Bond Breakfast Briefing: Fall 2009 Employee Benefits Update
September 20, 2009
Agenda
8:00 - 8:30 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 - 10:00 a.m.
Program
Program Summary
Keeping up with the myriad of changes that affect employee benefit plans can be a challenge for even the most diligent employer. This program is designed to provide employers with an update of the most recent important employee benefits developments, with a focus on compliance measures that should be taken by employers to avoid costly mistakes with respect to their welfare benefit plans. The program also will identify year-end action items that should be addressed by employers. Topics to be discussed include:
- New medical plan continuation requirements under the New York State Insurance Law that increase required coverage periods for terminated employees and eligible dependents who have "aged out" of eligibility under the plan;
- COBRA requirements, including an update regarding employer obligations to offer subsidized COBRA to employees who have been "involuntarily terminated;"
- New HIPAA security breach notification rules and the impact the rules have on group health plan sponsors; and
- Year-end checklist of action items for employers.
Speakers
DARCIE A. FALSIONI is a graduate of Canisius College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1995) and the State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Law (J.D., 1998), where she served on the Desmond Moot Court Board.
Ms. Falsioni advises employers of all sizes, including public and privately held employers, for-profit and tax-exempt employers, on various aspects of employee benefits law, including the design, implementation, operation and termination of qualified and non-qualified pension and profit-sharing plans, 403(b) plans and welfare benefits plans, including health, dental, life and disability insurance plans, cafeteria plans, flexible spending account arrangements, health reimbursement arrangements, health savings accounts and split-dollar life insurance arrangements.
Ms. Falsioni also counsels on the administration of, and compliance with, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as well as assists clients on matters related to New York State workers' compensation and disability benefits insurance assessments. Ms. Falsioni frequently presents on various employee benefit topics, and has authored several employee benefits law-related articles. She is admitted to practice in New York.
JOHN C. GODSOE is a graduate of Wake Forest University (B.A., cum laude, 1995) and the State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2000), where he served as an Articles Editor of the Buffalo Law Review (1999-2000).
Mr. Godsoe practices in all areas of employee benefits law. His areas of experience include: the design, implementation and termination of qualified pension plans (including 401(k) and profit sharing plans); tax-sheltered annuity plans; insured and self-funded medical plans (including health savings accounts, health reimbursement arrangements and flexible spending accounts); cafeteria plans; and COBRA compliance. Mr. Godsoe also counsels employers regarding fiduciary responsibility, reporting and disclosure obligations and other requirements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA") and has assisted clients with the resolution of plan qualification errors under Internal Revenue Service correction programs. He is admitted to practice in New York.
