<h3>U.S. Department of Labor Issues COVID-19 Relief and Guidance for Employee Benefit Plans</h3>
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WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today issued deadline relief and other guidance under Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to help employee benefit plans, plan participants and beneficiaries, employers and other plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries, and other service providers impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

“EBSA will continue to safeguard the employee benefits of American workers while ensuring that employers and plans have the flexibility they need to continue delivering benefits during this challenging time,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for EBSA, Preston Rutledge.

A Department of Labor <a href="http://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ebsa/temporary-postings/covid-19-final-rule.pdf">notice</a>, jointly issued with the Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service, extends certain time frames affecting participants’ rights to healthcare coverage, portability, and continuation of group health plan coverage under COBRA, and extends the time for plan participants to file or perfect benefit claims or appeals of denied claims. These extensions provide participants and beneficiaries of employee benefit plans additional time to make important health coverage and other decisions affecting their benefits during the coronavirus outbreak. The joint notice is posted on EBSA’s website and will be published in an upcoming edition of the Federal Register.

<a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/employers-and-advisers/plan-administration-and-compliance/disaster-relief/ebsa-disaster-relief-notice-2020-01" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/employers-and-advisers/plan-administration-and-compliance/disaster-relief/ebsa-disaster-relief-notice-2020-01">EBSA Disaster Relief Notice 2020-01</a> extends the time for plan officials to furnish benefit statements, annual funding notices, and other notices and disclosures required by ERISA so long as they make a good faith effort to furnish the documents as soon as administratively practicable. The notice explains that good faith includes the use of electronic alternative means of communicating with plan participants and beneficiaries who the plan fiduciary reasonably believes have effective access to electronic means of communication, including email, text messages, and continuous access websites. The notice also includes compliance assistance guidance on plan loans, participant contributions and loan payments, blackout notices, Form 5500 and Form M-1 filing relief, and other general compliance guidance on ERISA fiduciary responsibilities. The Disaster Relief Notice is posted on EBSA’s website.

The department also issued a set of <a href="https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/EBSA/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/faqs/covid-19.pdf">Frequently Asked Questions</a> (FAQs) on health benefit and retirement benefit issues to help employee benefit plan participants and beneficiaries, plan sponsors, and employers impacted by the coronavirus outbreak understand their rights and responsibilities under ERISA.

EBSA’s mission is to assure the security of the retirement, health and other workplace related benefits of America's workers and their families. EBSA accomplishes this mission by developing effective regulations; assisting and educating workers, plan sponsors, fiduciaries and service providers; and vigorously enforcing the law.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.
<h3>BPA: The VSBA Official Health Benefits Partner</h3>
Benefit Plan Administrators, Inc. (BPA) has been helping employers of all sizes successfully manage their healthcare benefits. Headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia since 1965, we are the Virginia School Boards Association's preferred partner for health benefits.

As an experienced Third Party Administrator, BPA offers coverage that meets your needs and addresses the central problem for school systems; rising costs and rate hikes. With our self-funded plans, you can avoid costly rate hikes that are common with full funded plans. Our goal is to deliver a health plan that saves you money, while delivering outstanding service and coverages to your educators, school staff and administrators.
<h3>Savings</h3>
Our primary goal is designing and managing customized plans that maximizes care while minimizing costs for both you and your employees. With BPA you avoid the double-digit annual rate hikes common with fully insured plans, saving you substantial money over time.
<h3>Options</h3>
You have a diverse workforce with a broad set of needs. We bring together the best solutions to give you peace of mind knowing those needs are covered, whatever they may be. Our continued pursuit for the best healthcare partners also means your district will be taken care of today, and in the future.
<h3>Transparency</h3>
Quality data leads to the best decisions. At BPA, we combine leading technology with expert analysis to deliver actionable insights on the trends and factors that may drive up your organization’s healthcare costs. Next, we take this information and apply it to your plan to begin addressing health issues before they become costly.
<h3>Support</h3>
Our enhanced service begins by providing you with exceptional support. This means becoming an extension of your HR and benefits team and keeping your employees informed with secure, 24/7 access to comprehensive health plan information. Our support approach also means your leadership team has direct access to ours if you ever need to reach us.
<h3>One partner for all of your benefit administration needs</h3>
BPA offers a complete portfolio of benefit solutions to serve VSBA members at every turn. Our clients range from national companies to local public entities, giving us the experience to effectively guide your organization to better healthcare savings.
<h3>Benefit Plan Offerings</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>Self-Funded Plan</li>
 	<li>HSA, HRA and FSA Administration</li>
 	<li>Dental Benefits</li>
 	<li>Vision Care Benefits</li>
 	<li>Disability Protection</li>
 	<li>Group Life Insurance</li>
 	<li>COBRA Administration</li>
 	<li>HIPAA and other regulatory Compliance</li>
</ul>
<h3>Plan Management</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>Claims and Eligibility Administration</li>
 	<li>PPO Network Administration</li>
 	<li>Data Management and Reporting</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cost Management</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>Hospital Precertification</li>
 	<li>Health Management</li>
 	<li>Disease Management</li>
 	<li>Large-case Management</li>
</ul>
<h3>Targeted Health Support</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>Data Analysis</li>
 	<li>Health Risk Assessment</li>
 	<li>Targeted Health Coaching</li>
 	<li>Chronic Disease Management Program</li>
 	<li>Predictive Modeling and Risk Stratification</li>
 	<li>BPA Diabetic Program</li>
</ul>
<h3>Prescription Benefits Management</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>Express Scripts</li>
 	<li>CVS Caremark</li>
 	<li>OptumRX</li>
</ul>
<h3>Provider Network Options</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>CIGNA</li>
 	<li>First Health</li>
 	<li>Multiplan</li>
</ul>
<h3>Complimentary Benefits Programs</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>BestLife Wellness</li>
 	<li>Member Portal</li>
</ul>
<strong>To learn more about the benefit options available to your school through BPA and VSBA, contact your VSBA representative, James Blevins at 434.258.7220.</strong>

Benefit Plan Administrators, Inc.
P.O. Box 11746, Roanoke, VA 24022-1746
800.277.8973
<a href="http://www.bpatpa.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.bpatpa.com">www.bpatpa.com</a>