Interim rules amending ERISA disclosure requirements for group health plans--DoL. Interim rules with request for comments

This document contains interim rules governing the content of the summary plan description (SPD) for group health plans, the furnishing of summaries of material reductions in covered services or benefits by group health plans, and the disclosure of SPD and related information through electronic media. The rules contained in this document implement amendments to the disclosure provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) enacted as part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1996 (NMHPA). Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the interim rules for consideration by the Department in developing final rules. The rules contained in this document are being adopted on an interim basis to accommodate statutorily established time frames intended to ensure that sponsors and administrators of group health plans, as well as participants and beneficiaries covered by such plans, have timely guidance concerning compliance with the recently enacted amendments to ERISA.