The ERISA Industry Committee

The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) today submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the role of third party premium payers, and how the inappropriate steerage of employer-sponsored health insurance beneficiaries to out-of-network providers threatens to increase costs for working families… More

It has been a busy 48 hours in Washington, with the release of several new regulatory guidance and an upcoming legislative focus on retirement policy. I apologize for the length, but this email will cover: (1) Transitional Relief for Closed Plans; (2) PBGC Missing Participant Program; (3) Senate Finance Committee Markup; (4) House Education & Workforce Hearing; (5) Form 5500 Comment Extension; and (6) Static Mortality Tables (from a few weeks ago). Let’s go… More

ERIC applauds the Senate Finance Committee for focusing on retirement security in America. While we are grateful that the Chairman’s mark includes provisions to expand automatic enrollment, we are extremely concerned that the mark includes a mandate to include lifetime income language on retirement plan statements, which will only drive up costs to administer a plan and lead to confusion among participants… More

Today’s news that the Department of Treasury is extending discrimination testing transitional relief for all of 2017 for closed defined benefit plans is welcomed, however, The ERISA Industry Committee strongly urges the Department to provide greater flexibility in satisfying testing requirements upon issuance of the final regulations… More

Will Hansen, ERIC’s senior vice president of retirement policy, provided the "Tip of the Week" in this week’s edition of Epstein Becker Green's Employment Law This Week. Will gave advice on preparing a benefits program in advance of the U.S. Department of Labor’s overtime rule… More