Practitioners Ready Employee Benefits Plans for 2011 in new BNA Webinar

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 13, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Throughout 2010, health care reform under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has dominated the focus of many employee benefit plan advisors. But health care isn't the only concern. Employee benefit plans – both retirement and health care – should be reviewed to ensure their continued compliance with applicable laws and for best practices for a complex and difficult time. A new webinar from BNA Tax & Accounting, Get Your Employee Benefits Plans Ready for 2011 and Beyond led by employee benefits experts from Groom Law Group on December 15, will provide just such an opportunity for practitioners.

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This presentation focuses on providing an overview of the various issues facing employee benefit plan sponsors at the end of 2010 and into 2011.

"Retirement plans may need to be amended for delayed Pension Protection Act of 2006 guidance, such as the employer stock diversification rules, changes adopted in the Heroes Earnings Assistance Relief Tax Act of 2008, and other required and discretionary amendments," according to BNA Tax & Accounting senior tax analyst Sharon F. Fountain.  "Cafeteria plans may need to be updated to reflect changes to their eligibility rules applicable to children under age 27, and health plans may need to be updated for health care reform changes relating to dependent coverage, the definition of a dependent child, and annual limit restrictions."

In 60-90 minutes, participants will gain a practical overview of critical legislation:

• Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
• Pension Protection Act of 2006 (including recently announced plan amendment deadlines)
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
• Heroes Earnings Assistance Relief Act of 2008

And learn how to:

• Provide a framework for end-of-year employee benefit plan issues
• Highlight key end-of-year decision items and required activities
• Provide insight into likely hot topics for employee benefit sponsors in 2011

About the Speakers

David N. Levine, Esq. is a principal at Groom Law Group, Washington, D.C. and maintains a wide-ranging employee benefits practice covering plan and participant taxation to fiduciary structuring to health and welfare benefit design. He regularly serves as counsel to Fortune 500 clients, tax-exempt organizations, and governmental retirement plans on their various employee benefits issues.

Jenifer A. Cromwell, Esq. is an associate in the health and welfare practice group at Groom Law . She works with clients on a broad range of tax issues relating to health and welfare plans, including rules for cafeteria plans, health savings accounts, voluntary employee beneficiary associations, and other employee benefit arrangements. Cromwell also works with clients on compliance matters involving federal laws such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, ERISA, COBRA and HIPAA as well as various state laws and regulations affecting health and welfare benefits.

Tamara S. Killion, Esq. is an associate with Groom Law. Her practice includes the health and welfare and fiduciary responsibility practice areas. She works with clients on issues related to their employee benefit plans, including plan design, claims administration, compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, with ERISA's fiduciary responsibility provisions, and with HIPAA's requirements. She also advises clients on legislative and regulatory initiatives.

Get Your Employee Benefits Plans Ready for 2011 and Beyond will take place December 15, 2010, from 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm, ET. Register for this webinar and obtain further information about CLE and CPE credits, go to http://www.bnatax.com/benefits-plan-webinar/?open&cmpid=tmtxpr2010 or call 1- 800-372-1033, menu Option 6, then Option 1. The per site fee is $249.

To receive automatic, email notification of upcoming BNA webinars that may be of interest to you, go to: http://www.bna.com/emailsignup.htm

About BNA Tax & Accounting Webinars

BNA Tax & Accounting is the foremost source of tax and accounting research, news, practice tools, and guidance for tax attorneys, CPAs, corporate tax managers, estate planners, and financial accountants.  Designed for today's busy practitioners, our webinars offer the same expertise and relevance that are the hallmark of all BNA Tax & Accounting resources. In just 60-90 minutes, practitioners gain in-depth knowledge on a current tax or accounting topic from experts in that area - and benefit from practical applications that can be put to work immediately. Conference attendees have the opportunity to ask the speakers questions, and may be eligible to earn CLE or CPE credits - all from the convenience of their own office or conference room.

SOURCE BNA Tax & Accounting