South Michigan News

Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg, along with several other Republican representatives, has sent a letter to the Department of Labor (DOL) urging it to modernize communication methods with participants of Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) health and welfare plans. The letter suggests making electronic delivery the default method for benefit providers to communicate.

The representatives highlighted that while business communication has evolved with digital advancements, ERISA plan communications still rely heavily on outdated physical paper methods. "As we look to strengthen and modernize this critical program, which currently serves millions of American workers and their families, we urge the Department of Labor (DOL) to prioritize rulemaking to establish a default electronic delivery (e-delivery) safe harbor for ERISA health and welfare plan disclosures," they wrote.

The letter outlines potential benefits of expanding default e-delivery, such as reducing regulatory burdens for businesses and enhancing access to information about health benefits. It states: "Expanding default e-delivery for health and welfare plans is a needed improvement that would benefit the backbone of the U.S. economy—American employers and workers—by having the following effects: Reducing a costly regulatory burden for American businesses and health plans. Enhancing workers’ access to information about their health benefits. Supporting the health of the American workforce. Reducing need for physical mailings."

The letter concludes by emphasizing the importance of collaboration among government departments in this initiative: "We believe that rulemaking to establish a default e-delivery safe harbor for ERISA health and welfare plans is a straightforward step that would benefit American workers while reducing the unnecessary administrative costs of current paper mandates. We recognize that rulemaking will require collaboration with the Departments of Health and Human Services and the Treasury, and we encourage DOL to initiate this important rulemaking at its earliest opportunity."