Employee Benefit Security Administration
Department of Labor releases FAQs on mental health parity compliance
Posted on May 10, 2012
The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration published a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding implementation of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.
Amongst other topics, the FAQs address…
Continue Reading "Department of Labor releases FAQs on mental health parity compliance" »
Three federal agencies release request for information on stop-loss coverage
Posted on April 30, 2012
On April 27, 2012, the Department of the Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a request for information (RFI) regarding the use of stop loss insurance by group health plans and their plan sponsors, with a focus on the prevalence and consequences of stop loss insurance at low attachment points, or the point at which excess insurance or reinsurance limits apply.
Concerns have circulated that the practice could lead to higher costs in small group health insurance exchanges. Stop-loss insurance protects self-insured companies against claims above the attachment point. Employers and plans that purchase stop-loss insurance generally are not subject to state health insurance laws regarding coverage, rating policies, and other state and federal consumer protections, and thus could prove financially risky in the exchange market. Specifically, if the practice is widespread, it could worsen the risk pool and increase premiums in the insured small group market, including the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) exchanges.
Continue Reading "Three federal agencies release request for information on stop-loss coverage" »
Final rule released requiring insurers to use plain language in describing benefits, coverage
Posted on February 9, 2012
Today the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Treasury, and the Department of Labor released a final rule requiring insurers to use plain language in describing health plan benefits and coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The regulations mandate health insurers and group health plans to provide concise and comprehensible information about health plan benefits and coverage to Americans with private health coverage. The new rules will also facilitate easier plan comparison for individuals and employers. The new explanations, available on or soon after September 23, 2012, will be a critical resource for the roughly 150 million Americans with private health insurance. Specifically, these rules will ensure consumers have access to two key documents that will help them understand and evaluate their health insurance choices…
HHS issues amended preventive services IFR
Posted on August 1, 2011
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued an amended version of the previous Interim Final Rule on the coverage of preventive services by group health plans and health insurance issuers under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The amended rule reflects recent recommendations by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) regarding particular preventive services for women that should be covered at no cost by insurance companies. Services include screening and counseling for certain sexually transmitted infections, screening for gestational diabetes, and among others, counseling and contraception to prevent unintended pregnancies. The Internal Revenue Service has also issued an amended rule that reflects the coverage of these preventive services.
*** On August 3, 2011, HHS issued an amendment to the amended IFR, further clarifying the expemption of religious organizations from the contraception coverage requirement.
For more information on prevention, click here.
Continue Reading "HHS issues amended preventive services IFR" »
DOL/IRS issue amendments to IFR on claims appeals
Posted on June 22, 2011
The US Department of Labor (DOL) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have issued separate amendments to the July 23, 2010 Interim Final Rule (IFR) on internal claims and appeals and external review processes for group health plans and health insurance issuers offering coverage in the group and individual markets. The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) of the Department of Labor has also issued new guidance on the subject.
The IFR, recent amendments, and recent guidance do not apply to grandfathered plans.
Continue Reading "DOL/IRS issue amendments to IFR on claims appeals" »
Agency Profile: Department of Labor
Posted on December 13, 2010
The responsibilities for implementing the Affordable Care Act are spread across several federal departments and the offices within them. This is the latest in a series of briefs developed by HealthReformGPS describing the implementing agencies and their roles.
Though the Affordable Care Act (ACA) left the basic framework of ERISA unchanged, it introduced many new requirements on employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) to strengthen the rights of beneficiaries. DOL is the lead agency responsible for implementing these new requirements.
Continue Reading "Agency Profile: Department of Labor" »
Grandfathered plans IFR amendment, request for comment
Posted on November 16, 2010
On November 17, amendments to the interim final rule (IFR) on grandfathered plans will be published in the federal register with request for comment. The major change it makes to the IFR is that it will allow employers to change issuers without losing grandfathered status.
Continue Reading "Grandfathered plans IFR amendment, request for comment" »
DOL posts fourth health reform FAQ
Posted on November 2, 2010
The Department of Labor has posted the fourth in a series ofFAQs on health reform implementation, this time addressing grandfathered health plans.
Continue Reading "DOL posts fourth health reform FAQ" »
DOL posts third health reform FAQ
Posted on October 12, 2010
The Department of Labor has posted the third in a series ofFAQs on health reform implementation, this time addressing group health plan exemptions for firms with less than two current employees.
Continue Reading "DOL posts third health reform FAQ" »
DOL posts second health reform FAQ
Posted on October 8, 2010
The Department of Labor has posted the second in a series ofFAQs on health reform implementation, this time addressing topics including grandfathered health plans, rescissions, and dental and vision benefits.
Stay Connected
Most Popular Content
- Contraception Coverage under the ACA’s Preventive Services Coverage Requirements, and Employer Implementation: An Update posted on April 20, 2012
- Update: Essential Health Benefits FAQs posted on May 9, 2012
- Update: Exchanges Establishment and Eligibility Final Rule posted on April 10, 2012
- State Health Insurance Exchange Navigators posted on February 28, 2011
- Update on the Final Rule: Standards Related to Reinsurance, Risk Corridors and Risk Adjustment posted on April 4, 2012
Categories
- Congressional Action
- Disparities
- Expert Commentary
- Fraud and Abuse
- Health Care Quality and Delivery System Reform
- Health Information
- Health Insurance
- Implementation Briefs
- Judiciary
- Key Developments
- Agency Profile
- Department of Education
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Administration for Children & Families
- Administration on Aging
- Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality
- and Public Health Council
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Health Promotion
- Health Resources & Services Administration
- National Institutes of Health
- National Prevention
- Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight
- Office of Inspector General
- Office of Minority Health
- Office of Public Health and Science
- Office of the Secretary
- Department of Justice
- Department of Labor
- Department of the Treasury
- Grants
- Legislation
- Rulemaking, Rules, and Guidance
- Legal Challenges
- Long Term Care
- Medicaid and CHIP
- Medicare
- Public Health
- Tax Policy
- Workforce and Access
Archives by Date
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
Recent Posts
- Commonwealth Fund issue brief finds health insurance improves outcomes for vulnerable populations
- CCIIO announces potential plans for risk adjustment
- HHS publishes Exchange guidance and draft blueprint
- HHS releases web-based search tool to track health care system performance
- Heritage Foundation Recommends Eliminating Premium Subsidy for High Income Beneficiaries to Shore-Up Medicare
- Update: Medical Loss Ratio Requirements
- CMS releases final rule on MLR requirements
- Report estimates impact of small business tax credit
- Health Affairs article explores power of providers to win payment increases
- Department of Labor releases FAQs on mental health parity compliance
