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CCH® PENSION — 01/14/11

EBSA Publishes Regulatory Agenda

from Spencer’s Benefits Reports: The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefit Security Administration (EBSA) has released its most recent semiannual agenda, which provides the EBSA’s regulatory priorities for the next several months.

Listed below are the items in the most recent agenda, arranged by their completion status. For detailed information and a schedule of completion dates, visit http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/regs/unifiedagenda/main.htm.

Pre-Rule Stage

• Lifetime Income Options for Participants and Beneficiaries in Retirement Plans
• Automatic Enrollment in Health Plans of Employees of Large Employers Under Fair Labor Standard’s Act (FLSA) Sec. 18A

Proposed Rule Stage

• Annual Funding Notice
• Pension Benefit Statements
• Definition of “Fiduciary”
• Improved Fee Disclosure for Welfare Plans
• Target Date Disclosure
• Amendment to Claims Procedure Regulation
• Ex Parte Cease and Desist and Summary Seizure Orders Under ERISA Sec. 521

Final Rule Stage

• Improved Fee Disclosure for Pension Plans
• Statutory Exemption for Provision of Investment Advice
• Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Issuers Relating to Dependent Coverage of Children to Age 26 Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
• Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Issuers Relating to Coverage of Preventive Services Under the Patient Protection and ACA
• Prohibited Transaction Exemption Procedures

Long-Term Actions

• Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
• Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Coverage Relating to Status as a Grandfathered Health Plan Under the Patient Protection and ACA
• Preexisting Condition Exclusions, Lifetime and Annual Limits, Rescissions and Patient Protections Under the ACA
• Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Issuers Relating to Internal and External Appeals Processes Under the Patient Protection and ACA
• Amendment of Abandoned Plan Program
• Regulations Implementing the Health Care Access, Portability, and Renewability Provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996

Completed Actions

• Improved Fee Disclosure for Pension Plan Participants
• Time and Order of Issuance of Domestic Relations Orders
• Definition of “Welfare Plan”
• Genetic Information Nondiscrimination; Penalties for Noncompliance
• Children’s Health Insurance Program: Notice Requirements for Employers

For more information on this and related topics, consult the CCH Pension Plan Guide, CCH Employee Benefits Management, and Spencer's Benefits Reports.

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