NAHU's View:
HIPAA
http://www.nahu.org/government/issues/hipaa/index.htm
Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act of 1996
Excerpt:
NAHU was extremely pleased at the 1996 enactment of HIPAA, as
many of the provisions of the law have been long-standing
legislative goals of our organization and are outlined in NAHU's
blueprint for health reform,
Real
Choice.
HIPAA provisions that we particularly support include the
small-group and individual market reforms that make health insurance
accessible for most Americans, the long-term care insurance tax
incentives, the medical savings account demonstration project and
the requirement that the federal Secretary of Health and Human
Services establish standards for electronic transactions and
transmission of information. However, as with any piece of
legislation of this magnitude, there are aspects that could be
improved upon. As such, NAHU submitted congressional
testimony proposing HIPAA clarifications.
Warrick & Boyn HIPAA Presentation
http://www.nahu.org/government/issues/hipaa/index.htm
HIPAA and Other Changes
Affecting Group Health Plans
Excerpt:
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
was enacted on August 21, 1996, to provide for, among other things,
improved portability and continuity of health insurance in group and
individual insurance markets, and group health plan coverage
provided in connection with employment. These changes affect
practically all group health plans providing coverage for employees.
These changes help protect individuals from gaps in health insurance
coverage, and include some additional administrative requirements
that employers must satisfy. HIPAA is generally effective for plan
years beginning after June 30, 1997.
Two additional pieces of legislation were also passed in 1996
affecting group health plans. The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 (MHPA)
and the Newborns and Mothers Health Protection Act of 1996 (NMHPA)
were both enacted on September 26, 1996. MHPA was enacted to provide
for parity in the application of lifetime and annual limits on
mental health benefits with those applied to medical and surgical
benefits. The NMHPA was enacted to provide protection for mothers
and their newborn children regarding the length of hospital stays
following the birth of a child. MHPA and NMHPA are effective for
plan years beginning on or after January 1, 1998.
This presentation describes the primary requirements imposed under
each Act. Since the new rules apply to both group plans and
insurance companies, references to the "plan" or "group health plan"
include self-funded plans and fully insured plans, unless otherwise
noted.
The Health Law
Resource Summary of HIPAA Provisions
http://www.netreach.net/%7Ewmanning/hr3103.htm
Health and Human Services Fact Sheet
Excerpt:
On August 21, 1996, President Clinton signed into law the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which includes
important new protections for an estimated 25 million Americans
(approximately 1 in 10) who move from one job to another, who are
self-employed, or who have pre-existing medical conditions. The
legislation, which was jointly sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy
(D-Mass.) and Sen. Nancy Kassebaum (R-Kan.), was approved virtually
unanimously by the House and Senate. It is designed to improve the
availability of health insurance to working families and their
children.
For More Information
Complete US. Congress H.R. 3103 HIPAA (PDF)
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=104_cong_bills&docid=f:h3103enr.txt.pdf
Health Hippo
HIPAA Page
http://hippo.findlaw.com/hipaa.html
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(formerly HCFA)
HIPAA Online
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa/online/default.asp
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administrative
Simplification in the Health Care Industry
http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/admnsimp/index.shtml
U.S. Department of Labor
http://www.dol.gov/elaws/ebsa/health/
eLaws-Health Benefit Advisor (HIPAA)
Google search on "HIPAA"
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=HIPAA |
