Benefits Forward

After publishing a notice for nominations for membership to the 2012 Advisory Council, the DOL has also published a FAQ  providing additional information for those who might be interested. Document Excerpt Link http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/pdf/potentialcouncilcandidatesfaq.pdf

The DOL has posted a notice for nominations for the 2012 ERISA Advisory Council. Documents Excerpt Section 512 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), 88 Stat. 895, 29 U.S.C. 1142, provides for the establishment of an Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans (the Council), which is to consist [...]

HHS has issued regulations governing the establishment of Exchanges required under the Affordable Care Act. Document Excerpt This proposed rule would implement the new Affordable Insurance Exchanges     (“Exchanges”), consistent with title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-148) as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation [...]

The DOL has issued a final rule extending the applicability date of the service provider disclosure rule and revising the transition rule of the participant-disclosure regulations.] Document Excerpt SUMMARY: This document extends specified applicability dates of the Department’s interim final rule concerning fiduciary-level fee disclosure (29 CFR 2550.408b-2(c), and final rule concerning participant-level fee disclosure [...]

The DOL has updated its website with a FAQ on Credit Ratings and Individual Prohibited Transaction Exemptions. Document Excerpt Link http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq-creditrating.html

The agencies release a revised version of the model notice of final external review decision. Document Excerpt Link IABDModelNotice3

The agencies release a revised version of the model notice of final internal adverse benefit determination. Document Excerpt Link IABDModelNotice2

The agencies release a revised version of the Model Notice of Adverse Benefit Determination. Document Excerpt Link IABDModelNotice1

The DOL issues Technical Release 2011-02 providing additional guidance on the external review for group health plans and healthissurers offering group and individual health coverage, and guidance for states and state external review processes. Document Excerpt The Departments understand that many States have been working to make changes to implement NAIC-parallel processes. HHS continues to [...]

The Agencies release amendments to the interim final rules on internal clais and external review under the Affordable Care Act. Document Excerpt This document contains amendments to interim final regulations implementing the requirements regarding internal claims and appeals and external review processes for group health plans and health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets [...]