Employers are Required to:
- Provide a Summary Plan Description (SPD) for each health and welfare benefit plan offered or an SPD Wrap creating an overall SPD for all benefits wrapped in one document with required ERISA language. Note: The Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) issued by providers do not meet SPD requirements, and small employers are not exempt.
- Provide required annual notices such as: Medicare Part D, WHCRA, NMHPA, HIPAA, CHIP, Mental Health Parity Act, and more depending on company size and other criteria.
- Provide triggering event notices like COBRA, FMLA, HIPAA Breach, and Medical Child Support Order Notice.
- Comply with healthcare reform changes and deadlines associated with Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
- Comply with the many federal and state laws governing employee rights like: FLSA, FMLA, ADA, OSHA, IRCA, EPA, ERISA, USERRA, PPACA, Title VII Civil Rights Act, PDA, GINA and more.
Enforcement and Audits:
- Enforcement and audits from the DOL, IRS and EEOC have significantly increased, with particular focus being placed on smaller organizations (< 100). Enforcers are aggressively seeking compliance and fines to fund PPACA and deficit.
- The DOL’s Employee Benefits Services Administration (EBSA) routinely conducts group health benefit plan ERISA audits.
- The Health Benefits Security Project (HBSP) was created under PPACA for additional focus on health plan compliance and on civil and criminal investigations.
- The DOL estimates three out of four plans audited have an ERISA violation, and 70 percent of audit violations result in monetary fines to the employer.
