defined Benefit Plans ,
Dependent Care ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
Flexible Savings Accounts (FSAs) ,
Full-Time Employees ,
Pensions ,
Popular ,
Relief Measures ,
Tax Credits
Like no other event in history, the COVID-19 pandemic shined a light on the value employee benefits bring to employment. What once may have been viewed as a “fringe” benefit is now central to attracting and retaining...more
The Internal Revenue Service has broadened the filing and payment relief provided under prior guidance. IRS Notice 2020-23 postpones, among other relief, the due date for employee benefit plans required to make the Form 5500...more
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The Act largely stabilizes fragile industries, provides loans and tax credits to businesses tied to their...more
With the combination of our nation’s response to COVID-19 and the resultant economic downturn, employers of all sizes face the moral and financial dilemma of evaluating employee headcounts while businesses are grappling with...more
3/23/2020
/ 401k ,
Affordable Care Act ,
COBRA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Furloughs ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Layoffs ,
Popular ,
Severance Pay
Imagine something as simple as a COBRA notice that complies with law, but is not identical to the Department of Labor’s (DOL) model notice, leading to six- or seven-figure class action litigation settlements?
Companies in...more
Can you imagine something as simple as a COBRA Notice missing a few technical requirements resulting in an employer needing to pay a 6 or 7-digit damages award? That is happening in Florida. Employers in and out of Florida...more
On July 24, 2019, South Carolina joined the ranks of Alabama, Pennsylvania, and others in abolishing future recognition of common law marriages in the state. The state will continue to recognize all common law marriages in...more
In the spirit of the holidays, the Internal Revenue Service gave a gift to sponsors of 403(b) tax-deferred annuity plans on December 4, 2018, by issuing IRS Notice 2018-95. For plan sponsors that exclude part-time employees...more