HIPAA: Moving Right Along …
With New Requirements

08/20/08

If you haven’t heard, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is on the move again. Are you making it your business to stay informed? You should be.

Next stop: final portability regulations

On December 30, 2004, final regulations under HIPAA were issued, replacing the interim regulations that originated in 1997. And if you provide a group health plan, you must be in compliance with the final regulations for the plan year beginning on or after July 1, 2005.

The new rules:

Mandate that certificates of coverage be filled out by HR personnel and given to an employee when he or she applies for a job elsewhere

Require and educational statement about HIPAA rights to be included with the Certificate of Coverage

Clarify certain issues regarding pre-existing condition limitations, creditable coverage and special enrollment periods

Proposed regulations were also issued dealing with other HIPAA issues such as benefit specific waiting periods and the interaction of the HIPAA portability rules with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.

Knowledge is power — especially with regard to compliance issues. The HIPAA Comprehensive Answer Kit covers important information pertaining to privacy, security and portability. Or, if you’ve already purchased a HIPAA Privacy and Security Answer Kit and just want the latest updates, The HIPAA Portability Answer Kit covers only the portability rules. For more information, please feel free to speak with one or our helpful customer service specialists today at 1-800-999-9111.

HIPAA Comprehensive Answer Kit

June 2005