HIPAA Portability Regulations

Healthcare Web Summit Events from MCOL, webinars for health care business professionals

HIPAA Portability Regulations, New FSA (temporary) Rollover and Potential Future Benefits Guidance
An audioconference on Thursday June 23rd, 2005, 1 PM Eastern (10 AM Pacific)

Join Ashley Gillihan, partner with the national law firm of Alston & Bird, LLP as he revisits the new final HIPAA portability regulations issued on December 30, 2004 by the DOL, the IRS, and CMS. The regulations, which are effective for plan years beginning on or after July 1, 2005, clarify and provide a few new rules regarding HIPAA's portability provisions that were previously addressed in the 1997 interim regulations and subsequent guidance. Many of you may be nearing the effective date of these rules and it will be important to ensure that you have taken all of the appropriate compliance steps BEFORE the applicable compliance date. Generally, the new HIPAA regulations clarify and revise the following:

Various HIPAA portability definitions (including a definition of "dependent" and clarifications regarding definition of "pre-existing" condition)
HIPAA portability notice and disclosure obligations, including clarifications regarding pre-existing condition exclusion notices and revised contents for Certificate of Creditable Coverage with model language
Special enrollment requirements
Excepted benefits

Individual Registration Fee: $195: Click here to register or call 209.577.4888
Web Summit CD-ROM: $20 for attendees; $225 for non-attendees after the event.
Click here for a downloadable flyer and order form you can print. Corporate Site licensing also available.


Live Audioconference	Powerpoint Presentation	CD-ROM Also Available

Mr. Gillihan will also discuss the recent ruling from IRS/Treasury, Notice 2005-42, which allows employers to amend their cafeteria and flexible spending account arrangements to allow participants to carry over unused funds for up to 2 1/2 months following the end of the plan year. It is in essence a temporary deferral of the dreaded "use it or lose it" rule. Although many in the benefits industry had hoped for a complete elimination of the use it or lose it rule, most in the benefits industry consider this an important victory in light of the fact that complete elimination of the rule may require Congressional action. Mr. Gillihan will discuss the ins and outs of the ruling and issues plan sponsors and administrators should be aware of if they decide to adopt the new rule.

Lastly, Mr. Gillihan will briefly discuss potential new health and welfare benefits guidance that may be issued in the near future.

Plan sponsors, consultants, benefit administrators and anyone else who provides benefit plan services should plan to attend.

Faculty:

Ashley Gillihan
Partner, Alston & Bird, LLP

Ashley Gillihan is a partner with the national law firm of Alston & Bird, LLP., and is a member of the firm's Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group. Mr. Gillihan's practice focuses exclusively on health and welfare benefit plan matters where he advises clients on various issues including, but not limited to, tax qualification issues arising under the Internal Revenue Code, ERISA reporting, disclosure, COBRA and fiduciary issues and HIPAA portability and privacy. Mr. Gillihan is a member of United Who's Who of Executives and Professionals and also a member of the Employer's Council on Flexible Compensation's Technical Advisory Committee.

Mr. Gillihan lectures frequently and has published many articles on health and welfare benefit plan compliance topics. He is also on the Advisory Board of Editors of Benefits Compensation Law Alert. Mr. Gillihan is a member of the state bars of Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama.

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