In this week’s podcast, Host Dorothy Cociu celebrates Cyber Awareness Month with a panel of Cybersecurity and Liability experts, Carl Grifka, Principal of Newport Consulting, LLP and Alpha Secure, LLP, Miguel (Mike) Villegas, Founder of iSecurePrivacy, and Adriana Mendieta, Tech Coordinator, Cyber Insurance Solutions. We discuss the most recent cyber threats, including the FBI and Pentagon employee database breaches, the use of Artificial Intelligence in phishing, impersonation, deepfake, and social-engineering attacks, and how many cyber incidents begin with vendors, cloud providers, software platforms, or other third parties. We also discuss how organizations should evaluate and continuously monitor the cybersecurity practices of their service providers, as well as other current threats in cyber. Join us for this highly informative and timely podcast!

Show Notes

Downloads

Shownotes-1-Alpha Secure

Shownotes-2-iSecurPrivacy

Shownotes #3 Cyber Insurance

ABC Cybersecurity Fiduciary Solution Brochure

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https://advancedbenefitconsulting.com/s8e3-health-plan-cost-containment-p1-medical-plan-and-rx-spend

In this week’s podcast, Host Dorothy Cociu discusses medical plan cost containment and pharmacy benefit cost containment with Kyle Gerdts, VP of Sales & Account Management for Pinnacle Health Solutions and Don Anderson, VP of Pharmacy, Orion Rx. What works and what doesn’t? What are employers and brokers/consultants asking this year? We discuss the most effective ways to contain health plan costs with networks, referenced-based pricing, plan design and other solutions being used successfully today. We also talk about the ways to contain pharmacy program costs, including the use of step therapy, specialty drug management programs, and plan design. In addition, we dive into employer decision-making on GLP-1 drugs, as well PBM rebates and the upcoming implementation of CAA 2026 as it relates to PBMs and TPAs. Join us for this informative Podcast!

Show Notes

Downloads

Pinnacle-Service-Excellence-Flyer

OrionRX-Flyer

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https://advancedbenefitconsulting.com/s8e2-dol-fiduciary-cybersecurity-requirements-and-solutions

Part 2 of 2-Part Fiduciary Responsibility & Liability Series

In this week’s podcast, Host Dorothy Cociu discusses the US Department of Labor’s Cybersecurity Requirements for Plan Sponsor Fiduciaries with Carl Grifka, CISSP, CISM, CISA, PMP, CDPSE, LSSGB, Principal of Newport Consulting LLC and Alpha Secure LLP. We discuss the most important things companies need to know about Cybersecurity in general, AI and AI Governance, and mostly, how Plan Fiduciaries are responsible for understanding and analyzing the cybersecurity practices of their service provider vendors, because they hired them. Whether fully insured or self-funded, most employers have one or more service providers for their benefit plans, including administrators for claims, FSA, HRA, or COBRA, Benefit Admin or HRIS Systems, ACA reporting and tracking firms, and more. The Guidance requires plan sponsor fiduciaries to have a documented process to compare competing vendors and vet existing vendors, to be sure their cybersecurity practices are acceptable to protect confidential data, and a process to monitor those service providers. We also end with a special announcement on how ABC can help you in this practice. Join us for this highly informative podcast!

Show Notes

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https://advancedbenefitconsulting.com/s8e1-erisa-fiduciary-responsibilities-and-liabilities

To kick off Season 8, host Dorothy Cociu welcomes Marilyn Monahan of Monahan Law Office, to discuss ERISA Fiduciary Responsibilities and Liabilities. In this week’s podcast, we discuss what it means to be a Plan Fiduciary, how Fiduciaries can delegate certain functions to a Service Provider, but still remain responsible because they hired that service provider. We also discuss how a defined process is required by fiduciaries for service provider selection and monitoring, ERISA prohibited transactions, DOL/EBSA auditing of health plans, and CAA 2021 and 2026 requirements. Lastly, we discuss the DOL Cybersecurity requirements for Plan Fiduciaries, and how Fiduciaries are required to confirm that their service providers/vendors have solid cybersecurity practices, which again, requires a defined process. Join us for this informative podcast, and stay tuned for Part 2 of this series on fiduciary responsibilities and liability next week in Episode 2!

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Program Details

9:45-10:00 am—Registration and Check-in at Brea Civic and Cultural Center, Second Floor

10:00-12:00 noon— Health Plan Cost Containment—David Franklin, EBA&M, Anne Kelly, Patrick & Patrick Insurance Services, Dorothy Cociu, Advanced Benefit Consulting, Don Anderson, OrionRx.  We will discuss the latest and best health plan cost containment ideas for fully insured, level funded and self-funded health plans, including but not limited to fully insured discussions on High Deductible Health Plans with HRA Wraps, HSAs, ICHRAs, carrier current strategies in cost containment and carrier Pharmacy Benefit Cost Containment; Level Funding; Self-Funding Key Savings Features; How to Manage Pharmacy Benefit Costs in Self-Funded Plans, with a look at GLP1 drug and Specialty Drug costs. “This has been approved for 2 HR (General) Recertification Credit Hours toward aPHR®, aPHRi®, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi®, and SPHRi® recertification through HRCI.” 

12:00-12:45 pm Lunch

12:45-2:15– ERISA DOL Cybersecurity Requirements & Tools To Help You Comply –Dorothy Cociu, Advanced Benefit Consulting, Carl Grifka, AlphaSecure, LLP. We will discuss the ERISA fiduciary requirements within the US Department of Labor’s Cybersecurity Guidance, how to comply with targeted tools, including our Cybersecurity Program Guide Workshop Walk-Through, and will review the anticipated HIPAA Security Final Rules.  “This Program has been approved for 1.25 HR (General) Recertification Credit Hours toward aPHR®, aPHRi®, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi®, and SPHRi® recertification through HRCI.” 

2:15-2:30 Attendee Q& A

2:30 pm—Program Concludes

Speaker Biographies can be found on our website on the event page for this program.   

Speaker Bios

Dorothy Cociu

Dorothy Cociu RHU, REBC, GBA, RPA, is the President of Advanced Benefit Consulting and has 35+ years of experience in the operations, sales and administration of employee benefit programs and compliance related to health plan administration, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA and other laws, such as ACA, FFCRA, CARES Act, and Transparency in Coverage Rules (2020), Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA), and One Big Beautiful Act.  Dorothy began her administrative experience began in the Taft-Hartley marketplace, then moved to self-funded administration after three years. She spent nearly a decade in the TPA business, primarily for Taft Hartley then self-funded administration.  She began as an auditor, where she was trained on all audit procedures, which are consistent with current government audits.  She then moved to a health insurance General Agency, and later, developed Advanced Benefit Consulting, where she is the President and primary consultant for plan sponsor clients on employee benefits and benefit compliance.

Anne T. Kelly

Anne T. Kelly is President of Kelly & Kelly Insurance Services/Patrick & Patrick Insurance Services. Her formal education as a Cost Accountant gives her a distinctive framework for interpreting the financial and compliance implications of employee benefits, including the Affordable Care Act’s Employer Shared Responsibility rules. She has more than 25 years of experience in the sales and administration of employee benefit programs, with particular expertise in eligibility, employer reporting and ACA compliance.

Anne is a frequent speaker and educator for CAHIP and ADOMA, presenting on topics including Healthcare Affordability and the forces driving medical premiums; the Affordable Care Act and employer reporting requirements; tax write-offs and the tax treatment of benefits through payroll versus individual tax returns; and California Pay Transparency requirements. She is also an approved California Department of Insurance instructor on Disability Insurance and Section 125 plans, as well as Healthcare Cost crisis and has spoken to insurance-industry and employer groups throughout California.

David Franklin

David Franklin is a California-based Executive Sales Consultant and Senior Account Manager at EBA&M, a boutique third-party administrator known for creative, compliant benefit strategies. With over 15 years in the employee benefits industry and more than a decade at EBA&M, he partners with brokers and employers to design efficient health plan solutions, specializing in HRA strategies, Individual Coverage HRAs, and level-funded arrangements. David is known for identifying inefficiencies in traditional plan design and helping employers get more value from their benefit dollars without adding complexity.

Don Anderson

Don is the VP of Pharmacy at OrionRx, and has nearly 20 years of experience in pharmacy benefit management and medication-focused patient outcomes. He spends much of his time working on population health management and strategic initiatives that improve member health across a broad spectrum of diseases.

Don has developed numerous in-house pharmacy programs and customized network solutions that have delivered proven savings. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2002 from the University of the Pacific, where he continues to serve as a preceptor and mentor for graduate students and residents.

Carl Grifka

Carl is a Principal at Newport Consulting LLC and Alpha Secure LLP, and is a dynamic finance and IT thought leader with experience within public accounting, a global cinema technology leader, and a global Fortune 100 company. Carl leverages his deep IT and business process background in his role as a technology and process risk adviser to CFO’s, CIO’s, CISOs and CEO’s of SEC filers and private businesses. Carl maintains his CISSP, CISA, CISM, PMP, CDPSE, and lean six sigma green belt certifications.

Carl and his team guide clients through complex systems initiatives leveraging their vast business and technology experience to govern, deploy, and manage these initiatives. Carl also advises members of management, boards and executives regarding SOX (business and IT), IT planning and IT assurance, cybersecurity, SOC, and organizational change management. Carl serves on the Board of ISACA LA and maintains a solid understanding of new and emerging topics impacting the profession.

What It Means to Be an ERISA Plan Fiduciary: The Responsibilities, and Potential Liability

Webinar Tuesday, September 22, 2026
10 am – 11:45 am
Offering 1.5 Hours of HRCI General Credit

Presenters: Marilyn A. Monahan, Monahan Law Office & Dorothy Cociu, Advanced Benefit Consulting

Under ERISA, those who manage employee benefit plans are fiduciaries. Understanding what it means to be a fiduciary, and what responsibilities a fiduciary has to plan participants, is a critical part of plan administration. This program will provide an overview of who qualifies as a fiduciary, what it means to be a fiduciary, and what actions fiduciaries should (and cannot) take. We will also cover the recent legislative and regulatory actions regarding fiduciaries, as well as potential liability of fiduciaries for actions they take. A discussion of tips, best practices, and resources will be included. In addition, we will discuss the US Department of Labor cybersecurity requirements for fiduciaries, and the CAA 2021 and CAA 2026 disclosure requirements and potential liability for insurance brokers, TPAs, and PBMs.

This program has been pre-approved for 1.5 Hours of HRCI General Credit
Toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™
recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®).
The use of this official seal confirms that this activity has met HRCI
Certification Institute’s (HRCI®) criteria for re-certification credit pre-approval.

ABC Group Clients and Broker Co-Op Members No Charge. All Others $35.

What Employers Need to Know About Long Term Care and The Gaps in Medicare and Medicaid;
Is Group or Voluntary Coverage an Affordable Option?

Zoom Webinar Tuesday, July 21, 2026
10 am – 11:15 am
Guest Presenter: Stan Israel, Long-Term Care Expert
Moderated By Dorothy Cociu

Human Resources is often tasked with finding solutions to healthcare concerns of their elderly employees and their dependents, and at times, a large portion of those employees are key employees; owners, officers, C-Suite members and others. Many employers think that if their employees enroll in Medicare, all of their long-term care needs will be met. That simply isn’t true. This webinar dives into the costs and the need for long-term care with an aging population, and how employers can look into long-term care group and voluntary coverages to support that aging population, while providing very needed education in these benefits for everyone.

This program has been pre-approved for 1 Hour of HRCI General Credit
Toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™
recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®).
The use of this official seal confirms that this activity has met HRCI
Certification Institute’s (HRCI®) criteria for re-certification credit pre-approval.

ABC Group Clients and Broker Co-Op Members No Charge. All Others $29.

California Privacy Training, including new AI Legislation & regulations

(part 2 of a 3-part series)

June 10, 2026, 10 am – 11:15 am
Zoom Webinar

Register for REMOTE / ZOOM attendance $30 each.

ABC Group Benefits Clients & ABC Broker Co-Op Members Complimentary
(subject to verification)