The DOL has updated the self-compliance tools it makes available to group health plans to include a new checklist relating to health care reform.
The health care reform checklist goes through a series of detailed questions that will help a plan sponsor confirm that it is in compliance with the key group market reforms, such as coverage of dependent children to age 26 and cost-free preventive care. There are particularly extensive provisions addressing grandfathered plan status and the SBC requirement.
A second checklist relates to the HIPAA portability provisions and related requirements for group health plans, including mental health parity. (See related prior coverage here.)
Plan sponsors or administrators would be well-advised to go through these lists once a year or so to determine if there are any areas in which their plans are deficient. It is always easier to correct problems that are identified before the DOL finds them.
