HealthExecWire                                             

 Selected news releases for today's health care executives      

Contact:

Patty Jamison

Healthcare Web Summit Office

Tel: 209.577.4888

Email: pattyj@mcol.com   

 

Audio Conference: HIPAA Portability: Impact of New Rules, and HSAs: Thursday February 10th, 2005, 1 PM Eastern

Ashley Gillihan, a partner in the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group of the national law firm Alston & Bird, LLP, will join us for a one hour audio conference to discuss the new HIPAA regulations issued December 30, 2004 and how the new rules will impact plan sponsors and administrators. The goal of the call will be help you develop a plan of action for complying with the new regulations by the effective date. Time will be reserved for questions and answers.

They're back!!!! The Agencies Issue Final and Proposed HIPAA Portability Regulations. On December 30, 2004, the DOL, the IRS, and CMS jointly issued final HIPAA portability regulations. The regulations, which are effective for plan years beginning on or after July 1, 2005, clarify and provide a few new rules regarding HIPAA's portability provisions that were previously addressed in the 1997 interim regulations and subsequent guidance. Generally, the new regulations clarify and revise the following:

• Various HIPAA portability definitions (including a definition of "dependent" and clarifications regarding definition of "pre-existing" condition) 
• HIPAA portability notice and disclosure obligations, including clarifications regarding pre-existing condition exclusion notices and revised contents for Certificate of Creditable Coverage with model language 
• Special enrollment requirements 
• Excepted benefits 
• In addition, the agencies issued proposed regulations requesting comments regarding tolling of certain time periods (e.g. the period during which a special enrollment request must be made), interaction with FMLA requirements and benefit specific waiting periods. Unfortunately, discrimination and wellness programs are not address in the final and proposed regulations.

Audio Conference: HSAs: Where We Are Now: Thursday February 24th, 2005, 1 PM Eastern

Join us as two HSA experts, Ashley Gillihan, Esq. of Alston & Bird and Steve Neeleman, M.D. of Health Equity, provide technical and practical answers to a number of key HSA issues. We will explore recent legislation, current adoption of HSAs, the potential size and segmentation of the market, as well as challenges and opportunities to marketing HSAs. Time will be reserved for audience questions and answers as well. 

HSAs have just passed their first birthday and the jury may be still out on the ultimate size of the HSA market and the overall consumer acceptance of these accounts, but there are some indicators.  Join us as two HSA experts, Ashley Gillihan, Esq. of Alston & Bird and Steve Neeleman, M.D. of Health Equity, will provide technical and practical answers to the following questions:

• What is consumer driven health care generally

• What is an HSA?

• What are the general legal requirements for establishing an HSA?

• What are the reporting requirements?

• Are all HSAs the same?

• Who would want an HSA?

• Do HSAs provide an advantage to self-employed individuals over traditional health care vehicles?

• Do HSAs really reduce health care costs?

• What are the tips for making an HSA work? What are the traps for the unwary?

• What role will HSAs play in everyday health care challenges? (e.g. how will HSAs impact the Medicare eligible population? Will delivery of health care be different with an HDHP/HSA than with traditional gatekeeper coverage?)

• What role do Health FSAs and/or Health Reimbursement Arrangements have in the current HSA market?

• What is the role of technology in the HSA market now and in the future? (e.g. debit cards, comparison shopping over the internet)

This discussion will be incorporated into the following agenda for the session:

• Legislative Update
• Estimated Current adoption of HSAs
• Sizing the HSA Market
• Barriers to Widespread adoption of HSAs
  • HDHP Pricing
  • Employee/Employer Fears
  • Multiple option vs. Full-replacement
• Keys to making HSAs work for all consumers
  • Flexible Plan Designs
  • Education and Support
  • Unique Product Features
• Audience Questions

About the Speakers:

Ashley Gillihan Esq. of Alston & Bird, is a member of the Firm's Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group, and is a partner in the firm in the Atlanta office Mr. Gillihan's practice focuses exclusively on health and welfare benefit plan matters where he advises clients on various issues including, but not limited to, tax qualification issues arising under the Internal Revenue Code, ERISA reporting, disclosure, COBRA and fiduciary issues and HIPAA portability and privacy.

Stephen Neeleman, MD, CEO, Director, and creator of HealthEquity’s core concept, is a board certified physician and an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Arizona. Dr. Neeleman organized the management team, led the development of the original HealthEquity business concept, and led the initial fundraising efforts, culminating in the completion a Series A financing round in November 2002. Dr. Neeleman serves on the Council for Affordable Health Insurance HSA Working Group and on the National Health Care Reform Coalition. Dr. Neeleman is co-author of The Complete HSA Guidebook.

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