News & Analysis as of

Employee Benefits

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Biden Administration Finalizes Mental Health Parity Rules and Priorities

On September 9, the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury (collectively, the Departments) released a final rule to strengthen implementation of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity...more

McDermott Will & Emery

Landmark Mental Health Parity Final Rule: What Plan Sponsors and Insurers Need to Know

McDermott Will & Emery on

The US Departments of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services (the Departments) recently issued much-anticipated final regulations under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). The newly issued...more

McDermott+

HHS, Labor, and Treasury Finalize Mental Health Parity Rule

McDermott+ on

On September 9, 2024, the US Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury (collectively, the Departments) finalized a rule titled Requirements Related to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction...more

Ary Rosenbaum - The Rosenbaum Law Firm P.C.

You should have the plan and valuation at your finger tips

I’m old enough to remember when they would do ads for the Yellow Pages and they told you should let your finger do the walking....more

Ary Rosenbaum - The Rosenbaum Law Firm P.C.

You shouldn’t waive your participant rights under an arbitration provision

I’m glad that the Sixth Circuit has joined other Federal appeals courts in stating that arbitration provisions are invalid as a prospective waiver of rights and remedies guaranteed under ERISA....more

Bricker Graydon LLP

You May be Able to Increase Health Plan Premiums and Stay Affordable in 2025

Bricker Graydon LLP on

For the first time in four years, the IRS adjusted the affordability percentage used for the shared responsibility penalties. The IRS recently announced that the affordability percentage for 2025 will be 9.02%....more

Fisher Phillips

Massachusetts High Court Sides with Employers: Benefit Accrual Not Required During Paid Family and Medical Leave

Fisher Phillips on

In a rare win for Massachusetts employers, the Supreme Judicial Court just ruled that employers generally have no obligation to allow employees to continue accruing benefits, such as seniority, vacation, and sick time, while...more

Verrill

A Brief Guide to Qualified Disclaimers for Retirement Plan Administrators

Verrill on

A “qualified disclaimer” is a tax-effective way to refuse a transfer of property that would otherwise occur on someone’s death. From time to time, retirement plan administrators may be contacted by a beneficiary who wants a...more

Ary Rosenbaum - The Rosenbaum Law Firm P.C.

The end of forfeitures to reduce contributions is inevitable

Recently had a client going through an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit and while talking to an agent, they didn’t disagree with my theory that the idea of being able to reduce employer contributions through forfeitures...more

Shipman & Goodwin LLP

New Federal Regulations Strengthening Mental Health Parity Coverage

Shipman & Goodwin LLP on

On September 9, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (the “DOL”), the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) jointly released regulations entitled “Requirements Related to...more

Ary Rosenbaum - The Rosenbaum Law Firm P.C.

Predictions In The 401(k) Space

Whether it’s a presentation or an article, predictions over the fu- ture don’t usually add up. Sure, then the 1964 World’s Fair predicted video phone calls, we all still don’t have our jet- packs, and an article on the Mets...more

Morgan Lewis - ML Benefits

DOL Reiterates Its Focus on Cybersecurity with Updated Guidance

The US Department of Labor (DOL) issued a press release on September 6, 2024 reminding ERISA plan fiduciaries that it considers cybersecurity to be an area of “great concern” and emphasizing that it continues to investigate...more

King & Spalding

Amendments to the Saudi Labor Law

King & Spalding on

On 6 August 2024, the Council of Ministers approved amendments to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”) Labor Law and its Implementing Regulations. These will come into force on 19 February 2025, 180 days after being published...more

Kilpatrick

QPAM Exemption Notification Deadline – Sunday, September 15, 2024

Kilpatrick on

On April 2, 2024, the Department of Labor (the “DOL”) finalized its amendment to the Qualified Professional Asset Manager (“QPAM”) prohibited transaction exemption (the “QPAM Exemption”). Among the changes made to the QPAM...more

Verrill

Student Loans and Code Section 127 Educational Assistance Programs: A Reminder from the IRS, FAQs, and a Sample Plan Document

Verrill on

On August 28, the IRS issued IR-2024-227, reminding employers of the following key aspects of educational assistance programs under Internal Revenue Code Section 127: -They can be used to help reimburse the costs of or...more

Baker Donelson

Health Plan Compliance Concerns for Year-End 2024

Baker Donelson on

As employers look toward open enrollment for their group health plans, now is a good time to review action items needed for those plans by year-end, as well as upcoming deadlines in the near future. While fully-insured health...more

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

Biden Administration Finalizes Stronger Rules On Mental Health Coverage Parity

Summary: Under a final rule released by the Biden administration on Sept. 9, 2024, health insurers will be required to cover mental health care and addiction services on par with other medical conditions. This rule is part of...more

Troutman Pepper

9th Circ. Clarifies ERISA Preemption for Healthcare Industry

Troutman Pepper on

On May 31, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit published an opinion in Bristol SL Holdings Inc. v. Cigna Health and Life Insurance Co., which has significant implications for the healthcare industry. Originally...more

Ary Rosenbaum - The Rosenbaum Law Firm P.C.

Lincoln to offer lifetime income solutions

Lincoln Financial Group announced the addition to its in-plan guaranteed income investment offerings for defined contribution retirement plans....more

Woodruff Sawyer

​​​​​IRS Issues Affordability Percentage Adjustment for 2025

Woodruff Sawyer on

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released Rev. Proc. 2024-35, which contains the inflation adjusted amounts for 2025 used to determine whether employer-sponsored coverage is “affordable” for purposes of the Affordable...more

Carlton Fields

Second Circuit Rejects Enforcement of Class Waiver and Arbitration Agreement Under FAA, Finds That Provisions Impermissibly...

Carlton Fields on

The plaintiff sued the trustee of his retirement plan, his former employer, and others for breach of fiduciary duties in connection with the plan’s purchase of shares of the employer’s parent company for more than fair market...more

Proskauer - Employee Benefits & Executive...

DOL Updates Guidance on Pension and Health & Welfare Plan Cybersecurity Best Practices

In 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued 3 documents outlining guidance on cybersecurity practices for benefits plans, which we discussed in a blog post at the time. The DOL recently issued revised versions of the...more

Epstein Becker & Green

Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit Rules That Secretly Recording Co-Workers Dooms Retaliation Claim

Epstein Becker & Green on

The Tenth Circuit recently reaffirmed that employers may lawfully enforce a policy against surreptitious recordings. In Spagnolia v. Charter Communications, LLC, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit...more

A&O Shearman

Pensions: what's new this week? - September 09, 2024

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Welcome to your weekly update from the A&O Shearman Pensions team, covering all the latest legal and regulatory developments in the world of workplace pensions....more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Agencies Release Final Mental Health Parity Rule

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

On Monday, September 9, 2024, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury (the “Departments”) issued their final rule regarding the nonquantitative treatment limitation (NQTL) comparative analysis...more

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