BY PETER BAXTER Plan Perspective s you have previously heard from me and others, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (CAA 2023) Ais an extensive piece of recently enacted legislation that has many potential impacts for electric cooperatives, as well as NRECA and the employee bene昀椀t plans it sponsors. Quite a few of the provisions in the CAA 2023 a昀昀ect our retirement bene昀椀t plans. Most of those retirement plan-related provisions, collectively referred to as the SECURE 2.0 provisions, are designed to enhance the ability of individuals to save for their future. We’re continuing to thoroughly evaluate the potential impacts of those SECURE 2.0 provisions along with the rest of the relevant CAA 2023 provisions to determine which are applicable to the NRECA-sponsored employee bene昀椀t plans and, where options exist, are in the best interest of our members. To help shape our next steps and priorities, we’ve been soliciting member feedback as well as seeking further guidance from federal agencies to clarify and direct implementation. In addition to the SECURE 2.0 provisions, which I covered extensively in my last column, another aspect of the CAA 2023 of speci昀椀c interest to our members is the temporary extension of the fee waiver for telemedicine services. While I also mentioned this waiver brie昀氀y in that column, I would like to provide a bit more detail and highlight the value of telemedicine service provided by Teladoc Health. The CAA 2023 allows high- deductible health plans that are compatible with a health savings continued on page 13 BENEFITS BULLETIN SPRING 2023 3