Daniel Maguire Appointed To Head New Health Benefit Office

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

The Department of Labor's Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA) today announced the appointment of Daniel J. Maguire as director of the newly created Office of Health Plan Standards and Compliance Assistance.

As director of the health office, Maguire is responsible for overseeing the development of regulations, interpretive bulletins, opinions, forms, and rulings relating to health care portability, non-discrimination requirements and other related health provisions. In addition, he will ensure that the functions relating to training, technical assistance and guidance on health benefits are carried out for PWBA staff nationwide.

Alan D. Lebowitz, deputy assistant secretary of operations for PWBA, noted that "health care is one of the top issues for Americans. With heightened public prominence has come an expanded role for the department in the health field. We have seen the laws we oversee grow from a few basic rules governing private-sector health plans to jurisdiction over four major laws enacted since 1996."

"Dan is uniquely qualified to lead our team of health professionals to help the agency meet its growing health benefit responsibilities. He has an extensive legal background and has shown exemplary leadership skills in managing both human resources and the functions associated with our health care mission."

Since 1996, Maguire had headed PWBA's Health Care Task Force which was the predecessor to the newly create office. The task force provided technical expertise relating to legislative, policy and regulatory issues.

Before joining PWBA, Maguire served for 14 years in the Office of the Solicitor’s Plan Benefits Security Division in Washington, D.C. While there he provided legal advice and technical skills in developing regulations under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and participated in shaping many of the recently enacted health care laws, the rules implementing those laws and health reform legislation.

ERISA gives PWBA regulatory and enforcement authority over 2.5 million private-sector group health plans covering 125 million participants nationwide. Besides ERISA, PWBA has responsibility for administering the group health provisions of the:

• Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act (COBRA);
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act;
• Newborns and Mothers' Health Protection Act;
• Mental Health Parity Act; and
• Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act.

Maguire holds a J.D. degree from California Western School of Law. He has received numerous awards, including the Secretary's Exceptional Achievement Award for the development of regulations, legislation and litigation involving multiple employer welfare plans and health care reform.

A native of Atlantic City, N.J., Maguire resides in Herndon, Va. He is married to Anne Maguire and the father of Daniel, age 13 and Kathleen, age 16.

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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Contact Name: Gloria Della
Phone Number: 202.219.8921