The ERISA Industry Committee

Now is the time to address America’s mental health crisis and increase access to quality, affordable care. Learn more about ERIC’s campaign to stop the dangerous proposed rule change to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) that would instead significantly reduce standards and build roadblocks to mental health support. Visit our campaign page here: bit.ly/3vTcVgb.

ERIC applauds Governor Newsom’s decision to veto SB 966, which would have overstepped state authority to regulate ERISA self-insured plans and undermined ERISA preemption nationwide. ERIC supports policies that help?lower drug costs, such as PBM transparency and accountability reforms on?the federal level, but we oppose state legislation that strips plan sponsors’ and patients’ ability to choose higher quality and lower cost prescription drug benefits from a pharmacy in the state of California.? ?? Read ERIC’s press statement below.?

As Maine lawmakers work to implement the latest state paid family and medical leave insurance program enacted last year, ERIC continues to push state regulators toward streamlined compliance requirements that encourage the design of generous employer-provided benefits.? ?? Read ERIC’s latest press release and regulatory comments to the Maine Department of Labor.? #FMLA

With ERISA being the cornerstone of employer-sponsored health coverage for the past 50 years, it is paramount Congress works to protect both workers and employers from inflating health care prices. Read more from Bloomberg Law about the string of class-action lawsuits involving large employers grappling with surging health benefit costs.

ERIC applauds the innovative approaches highlighted in a recent Bloomberg article?to lower prescription drug costs and help ensure employer plans and their beneficiaries have access to the most affordable options available.? The work does not stop here – ERIC calls on Congress to pass full PBM transparency and accountability reforms this year, including those that would delink PBM revenues from fees and clarify that PBMs are fiduciaries to plans under ERISA when performing services on their behalf.?

That’s a wrap! Thank you to our attendees, panelists, and keynote speakers for an excellent 2024 Virtual Fall Policy Conference. From addressing emerging state AI policies to exploring employer emergency savings programs to discussing potential PBM reform, this season’s conference took a deep dive into current employee benefits policy landscape and the ways we can shape future of ERISA together. We can’t wait to see you in March for ERIC’s 2025 Spring Policy Conference!?

ERIC’s 2024 Virtual Fall Policy Conference is officially underway! Thank you to our excellent panelists and keynote speakers, including Congresswoman Stephanie Bice and Congressman Tim Walberg, for sharing your insights and expertise on all-things employee benefits policy and ERISA. See you tomorrow for more exciting panels and speakers. ??

The September 2024 final rule issued by the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health implements significant amendments to the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. The rule applies to most U.S. health plans, expanding documentation and compliance requirements to ensure mental health (MH) and substance use disorder (SUD) benefits are not subject to discriminatory practices compared to medical/surgical (M/S) benefits. Health plans must now collect and assess relevant data, undertake continuous comparative analyses, and take action when disparities are found between MH/SUD and M/S outcomes. Major changes include the inclusion of neurodevelopmental disorders and the requirement to offer meaningful benefits across benefit classifications. While the Final Rule drops some complex proposals from its earlier draft, it introduces stringent requirements for compliance and documentation that take effect in 2025 and 2026, signaling increased regulatory oversight of MH/SUD parity. Gain critical insights into the Final Rule from Epstein Becker Green: https://lnkd.in/e6-2A8ja Join subject matter experts at The Healthcare Innovation Company (thINc)'s Advancing Behavioral Health and Policy Summit, produced in partnership with?Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW), Oct.?28-29, 2024 in Washington, DC to analyze the details of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) final rule and their implications on health plans' coverage and reimbursement policies for behavioral health services. Don't miss the Day 1 opening mainstage discussion "Parity in Practice: Navigating the New Landscape of Behavioral Healthcare Access and Coverage" featuring: Lisa M. Gomez, Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), U.S. Department of Labor Rebecca O. Bagley, President and CEO, The Kennedy Forum Melissa Bartlett, SVP, Health Policy, The ERISA Industry Committee Bradley Lerner, JD, Director, Public Policy, Behavioral Health, Elevance Health; Board Chair-Elect, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW) Kathryn Cohen, JD, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW) Moderator: Kevin Malone, Member of the Firm, Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. Don't miss this critical conversation—register now to be part of the change! Save up to $100 off the current rates. Use promo code SM2024.* https://lnkd.in/e5k-nfex *All registrations subject to review by the thINc team. Promo codes not applicable for government rates or vendors/solutions providers. Michael Raggiani Haritha Krishnarathnam David Shillcutt #thINcvalue #thINcBehavioralHealth #mentalhealth #behavioralhealth #healthpolicy #SubstanceUseDisorder #StoptheStigma #PolicyInAction?#suicidepreventionmonth

With employers struggling to cover the costs of GLP-1s, ERIC and the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions sent a letter?urging the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions to investigate?pricing and rebate practices by GLP-1 manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers when considering GLP-1 policies. ?? ? Read the entire letter to the Committee below.?

It’s conference week at ERIC! There's still time to register to attend ERIC’s Virtual Fall Policy Conference happening from Tuesday, September 24 to Thursday, September 26. Take advantage of this free and virtual opportunity to hear from four esteemed keynote speakers. ? ? Tuesday, September 24 at 11:00 a.m. (ET) - Remarks from Congresswoman Stephanie Bice before the "Batten Down the Hatches: Where Might the Plaintiffs’ Bar Strike Next?" panel? ? ? Tuesday, September 24 at 2:30 p.m. (ET) - A Keynote Address from Congressman Tim Walberg following the conclusion of the "New Glitches in the Matrix: State AI Policies and Their Impact on Benefits Administration" panel? ? ? Wednesday, September 25 at 3:00 p.m. (ET) - A Conversation with Senator Bill Cassidy before the "Tax Reform: What’s Possible in 2025" panel? ? ? Thursday, September 26 at 12:00 p.m. (ET) - A Conversation with Congressman Bobby Scott following the conclusion of the "Emergency Savings Programs: Data, Options, and Challenges" panel To register for a panel you would like to attend, visit our interactive conference hub: bit.ly/3PJsRWd. *ERIC's 2024 Virtual Fall Policy Conference is a member-only event.?