BarbriSFCourseDetails

Course Details

This CLE course will guide ERISA counsel, fiduciaries, and administrators on key health and welfare plan design and compliance challenges. The panel will discuss key issues faced by plan sponsors and administrators, the impact of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), mental health parity rules, fiduciary liability, plan document requirements, Form 5500, recent DOL enforcement actions, and other key issues.

Faculty

Description

The DOL continues to be active with their enforcement program focused on health plans in response to rules provided under the CARES Act and the 2021 CAA. ERISA counsel, fiduciaries, and administrators must ensure strict compliance with current regulations and implement procedures to overcome administrative challenges.

The administrative challenges and compliance failures for health and welfare plans can lead to lawsuits and significant penalties. The enactment of the CARES Act and the 2021 CAA significantly impacted the administration and fiduciary obligations for health plans. The key areas of the DOL's focus for audits and enforcement include mental health parity compliance, emergency services, and health service providers' self-dealing. ERISA counsel must identify potential compliance pitfalls and understand the required documentation and procedures, investigation/audit triggers, and plan provisions targeted by the DOL and IRS to minimize plan administration issues.

Listen as the panel discusses complex compliance requirements, litigation risks, and potential liability stemming from plan operations and administration, prohibited transactions, and other key issues.

Outline

  1. Consolidated Appropriations Act for health plans
  2. Mental health parity rules
  3. Fiduciary rules and liability
  4. Plan documents and reporting requirements
  5. Recent DOL developments
  6. Best practices for plan sponsors and administrators

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key items:

  • What are the key provisions of the CAA for health plans?
  • What are the requirements under the mental health parity rules under the CAA?
  • What are the fiduciary obligations and rules for health plan sponsors and administrators?
  • What are the recent DOL developments and plans for enforcement actions?
  • What are best practices to overcome legal and compliance challenges?