Media Advisory - HIPAA and Other Health Laws: Compliance Assistance Seminar

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

The Compliance Assistance Seminar sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration in cooperation with the New York State Department of Insurance, will take place in Albany, New York, on Friday, June 15th at the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Convention Center.

Scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the program is part of a series of seminars sponsored by the Labor Department under its Health Benefit Education Campaign (HBEC). The Campaign was launched on December 16, 1998 to help workers and employers, especially small businesses, understand their rights and obligations under various health laws.

This year, HBEC will expand its past efforts by engaging in a comprehensive education set of Compliance Assistance Seminars. These Compliance Assistance Seminars, scheduled for four locations around the country, will assist employers and plan officials in complying with health benefit laws.

The session on HIPAA Portability and Availability will present key compliance considerations for group health plan administrators. Examples will be given of group health plan provisions or practices that would not comply with the law followed by tips on how to bring group health plans into compliance. The COBRA session will feature a detailed discussion about new IRS COBRA guidance as well as a discussion of compliance-related issues under New York’s COBRA provisions.

A session discussing Administrative Simplification will provide an overview of the new guidance recently issued by the Department of Health and Human Services and provide practical compliance assistance advice for employers and insurance companies. There also will be a session on New York’s prompt payment regulation and the new Healthy New York Program.

Panel participants will include representatives from PWBA, the New York State Insurance Department, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Internal Revenue Service.

Registration is first come, first served basis, with only 250 spaces available. Interested parties should register early by fax at 202.219.8141 or by mail to:

Deborah A. Milne
Health Benefits Education Campaign Coordinator
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N-5625
Washington, DC 20210
Tel 202.219.7222 x3030

U.S. Department of Labor news releases are accessible on the Internet. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the Central Office for Assistive Services and Technology. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call 202.693.7773 or TTY 202.693.7775.

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