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.
