United States of America
After releasing an 852-page draft legislative proposal on health care reform, the three House committees of jurisdiction (Committee on Ways and Means, Committee on Education and Labor, and Committee on Energy and Commerce) held several hearings during the week of June 22, 2009.
Only a few days after releasing proposed health care reform legislation, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing with two separate panels on health care reform on June 11–12, 2009 to receive feedback on its proposed legislation.
On May 22, 2009, Hewitt's Ken Sperling provided a written statement to the Senate Finance Committee, regarding "Expanding Health Care Coverage: Proposals to Provide Affordable Coverage to All Americans."
On May 26, 2009, Hewitt's Ken Sperling provided a written statement to the Senate Finance Committee, regarding "Financing Comprehensive Health Care Reform: Proposed Health System Savings and Revenue Options."
On May 28, 2009, Hewitt submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) concerning the development of regulations for the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA).
The IRS and Treasury issued proposed regulations that would affect 401(k) and 403(b) nonmatching safe harbor contributions.
On May 21, 2009, Hewitt Associates submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the guidance and request for information issued to assist with the development of new rules as part of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act.
The Senate Finance Committee held its third roundtable discussion on health care reform on May 12, 2009.
The Senate Finance Committee held its second roundtable discussion on health care reform on May 5, 2009.
On April 27, 2009, House and Senate negotiators agreed to a fiscal year 2010 $3.5 trillion budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 13) that aims to reduce the budget deficit from $1.23 trillion in 2010 to $523 billion by 2014.
On April 29, 2009, the House Ways and Means Committee held the fourth hearing in a series of health care reform hearings entitled, "Health Reform in the 21st Century: Employer-Sponsored Insurance."
On April 21, 2009, the Senate Finance Committee held the first in a series of three roundtable discussions on health care reform.
On April 14, 2009, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Announcement 2009-34, which provides a draft of a revenue procedure that would establish an opinion letter process for 403(b) prototype plans.
Hewitt's compliance calendar can help employers prepare for significant compensation and benefit due dates in 2009.
On April 22, Hewitt's Global Health Management Consulting Leader Kenneth Sperling testified before the House Ways and Means Committee on behalf of the National Coalition on Benefits.
