On February 18, President Biden announced that the COVID-19 National Emergency would continue beyond March 1, 2022, for up to another year. As a result of the continuing National Emergency, the “tolling” of several important deadlines applicable to health and welfare plans, as well as qualified retirement plans, will also remain in effect. This means plan sponsors and administrators should continue to apply these deadlines to affected individuals on a participant-by-participant basis for the foreseeable future.
Continue Reading Tolling, Tolling, Tolling, Keep Those COVID-19 National Emergency Deadlines Tolling
DOL Begins Audit of Retirement Plans for Cybersecurity Shortfalls
To increase protections for the estimated $9.3 trillion in American retirement assets, the Department of Labor (DOL) has begun a new cybersecurity audit initiative for retirement plans. After providing its first set of guidance on cybersecurity in April, the DOL quickly began the audit initiative by issuing information and document requests to numerous 401(k) plan fiduciaries. The DOL has stated that ERISA requires plan fiduciaries to take appropriate precautions to mitigate the risks of cybercrime and this new audit activity clearly indicates that companies must take steps to align their cybersecurity programs with the guidance provided or risk being caught flatfooted by a probing and comprehensive audit.
The DOL’s cybersecurity guidance is aimed at plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries, record-keepers, and plan participants. It provides advice on how to best protect the retirement benefits of America’s workers through cybersecurity safeguards. The DOL’s guidance is broken down into the following three documents:
Continue Reading DOL Begins Audit of Retirement Plans for Cybersecurity Shortfalls
DOL to Focus on Red Flags in Mental Health Parity Requests
Last month, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it will focus on requesting information from employers where there are potential “red flags” of non-compliance with the provisions and rules of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), as modified by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA).
Section 203 of the CAA imposes a new requirement on group health plans to ensure compliance with the MHPAEA: group health plans and insurers that provide both medical/surgical benefits and mental health or substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits—and that impose non-quantitative treatment limitations (NQTLs) on the MH/SUD benefits—must prepare a “comparative analysis” of any NQTLs that apply. As of February 10, 2021, plans must supply this comparative analysis and other specific information upon request by an applicable state or federal agency (e.g., the DOL for ERISA plans). The DOL has been actively auditing group health plans for compliance with the MHPAEA and requesting documentation of these comparative analyses.Continue Reading DOL to Focus on Red Flags in Mental Health Parity Requests
Reminder – Annual Deadline (typically, July 31) to Report and Pay PCORI Fee is Approaching
The annual filing (and fee payment) for applicable self-insured health plans and specified health insurance policies used to fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (the PCORI fee) is soon coming due—this year, by Monday, August 2, 2021.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The Form 720 on which the fee is reported typically is due on July 31; however, in 2021, July 31 falls on a Saturday, and, according to the Instructions (on page 2), if the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, you may file on the next business day. And, so, this year’s filing is due by August 2, 2021.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return, is still used to report and pay (in Part II, IRS No. 133, on page 2) the annual PCORI fee. The applicable rate has increased to $2.66 per covered life (announced in late 2020 via IRS Notice 2020-84).Continue Reading Reminder – Annual Deadline (typically, July 31) to Report and Pay PCORI Fee is Approaching
2020 ERISA Welfare Plan Checklist
We recognize that many of our readers sponsor ERISA welfare benefit plans and are currently undergoing their open enrollment process and issuing related participant communications. To assist with that process, we have prepared an Automatic Participant Disclosures Checklist for use during open enrollment and throughout the plan year.
If you have questions regarding the information
Reminder – Annual Deadline (July 31) to Report and Pay PCORI Fee is Approaching [Again!]
Yes, that PCORI Fee—it’s back!
About this time last year, we let you know that this filing and fee was coming due, and that it was the last time it would be required for a calendar year plan. Since that time, however, the requirement was extended another ten years (by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, signed into law on December 20, 2019).
The annual filing (and fee payment) for applicable self-insured health plans and specified health insurance policies used to fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (the PCORI fee) is due again this year, by Friday, July 31, 2020.Continue Reading Reminder – Annual Deadline (July 31) to Report and Pay PCORI Fee is Approaching [Again!]
COVID-19: Impact on Employee Benefit Plans
Government-mandated protocols and social distancing directives as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to significant business interruptions and tremendous financial strain on employers. These measures may continue to disrupt businesses and the economy for the foreseeable future. As a result, employers are faced with difficult choices regarding their employees – including how to
Employer Obligations Under The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (WEBINAR)
Bass, Berry & Sims labor & employment attorneys recently held a webinar briefing covering key information for employers under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
Employers’ obligations will become effective no later than April 2, 2020. Get the information you need to know regarding the following aspects of the Act:
- Emergency Paid Sick Leave
- Emergency
2019 ERISA Welfare Plan Checklist
We recognize that many of our readers sponsor ERISA welfare benefit plans and are currently undergoing their open enrollment process and issuing related participant communications. To assist with that process, we have prepared an Automatic Participant Disclosures Checklist for use during open enrollment and throughout the plan year.
If you have questions regarding the information
Reminder – Annual Deadline (July 31) to Report and Pay PCORI Fee is Approaching
Last Filing for Calendar Year Plans!
The annual filing (and fee payment) for applicable self-insured health plans and specified health insurance policies used to fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (the PCORI fee) is due by Wednesday, July 31, 2019. For calendar year plans and policies, this will be the last required PCORI filing and fee payment. For plan and policy years ending after December 31, 2018 and before October 1, 2019, one more filing and fee payment will be required (due July 31, 2020).
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return, is still used to report and pay (in Part II, IRS No. 133) the annual PCORI fee. The filing rules have not changed, although the applicable rate has increased to $2.45 per covered life (announced via IRS Notice 2018-85).Continue Reading Reminder – Annual Deadline (July 31) to Report and Pay PCORI Fee is Approaching