The Council is working with employers to ease the transition to full compliance with the health care reform law. Among the resources available:

• Council urges delay in health care 'summary of benefits and coverage' rules

  The American Benefits Council has sent a letter to three Obama Administration cabinet secretaries urging a delay in the final regulations setting forth the requirements for Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) disclosure under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), including an extremely short timeline for compliance.

  "Contrary to assurances made in earlier regulatory guidance, the final rule fails to provide sufficient time for implementation and also fails to recognize that many employers are still in the early stages of making decisions for the benefits they will provide for 2013," said Council president James Klein. The letter specifically requests "an immediate communication that the applicability date in the final rule ... will be delayed by twelve months." Click here to read the Council's full statement.

• Council supports critical pension funding measure in Senate bill
  Provision stabilizes historically low interest rates, raises revenue & saves jobs

  "The overwhelming approval of a bipartisan Senate effort to reform defined benefit plan funding represents a critical and overdue first step in restoring order to pension plan sponsorship," Council President James A. Klein said upon final passage of MAP-21 Act (S. 1813), which includes an important pension funding provision based on the Council's October 2011 proposal. We call on members of the House of Representatives to join the bipartisan effort by enacting this measure as soon as possible."

  Now available are questions and answers on the funding stabilization measure and myths and facts PBGC premium increases.

• Council Coverage of the Supreme Court PPACA Case

  The U.S. Supreme Court is currently deliberating the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Throughout the oral arguments, heard March 26-28, the Council provided updates and analysis of the proceedings as part of its Benefits Byte newsletter: Day 1: Applicability of Anti-Injunction Act | Day 2: The Individual Mandate and the Commerce Clause | Day 3: Severability and Medicaid Expansion.

  Earlier this year, the Council filed to an amicus (friend of the court) brief with the court, arguing that if the individual mandate is found unconstitutional, then the 'shared responsibility' provision of the law requiring employers to offer health coverage that satisfies the individual mandate should also be struck down. (Click here to read the Council's full news release..)

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• Benefits Byte

  For American Benefits Council members, we offer a regular newsletter with the latest information on legislative, regulatory and judicial developments affecting employee benefits.

  Our Latest Issue (5/15/12)

  • Council Identifies Problem in Recent DOL Fee Disclosure Guidance
  • Coalition Letter to Congress Urges Defined Benefit Funding Stabilization

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