Recored Web Conference

Health Care Reform: Getting Ready For 2011

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 

Background

Many plan coverage requirements under the health care reform law take effect with plan years that begin on January 1, 2011.  Interim final regulations have now been issued that cover these requirements in such areas as grandfathering, annual and lifetime limits, and no-cost preventive services. 

If it is your responsibility to make sure that your health care plan has met all of these requirements, AHI invites you to attend our web conference, moderated by three health care reform experts from the law firm of Warner Norcross & Judd, entitled:

Health Care Reform: Getting Ready For 2011  

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

One of the key decisions that organizations will need to make is whether or not to make any changes to your plan's design that would result in the loss of grandfathered status.  Losing grandfathered status could result in a significant increase in required changes to your plan, which could erase any monetary gains that you had anticipated when making changes to the plan.  In addition to covering what changes will cause you to lose grandfathered status, our presenters will cover those provisions that will be required should you choose to forfeit your grandfathered status. 
 
But even if you retain grandfathered status, there are new rules that apply to both grandfathered and non-grandfathered plans that require you to check your plan to be sure it is in compliance. 

As part of the webinar handout, all attendees will receive a form that lists all of these requirements that you can use as a checklist to make sure you haven't missed any plan provisions that need updating.

The handout will also include the following DOL Model Notices: Coverage to Age 26, Lifetime Limits, and Patient Protection (June 2010).
 
Since the health care reform law only gave broad requirements for changes required of health plan coverage, HR execs could not update their health care plans until regulations were issued.  This webinar will update you on precisely what is now required of your plan in order to remain in compliance with the law, with explanations of the regulations covering the following topics:

Grandfathered Status 

• Which plans are grandfathered
• Advantages of being grandfathered
• How to lose grandfathered status
• Changes that will not jeopardize grandfathered status
• Special rules for collectively bargained plans
• Retiree health plan considerations
• Documentation requirements for grandfathered plans

Patient Bill Of Rights

• Pre-existing condition exclusions
• Lifetime limits (including special enrollment rights)
• Annual limits
• Special enrollment rights
• Prohibition on coverage rescissions
• Coverage for emergency services
• Protections for choosing primary care doctors, pediatricians, and requiring referrals for OB-GYN care

Cost-Sharing Prohibition For Preventive Services

• What services are covered
• How the regulations clarify the cost-sharing prohibitions for office visits
• How soon must a new preventive service be covered
• What you need to do NOW 

About Our Presenters

Norbert Kugele is a partner in the Grand Rapids office of Warner Norcross & Judd.  He specializes in the areas of employee benefits and privacy and information security law. He works with large and small companies, public school districts, colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations to help them provide health and fringe benefits to their employees.
 
John McKendry is a partner in the Muskegon office of Warner Norcross & Judd.  He practices extensively in the area of employee benefits law. He regularly represents private and public sector, financial services, and accounting firm clients in the design of plans and for the engagement and provision of investment, fiduciary, record-keeping, and administrative services.

April Goff is Senior Counsel with the firm in the Grand Rapids office of Warner Norcross & Judd.  She has helped clients from small family-owned businesses to large multinational onglomerates in formulating effective benefits communications and administration strategies. Ms. Goff has extensive experience with welfare and flexible benefit plans and the rules relating to COBRA continuation coverage, USERRA military leave, and HIPAA security and privacy rules.