2024 Virtual Fall Policy Conference Hub
Tuesday, September 24
11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET)
Batten Down the Hatches: Where Might the Plaintiffs’ Bar Strike Next?
This panel will begin with remarks from Congresswoman Stephanie Bice (R-OK).
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (ET)
After introductory remarks from Chairman Joe Pitra of ERIC’s Board of Directors, Congresswoman Stephanie Bice will join ERIC staff for a fireside chat. Immediately following her remarks, we will begin “Batten the Hatches: Where Might the Plaintiff’s Bar Strike Next?”
ERISA class action suits continue to plague large plan sponsors. New types of lawsuits seem to crop up constantly: most recently, plaintiffs appear to attack the ability of plan sponsors to engage in pension risk transfers, choose widely available and respected target date funds for their 401(k) menu, or challenge the regulatory framework for health care and disability benefit determinations. Companies need to strategically analyze these suits and guess which fights the plaintiffs’ bar might initiate next. Join this panel of legal experts who will brainstorm and provide practical guidance to help keep your company out of the crosshairs of the next wave.
*To hear Congresswoman Stephanie Bice speak, please register for this panel.
New Glitches in the Matrix: State AI Policies and Their Impact on Benefits Administration
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (ET)
As the capabilities and applications of artificial intelligence in the employee benefits world continue to grow exponentially, public policy in this evolving technology space continues to play catch-up. In the absence of federal proposals, many state lawmakers have drawn attention to emerging problems associated with AI, resulting in bold debates on issues from data privacy and disclosure to the very design, development, and use of AI systems. Do these state policies protect employees, or stand in the way of plan innovation? Join our panel of policy and benefits experts for an exciting discussion of where state AI policy stands and what employers can do to prepare and adapt for the realities ahead!
ERISA at 50: How Might Retirement Policy Change?
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET)
The fiftieth anniversary of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act is a time to reflect on how the retirement industry has changed since 1974. The relationship between employers and workers, access to information, financial sophistication, and risk appetite have all evolved. What trends might characterize the next fifty years of employer-provided retirement savings? How do they compare to the changes we saw in the last fifty? Our panel of experts will share their insights and predictions.
Wednesday, September 25
11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET)
Pill Popping Prices: How to Make Medications More Affordable and Accessible
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (ET)
Employers want their employees to have access to quality health coverage, including prescription drug coverage, which is affordable for families as well as employers. Prescription drug costs in the U.S. represent the single fastest-growing component of health care costs for employers and the workers for whom they provide coverage. Our current system is unsustainable at all levels, and congressional action is necessary to help address this pressing problem. This panel will highlight ways in which to lower prescription drug costs, better access to biosimilars, reform of the patent system, and more.
Tax Reform: What’s Possible in 2025
This panel will begin with remarks from Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) and continue with a conversation with Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA).
2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET)
After introductory remarks from Drew Clark, Vice President and General Counsel, McKee Foods, Congresswoman Tim Walberg will kick-off this panel at 2:30 p.m. (ET) by sharing remarks on the latest in health care, retirement, and paid leave policy in Washington.
Senator Bill Cassidy will then join ERIC policy staff at 3:00 p.m. (ET) for a one-on-one discussion. Immediately following his remarks, we will begin “Tax Reform: What’s Possible in 2025” at 3:30 p.m. (ET).
With the expiration of various provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act at the end of the year, both Republicans and Democrats are both quietly making plans for a 2025 tax reform debate. The policy discussion will certainly be influenced by the November elections and the make up of Congress. Tax preferences for employer-provided health and retirement benefits are both immensely popular and yet changes could be under discussion. Will there be dramatic changes that reshape how Americans save for retirement and access health care? Join our panel of Congressional tax professionals who will be shaping the tax reform debate in the months to come.
*To hear Congressman Tim Walberg and Senator Bill Cassidy speak, please register for this panel.
Thursday, September 26
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Emergency Savings Programs: Data, Options, and Challenges
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (ET)
This panel will begin with recorded remarks from Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and immediately leading into “Emergency Savings Programs” Data, Options, and Challenges.”
Popular media reports that many Americans do not have the financial wherewithal to navigate even an unexpected $1,000 expense. Employers are rightly concerned about the effects of this financial insecurity on the workforce. That’s why workplace savings programs have become increasingly popular. The SECURE 2.0 Act went a step further, creating the option for sponsors to establish a Pension-Linked Emergency Savings Accounts (PLESAs). What is the scale and scope of the emergency savings problem? What solutions exist, and how are they received in the workplace? And what technical issues must employers navigate to provide these programs? Join our panel of experts to discuss the state of emergency savings in the American workforce.
Quiet Before the Storm: Understanding Election-Year State Political Landscapes
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (ET)
As an historic presidential election unfolds, fights for the control of state legislatures and executive mansions continue to ramp up across the country. Importantly, these races will set the stage for state policymaking in 2025 and shape the advocacy priorities of ERIC and likeminded organizations in the years to come. As state lawmakers polish policy positions and prepare for November, employers and stakeholders must look ahead and prepare themselves for the storm of state policy proposals that is likely to follow. Join our exciting panel discussion for expert insights on shifting state political landscapes, expected post-election trends, and how today’s campaigns will shape tomorrow’s state policy initiatives.
50 Years of ERISA and Changes to Health Policy
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Employers can use price and quality information from across the continuum of health care stakeholders to change the incentives in the health care system for both patients and providers. But this requires legislative and regulatory change. Join our panel of experts who will discuss what health policies can counter bad market behaviors, their impact on employers and employees, and the challenges that lie ahead.
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*ERIC Antitrust Statement: As a reminder, all ERIC meetings and activities are to be conducted in full compliance with the ERIC Antitrust Policy. The antitrust laws prohibit competitors from agreeing on prices to be charged or otherwise taking steps that harm free and fair competition among them. While ERIC’s primary mission and activities are entirely consistent with the antitrust laws, if you have any concerns about a particular topic or discussion, please raise it with ERIC staff.