12.27.2003|
Labor Department Announces Compliance Assistance Program for ERISA Health Laws The U.S.
Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)
unveiled a new compliance assistance program to help employers and health
plans fulfill their obligations under health laws including the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Mental Health
Parity Act (MHPA), the Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act
(Newborns’ Act), and the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA).
Generally, all ERISA health plans must comply with these laws, with some
exceptions for small businesses. |
| Assess a
plan's compliance with HIPAA, MHPA, NMHPA, and WHCRA
This checklist is a useful
self-compliance tool for group health plans, plan sponsors, plan
administrators, health insurance issuers, and other parties to determine
whether a group health plan is in compliance with the provisions of Part 7
of Subtitle B of Title I (Part 7) of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974 (ERISA). |
|
Notice Requirements This guide
includes a chart that summarizes these notice requirements and sample
language that may be used by group health plans, issuers, and E-Serv party
administrators when providing these notices |
|
Key Compliance Considerations 15 key
compliance considerations for group health plans. Under each is an example
of a group health plan provision or practice that would not comply with the
above laws and a tip on how to bring the plan into compliance. |
| Compliance
Assistance Laws, regulations, and compliance http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/compliance_assistance.html |
12.27.2003