Employee Benefits: Guide Health Care Professionals

by Aspen Health Law and Compliance Center, Deborah Rosenbloom, Aspen, Aspen Health Law Compliance Center

Overview

As health systems divide and conquer, health care professionals are fi nding themselves in new employment situation -- working for larger org anizations or supervising new groups of employees. With this change co mes a need to take a new look at the laws that affect employee benefit s -- including ERISA, group health plans, COBRA, and more. Here's a co ncise briefing on the legal issues involved in health care employee be nefits administration, with specific references to statutes and court rulings that are relevant in the health care setting. A practical over view of a complex legal area.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780834211582
Publisher:	Aspen
Publication date:	12/01/2007
Series:	Aspen Health Law Center Current Issues
Edition description:	1E
Pages:	120
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.25(d)

About the Author

Rosenbloom, Deborah, Esq. (Aspen Health Law Center)

Table of Contents

	Preface	viii
	Introduction	1
	Discrimination Rules	3
	Employee Retirement Income Security Act	4
	Summary Plan Descriptions	5
	Amendments to Plan	10
	Preemption	11
	Fiduciary Issues	12
	Design/Administration Distinction	14
	Pensions	17
	Qualified Retirement Plans	17
	Vesting	18
	Funding and Eligibility	19
	Reporting Requirements for Qualified Plans	19
	Nonqualified Plans	20
	Effect of Merger on Pensions	21
	Group Health Plans Insurance	21
	Group Life Insurance	21
	Group Accidental Death and Dismemberment	21
	Group Disability Insurance	22
	Health or Medical Insurance	22
	Pharmacy Benefit Management	22
	Long-Term Care	23
	Financing Group Health Plans	23
	ERISA Requirements	24
	State Laws	24
	Federal and State Regulation	25
	PDA	26
	NMHPA	26
	FMLA	26
	ADEA	27
	MHPA	27
	ADA	28
	OBRA '93	28
	HIPAA	29
	Crediting Time	29
	Waiting Period	30
	Preexisting Conditions	30
	Certificate of Creditable Coverage	31
	Alternative Method	33
	Health-Based Exclusion	33
	Special Enrollment	34
	Renewal of Group Health Plans	34
	Disclosure	35
	Effective Dates	35
	States' Options	35
	COBRA	36
	Maintenance of Group Health Plan	36
	Small Employer Exemption	37
	Qualifying Events	38
	Notice	39
	Revision of COBRA Notice Requirements	42
	Election of COBRA Benefits	43
	Continuation Coverage	43
	Significant Gap	45
	Fiduciary Liability	46
	State Coverage	48
	Cafeteria Plans	48
	Types of Cafeteria Plans	49
	Administering Cafeteria Plans	50
	Prepaid Legal Services	50
	Dependent Care Assistance	51
	Educational Assistance Benefits	51
	Record-Keeping Requirements	52
	Personal Services Benefits	53
	Work/Family	53
	Flex Time	54
	Convenience Benefits	54
	Mergers and Acquisitions	55
	Conclusion	55
Appendix A	Selected Provisions--Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act	65
Appendix B	Mental Health Benefit Parity Act	88
Appendix C	The Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act	93
	Index	104

Editorial Reviews

Providing benefits administrators in the health care field with an overview of the main legal issues relating to employee benefits, this handbook covers basic issues and recent changes in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, pensions, group health plans insurance, federal and state regulations, HIPAA, COBRA, cafeteria plans, personal services benefits, and mergers and acquisitions. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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