2016 Healthcare Reform Compliance Checklist

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has made a number of significant changes to group health plans since the law was enacted over four years ago. Many of these key reforms became effective in 2014 and 2015, including health plan design changes, increased wellness program incentives and the employer shared responsibility penalties.

Additional reforms take effect in 2016 for employers sponsoring group health plans. To prepare for 2016, employers should review upcoming requirements and develop a compliance strategy.

This Legislative Brief provides a health care reform compliance checklist for 2016. If you have questions about this document or changes that were required in previous years, please contact HANYS Benefit Services by calling (800) 388-1963 or email us at hbs@hanys.org for assistance.

COVID-19: Retirement and Benefit Plan Resources

As the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold, we are closely monitoring news and updates from top sources. We’ll be updating this section as new developments unfold. Here are several key articles and links to help plan sponsors and administrators navigate the COVID-19 impact to retirement and benefit plans: Retirement Plans 4 Key CARES Act Provisions for Retirement Plan Sponsors Markets React to Coronavirus Important Considerations for Retirement Plan Sponsors during the Coronavirus Pandemic In Fed We Trust Participant Education Services: Timely Help from a Safe Distance CRDs 100% Taxable for New York State and Local Income Tax Purposes in 2020 IRS Permits Remote Notarization of Participant Elections Employee Benefits CARES Act Expands Health Coverage Rules Understanding the Historic $2 Trillion Stimulus Package Employee Compensation and Benefits During Closures and Furloughs DOL Clarifies Exemptions to Coronavirus Paid Leave Laws Small Business Exemption to

Coronavirus-related distributions 100% taxable for New York state and local income tax purposes in 2020

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27. Under the Act, participants affected by the coronavirus may be able to take distributions in 2020 of up to $100,000 from an employer-sponsored retirement plan or an IRA. Although allowing these distributions from a qualified retirement plan is optional, we have seen that a number of employers have chosen to amend their plans to permit such distributions. The Act provides that coronavirus-related distributions will not be subject to the mandatory 20% withholding nor the 10% early withdrawal penalty (for those younger than 59½) that would otherwise apply.

ESG retirement investment gets boost from DOL: What plan sponsors should consider

Plan sponsors considering environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in their investments received promising news with the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) latest update in November. Although ESG investing has received increased attention over the past few years, DOL has not been transparent in defining how qualified retirement programs should incorporate ESG-specific metrics into their selection process. Until recently, the prevailing tone of DOL’s messaging has been that ESG should be secondary to financial factors. The Biden administration had hinted at loosening restrictions on ESG investing that were implemented during the final days of the Trump administration and forgone enforcement of those restrictions in the interim. This latest development is a realization of those earlier signals. With the announcement of DOL’s new rule, plan sponsors can, but are not required to, include ESG factors in their investment searches. Notably, plan sponsors can include ESG factors in th

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