EBSA Press Release: Labor Department Co-Hosts Third Annual Outreach Program [05/14/1997]

For more information call: (202) 219-8921
 

The U.S. Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA) and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) will jointly conduct a 10-city Educational Outreach Conference to help employee benefit practitioners understand the new health care law.

Representatives from PWBA will clarify benefit practitioners' rights and obligations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, which forbids companies and their health insurers from excluding preexisting conditions for more than 12 months, or for 18 months for workers who may enroll much later in a company plan.

The programs, to be held in 10 cities from May to September, are designed to educate employee practitioners on the new guidelines for HIPAA. Discussions also will focus on the reporting and compliance requirements for Form 5500 annual reports.

The educational programs provide an effective way for PWBA to assist service providers and plan administrators in complying with the agency's enforcement programs. The programs target single and multiemployer plan trustees, plan administrators and other plan professionals involved in the management and preparation of the Form 5500 annual reports.

In addition to presenting new guidelines on HIPAA, the conferences will include discussions on legislative and regulatory issues such as the audit bill, pension simplification, the participant contribution regulation and Statement of Position 92-6 issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Day-long programs will be held in Tampa on May 19; Houston, May 20; Philadelphia, June 18; San Diego, July 8; St. Louis, July 15; Chicago, July 22; and Boston, Sept. 9. Two-day programs, with the second day's emphasis on multiemployer plans, will be held in San Francisco, July 9-10; Tarrytown, N.Y., July 29-30; and Cincinnati, Aug. 4-5.

Speakers will include PWBA's chief accountant, Ian Dingwall, Ronald Allen, chief, Division of Reporting Compliance, and Michael Auerbach, chief, Division of Accounting Services; and from the Health Care Task Force, Daniel Maguire, director and Louis Campagna and Mark Connor.

The IFEBP is a leading non-profit educational organization in the employee benefits field and provides its membership with, among other things, educational programs, online benefits database, research surveys and the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist program.

To register and obtain conference information, contact IFEBP at (414) 786-6710, ext 8257. The Internet address is http://www.ifebp.org/epcrpsem.html.