1. DID YOU KNOW
While most health plans are now required
to cover contraceptives for women
without charging a copayment, deductible
Benefits and HR tips brought to you by or coinsurance, churches are currently
exempt from this requirement.
The Centennial Group
On Feb. 1, a rule was proposed that
would exempt additional religious
employers from the contraceptive
coverage requirement. This proposal,
however, also contains provisions that
would guarantee contraceptive coverage
for female employees through an
insurance company directly and free of
charge.
Final Rule Issued on HIPAA Privacy Exchange Notice
and Security Protections Requirements Delayed
On Jan. 17, the Department of Health tiered civil money penalty On Jan. 24, the DOL announced that
and Human Services (HHS) issued a structure provided by the employers do not have to provide a
final rule modifying the HIPAA Privacy, HITECH Act, originally written notice of ACA’s health insurance
Security, Enforcement and Breach published as an interim final rule exchanges by March 1 after all. Instead,
Notification Rules. The final rule is on Oct. 30, 2009. this notice will not be required until final
intended to enhance a patient’s privacy  Final rule on Breach Notification regulations have been issued and the
protections, provide individuals new for Unsecured Protected Health final effective date is specified.
rights to their health information and Information under the HITECH
strengthen the government’s ability to Act, which replaces the breach The DOL expects that the timing for
enforce the law. notification rule’s “harm” distribution of notices will be the late
threshold with a more objective summer or fall of 2013, which will
The final rule implements a number of standard and supplants an coordinate with the open enrollment
changes to the HIPAA Rules and is made interim final rule published on period for Exchanges. In addition, the
up of the following: Aug. 24, 2009. DOL is considering providing model,
 Final rule modifying the HIPAA generic language that could be used to
 Final modifications to the HIPAA satisfy the notice requirement.
Privacy Rule as required by the
Privacy, Security and
Genetic Information Future guidance on complying with the
Enforcement Rules mandated
Nondiscrimination Act to prohibit notice requirement is expected to provide
by the HITECH Act, and certain
most health plans from using or flexibility and adequate time to comply.
other modifications to improve
disclosing genetic information
the Rules, which were issued as
for underwriting purposes, which
a proposed rule on July 14,
was published as a proposed
2010.
rule on Oct. 7, 2009.
 Final rule adopting changes to
the HIPAA Enforcement Rule to
incorporate the increased and
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