Moving the Needle Toward Change on Capitol Hill - Risky Benefits S4, Ep. #7

Listen as second-time Risky Benefits podcast guest, Jim Klein, President of the American Benefits Council – a Washington, D.C. based employee benefits public policy advocacy organization – discusses the remarkable amount of bipartisanship that occurs surrounding employee benefits issues, such as: mental healthcare, Telehealth provisions, site neutrality payment reform, demand for greater transparency among pharmacy benefit manufacturers, Roth Catch-Up provision, and paid leave.He explains the challenges of consistent movement on these issues beyond must-do legislation, i.e., the annual federal debt ceiling legislation. Often times, bipartisan issues get flushed out based on political timing and influence. Klein shares his insight on the lack of moderate viewpoints to help create balance and trust among parties – and its impact on actual policy changes.MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS:Jim Klein, Presidentamericanbenefitscouncil.comJim Klein is president of the American Benefits Council. He joined the Council in 1988 as Deputy Executive Director and has served as Executive Director/President since 1992. Previously, Jim was manager of pension and health care policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and, before that, practiced law for a Washington, D.C. firm specializing in employee benefits. He also worked as a Legislative Assistant for a member of Congress.Jim serves on the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plan’s Government Liaison Committee and was the recipient of the 2018 Public Service Award from that organization. He is a fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel and a member of the editorial advisory board of Benefits Quarterly. In the global benefits arena, Jim serves as a private sector advisor to the Working Party on Private Pensions of the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); and the Council is actively engaged with several international organizations representing the interests of U.S.-based companies operating outside the United States. Jim graduated with a degree in bioethics from Tufts University and a law degree from the George Washington University School of Law.To listen in and subscribe to more episodes, visit our website: fbmc.com/podcast.