Groom Law Group, Chartered

Principal

An expert on ERISA’s fiduciary rules and government regulation of health insurance, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Jon Breyfogle counsels numerous financial services firms, health insurers, and their D.C.-based trade associations on retirement and health matters. His practice includes advice on regulatory and legislative strategies, compliance, and defense of federal and state investigations. Jon has testified before Congress and at Department of Labor hearings on both retirement and health issues.

Jon frequently represents clients in front of the Department of Labor, seeking and obtaining a variety of advisory opinions, information letters, and prohibited transaction exemptions. He regularly counsels large employers, supporting plan investment and administrative committees by providing fiduciary training, fee and expense analyses, reviews of plan governance and administrative practices, and assistance regarding frozen or eliminated company stock funds. As part of his ERISA practice, he counsels financial services firms on retirement and health matters, including most recently the Department of Labor’s new fiduciary rule.

As part of his health practice, Jon represents a number of the nation’s largest health insurers and their trade associations on ACA and other federal and state laws that regulate health insurance. He regularly engages in advocacy on behalf of the firm’s clients before Congress and the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury. Some recent matters include:

Advocacy on implementing regulations and other subregulatory guidance relating to ACA’s medical loss ratio rule, insurance market reforms, premium stabilization programs, Exchange regulations, contracts between HHS and issuers of qualified health plans, and the application of the ACA’s Section 1557 non-discrimination rule to health insurers and their products. Defending government investigations of insurers and employers relating to the ACA, federal mental health parity, ERISA and state insurance law. Overseeing comprehensive audits of health insurers and their compliance with the ACA and other federal insurance laws.

Currently, Jon is the Chairman of Groom and co-chair of the firm’s Health Services Practice. Jon is also a member of the firm’s Retirement Services and Employers Practices.

Prior to joining Groom, Jon served in political and civil service positions at the Office of Management and Budget, Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, and the Department of Labor.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

Senior Legislative Officer, Department of Labor’s Office of Congressional Affairs (1989-1992) Special Assistant to the Executive Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (1987-1989) Policy Analyst, Office of Management and Budget (1985-1987)

Board of Directors, American Benefits Counsel

George Mason University School of Law J.D., with distinction, Graduated 1st, Evening Division Indiana University M.P.A., Phi Alpha Alpha, Lilly Community Fellow University of Cincinnati B.A., with honors