EBSA Issues HIPAA Compliance Form M-1 for MEWAs
The Department of Labor's (DOL) Employee Benefits Security
Administration (EBSA) has issued Form M-1 for 2011. The form is
filed annually by Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (MEWAs)
providing health benefits with the DOL to show compliance with
certain Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
provisions, including the portability and general renewability
requirements, mental health parity requirements, and the Genetic
Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).
The 2011 Form M-1 contains new provisions added by the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), including prohibitions
on lifetime limits, restrictions on annual limit, and coverage of
dependent children until their 26th birthday. The filing deadline
for the form is March 1, 2012, though a 60-day extension to May 1,
2012 is available. Form M-1 can be found here: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/pdf/2011M1Package.pdf.
