2009 - 2nd Wednesday Teleconference Series

The monthly series of teleconferences, which occur every 2nd Wednesday at 1 p.m. Eastern time (except for April and August), provide a unique and valuable opportunity for association members to receive in-depth briefings on important and timely topics by experts from ECFC's Technical Advisory Council and key decision-makers in government. Teleconference registrants have the extra advantage of being able to listen to the teleconference after they occurred.

Subscriptions to the 2009 ECFC Teleconference Series are available for purchase.

Don't miss out on next year's teleconference series! Sign up now for the entire series (10 calls total) and save! Members save 33% off the regular Member price of $200 per teleconference and over 50% off the non-Member price when you sign up by January 7, 2009 for the 2009 teleconference series.

Have more than 1 participant?

For the first time, the ECFC is offering an additional special discount for multiple participants listening from the same phone. Many ECFC members have multiple people that wish to listen to the call AND receive CE credits*. For individual conferences in 2009 the cost for each additional participant will be $50 per call, but if you sign up your additional person (or persons) now we'll give you all 10 calls for only $300!

* Each Wednesday teleconference call is worth 3 CE units unless otherwise noted. Calls occur every second Wednesday of the month at 1:00 PM EST except for the months of March and July.

Pricing:

  • Members: $1,340
    (signing up each month would be $2,000 - a 33% savings!)
     
  • Non-Members: $3,000
    (become a member and save over 66%!)
     
  • Each Additional Series Member: $300
    (signing up each month would be $500)
     
  • Each Additional Series Non-Members: $1,000
    (become a member and save 70%!)

2009 Topics  (volunteers needed)

REGISTER TODAY FOR THE FULL 2009 SERIES OF 2ND WEDNESDAY TELECONFERENCES FOR ONLY  $1,340 FOR MEMBERS AND $3,000 FOR NON-MEMBERS. - CLICK HERE

  • January 14 - Living with the new Final cafeteria plan regulations* (pending issuance of regulations in December). Click here to register ONLY for this conference
     
  • February 11 - Health Care Reform 2009: An update on the latest from the new Administration and Congress
     
  • April 8 - Managing Flex in troubled economic times -- impact of participant, plan sponsor and TPA bankruptcy and financial distress on benefit plan administration
     
  • May 13 - Cafeteria plan discrimination testing revisited. Now that the new regulations have been finalized, what changes in discrimination testing are required.
     
  • June 10 - HIPAA Boot Camp for FSAs and HRAs -- learn the HIPAA essentials and what you need to do to stay in compliance
     
  • August 12 - Wellness and Disease Management Programs: What do GINA, HIPAA, and the ADA require?
     
  • September 9 - Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) compliance issues -- COBRA, integrating HRAs and HSAs, trust funding issues
     
  • October 14 - Administration agreements -- key provisions to have to reduce potential misunderstanding and liability.
     
  • November 11 - Coverage of non-traditional dependents (domestic partners, adult children and disabled relatives) tax and administrative challenges for FSAs, HRAs, and cafeteria plans.
     
  • December 9 - 2009 Year in Review: Recap of new and required changes.

Mark your Calendar  and Gather around your conference table!

Same time every month:

  • 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Eastern
  • Noon – 1:00 p.m. Central
  • 11:00 a.m. – Noon Mountain
  • 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Pacific

ECFC’s top experts will work through difficult and delicate topics in one-hour sessions. Topics will be appropriate to the month and many will elaborate and further discuss ECFC Flex Reporter articles and answer questions. The sessions are designed to pass on up-to-the minute information as well as technical expertise.

CFC/CFCI Credit: Series registrants will receive 2 hours of CFC/CFCI credit per session.

FOR ECFC MEMBERS ONLY:

  • For individual teleconference registration, CFC Credit Hours for Additional Participants. For only $25 per person per session, additional participants from your organization can receive CFC/CFCI credit hours. ECFC-sponsored programs earn at the rate of 1.5 hours vs. classes taught by CFCIs; each hour session will earn 2 hours (rounded up).
     
  • Series registrants will receive 2 hours of CFC/CFCI credit per session).

    CFC Credit Hours for Additional Participants. For only $25 per person per session, additional participants from your organization can receive CFC/CFCI credit hours. ECFC-sponsored programs earn at the rate of 1.5 hours vs. classes taught by CFCIs; each hour session will earn 2 hours (rounded up). Since there may be different participants for each teleconference/replay Click here for for Additional Participants form.

Dial In Instructions
Dial-in instructions will be sent on the Monday before the conference call via email only.

Cancellation Policy: No Cancellations once the series has begun. Series cancellations must be received in writing and will be assessed a $50 service charge. Only those persons registered will receive CFC/CFCI credit.
 

Wednesday Teleconference Series Topics

2008

  • November 12 - FSA and Health Plan Funding Issues: When is a Trust required. Speakers include: Dan Brandenburg, Esq. (Sanders, Schanbel & Brandenburg PC), John Hickman, Esq., CFCI (Alston & Bird, LLC), Mark Stember (Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP).
     
  • October 8 - Election 2008: What do the Candidates' Proposals Mean for Flex? Join Carolyn Smith, former Hill Staffer and Alston & Bird attorney and John Hickman as they discuss the potential impact of the 2008 Presidential election on cafeteria plans, HSAs, HRAs, and employer-provided benefits.
     
  • September 10 - Open Enrollment 2009 - Tips to Consider, Traps to Avoid and Other Open Enrollment Tales of Horror. - ECFC's Technical Advisory Committee Chair John Hickman (Alston & Bird, LLP), and Jody Dietel (Creative Benefits, Inc.) 
     
  • July 9 - Benefit Card (Health, Transit, Dependent Care) and IIAS Update: What's Working and What's Not. - John Hickman, Esq. (Alston & Bird, LLC), Jody Dietel, CFCI (Secretary, SIGIS), Greg Licata (President, SIGIS)
     
  • June 11 - Legislation and Regulatory Update ("Legs and Regs"): New DOL Fee Disclosure Guidance, the Genetic Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) and the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 (Heart). What You need to know.  - John Hickman, Esq. (Alston & Bird, LLP) and Dan Brandenburg, Esq. (Sanders, Schnabel & Brandenburg, P.C.).
     
  • May 14 - Retiree Medical Spending Accounts (RMSAs) and Other Innovative Retiree Medical Designs. - John Hickman (Alston & Bird, LLC), David Spalding (BCBS of MN), Paul Brinkman (MN Service Cooperatives Insurance Coalition; Executive Director, Northeast Service Cooperative
     
  • March 12 - Providing Health Care Through On-Site Clinics (opportunities and compliance issues).  - John Hickman (Alston & Bird, LLC), Sharon Cohen (Watson Wyatt Worldwide), Scott Sims (Hewitt Associates, LLC)
     
  • February 13 - Offering Health Care Through Individual Policy Arrangements (HRAs and Premium Reimbursement Accounts) - John Hickman, Chris Keller.
     
  • January 9 - Health Care Legislative Outlook for 2008 - Bill Sweetnam and Christopher Condeluci (tax counsel on the minority staff of the Senate Committee on Finance) and Carolyn Smith of A&B

2007

  • December 12 - IIAS Readiness: Changes in the Health Benefit Card landscape for 2008
     Speakers
    ECFC Technical Advisory Council members
     

  • November 14 - 2007 Year in Review: Required Changes and Issues to address for 2008 (Debit Cards. IIAS, and new Regulations)
    Speakers:
    John Hickman and Ashley Gillinhan
     
  • October 10 - Special Member Participation Session Regarding ECFC Comments to Proposed IRS Regulations
    Speakers:
    The ECFC Technical Advisory Committee
     
  • September 12 - Hear IRS Provide Further Guidance on Proposed Cafeteria Plan Regulations
    Speakers:
    Harry Beker, Beth Purcell, Mireille Khoury and Kevin Knopf
  • July 11 - Form 5500 "Tips and Traps
    Speaker:
    Ashley Gillihan, CFCI, Alston & Bird
     
  • June 13, 2007 - New Massachusetts Cafeteria Plan Filing Requirements
    Speakers:
    Kathy Bakich, The Segal Company & Christine Keller, Groom Law Group
     
  • May 9, 2007 -  Health Benefit Cards: The IIAS Clock is Ticking
    Speakers:
    Technical Advisory Committee Members
     
  • Wednesday, April 11 - Final HIPAA Regulations on Nondiscrimination in Group Health Plans and Wellness Programs
    Speakers:
    Sharon Cohen, Watson Wyatt Worldwide
    Christy Tines, Groom Law Group
     

  • Wednesday, February 14 - President Bush's Health Insurance Proposal: It's Meaning For Your Business
    Speakers:
    John Hickman of Alston & Bird and others from the ECFC Technical Advisory Council.
     

  • January 10, 2007 - Understanding the New HSA Amendments
    Speakers:     William Sweetnam, Groom Law Group; John Hickman, Alston & Bird

2006

  • December 13, 2006 - Benefit Issues: The Year In Review and the Year Ahead.
    Featured Speakers: John Hickman, Alston and Bird, Chairman of ECFC's Technical Advisory Council and other Council members.
     

  • November 8, 2006 - What the 2006 Elections Could Mean for Benefit Issues
    Featured speakers: James Albertine, President, Albertine Enterprises, Inc., ECFC lobbyist; and former President, American League of Lobbyists; William Sweetnam, Partner, Groom Law Group, Member, ECFC Technical Advisory Committee; and former Majority Tax Counsel, U.S. Senate Finance Committee
     

  • October 11, 2006 - New IRS Final Regulations On Comparable Employer Contributions To Health Savings Accounts
    Faculty:     E    lizabeth Purcell, Assistant Branch Chief, Health and Welfare, Office of the Chief Council, Internal Revenue Service and Mireille T. Khoury, Office of Division Counsel/Associate Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service.
     

  • September 13, 2006 - New IRS Guidance on Electronic Benefit Cards Teleconference
    Faculty:     Kevin Knopf, Attorney-Adviser in the Office of Tax Policy at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Elizabeth Purcell, Assistant Branch Chief, Health and Welfare, Office of the Chief Council, Internal Revenue Service
     

  • July 12, 2006 - New Proposed Regulations On Dependent Care Expenses
    Faculty:     Ashley Gillihan, Alston & Bird
     

  • June 14, 2006 - Fixing a Broken Plan: Part I
    Faculty: Dan Brandenberg, Sanders, Schnabel & Brandenburg; Brigit Anne Waidmann, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
     

  • May 10, 2006 - Massachusetts, Maryland and Healthcare: What are the implications of the new laws?
    Faculty:     Ted Scallet, Partner in the Groom Law Group
     

  • April 12, 2006 - Final USERRA Regulations – Issues for Health and Cafeteria Plans – Final Department of labor regulations clarify employer benefit obligations following military leave.
    Faculty:     Matt Gillihan, Esq., Alston & Bird LLP; Mark L. Stember, Esq., Kilpatrick Stockton LLP
     

  • February 8, 2006 - Individual Health Policies – Promoted by the Administration and Considered by Employers
    Faculty: John Hickman, Esq., CFCI, Alston & Bird LLP
    Christine Keller, Esq., and Bill Sweetnam, Esq., Groom Law Group
     

  • January 11, 2006 - New Roth 401(k) Regulations and Update on WFTRA corrections for dependent care and Health Savings Accounts.
    Faculty: Ashley Gillihan, Esq., John Hickman, Esq., CFCI, Alston & Bird LLP;
    Robert M. Richter, J.D., LLM, SunGard Relius; Bonnie Whyte, CFCI, ECFC
     

  • December 14, 2005 - Discussion of just released IRS HSA/FSA Coordination AND HSA Comparability Guidance, PLUS Year-End issues.
    Faculty: Sharon Cohen, Esq., CFCI, Watson Wyatt Worldwide; Alisa Ford, CPA, CFCI, Mercer Human Resource Consulting; John Hickman, Esq., CFCI, Alston & Bird LLP; Christine Keller, Esq., Groom Law Group: Bonnie Whyte, CFCI, ECFC

Other teleconferences have included:

  • September 14 2005 – Overview of the New IRS Comparability Rules.
     
  • September 29, 2005 - IRS Officials Discuss New Rules and take your questions.
     
  • July 21, 2005 - ECFC Legislative Update 
     
  • May 27, 2005 - Treasury & IRS Officials to Discuss New “Grace Period” for Spending Accounts
     
  • December 22, 2004 - Treasury Officials Discuss Expected December Deferred Comp Guidance
     
  • December 14, 2004 - Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation: Major Changes Ahead – Cram Session BEFORE you are called in to the corner office
     
  • December 8, 2004 - New Dependent Definition Affects Benefit Plans
     
  • September 2, 2004 – “Make-up” Teleconference with Flex Experts Panel. Attorneys Cheryl Risley Hughes, Ashley Gillihan, John Hickman and Mark Wincek. Discussion of recent HSA & COBRA regs.
     
  • August 26, 2004 - Symposium “Make-up” Teleconference with IRS Officials Harry Beker and Beth Purcell. They will discuss HSAs, HRAs and Cafeteria Plan regulations.
     
  • July 28, 2004 - Teleconference with Top Treasury Officials Bill Sweetnam and Kevin Knopf Discussion of July 26 HSA Guidance
     
  • May 11, 2004 - Teleconference with Top Treasury Officials Bill Sweetnam and Kevin Knopf Discussion of May 11 HSA Guidance

 

 

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