New Mandates for Group Health Plans: GINA, MHPA, HITECH, MSP Reporting and More

Cheryl Hughes and Christy Tinnes will serve as panelists for the Strafford webinar, "New Mandates for Group Health Plans: GINA, MHPA, HITECH, MSP Reporting and More," on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 from 1:00pm-2:30pm EDT

New mandates for group health plans require many amendments in 2010, including GINA, MHPAEA, HITECH, CHIPRA, COBRA and Michelle’s Law. GINA regulations, effective in Dec. 2009, create some uncertainty on what plans can do, particularly with health risk assessments, wellness programs and incentives.

Mental Health Parity (MHPAEA) requires plans to put coverage and benefit levels for mental health claims on equal footing with other types of medical benefits. Section 111 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act (MMSEA) added new mandatory reporting requirements for GHP arrangements.

The IRS has long imposed excise taxes for failing to comply with COBRA, HIPPA, GINA, mental health parity and other mandates for group health plans. The stakes are considerably higher now that employers must file IRS Form 8928 to report plan violations and pay the required excise tax.

The webinar will provide an overview and explanation of the 2010 mandates for group health plans. The panel will discuss best practices to navigate the challenges facing employers and plan administrators and to meet the revised IRS reporting mandates for reporting violations when required.