I agree with your statements entirely. And after a recent, brief consultation with legal counsel they confirmed the same. Thanks for your reply everyone. And yes, I would welcome the notice to be sent via fax at 507-387-6436. Thanks!
Yeah - the health insurance company draftsed the privacy notice alright. Got mine today. Seven pages to copy and get to 950 employees - that they have to sign and return. That's always easy.
I would also like to get a sample notice to employees. Please send it to me at [email]solesen@thewoodlands.org[/email] or fax it to me at (207)781-5226. Also, does HIPAA apply to dental plans?
I recently received a communication from our Dental Plan Carrier attaching a "Notice of Privacy Practices", and they were asking us to distribute a copy to each of our employees. They also asked us to respond acknowledging receipt of this notice and that we had distributed copies to our employees. There was no request for employees to acknowledge receipt. I have communicated to our Health Plan carrier asking what their plans are, but have not yet heard from them.
Under the hrhero.com/headlines website under Tip of the Week for 1/17/03 there was a good article on HIPAA worth reading. One sentence that caught my eye was, "If your group health benefit plan has $5 million or less in receipts, the deadline is April 14, 2004." Since this applies to us, I am not in any hurry to do anything. I'll wait and see how the big dogs handle these issues and learn from their problems. Truth is, as a city government employer, I still need to determine what rules apply to us. I just got an email from the State of Tennessee Department of Labor which stated, "The Wage Regulation Act only covers Private Employments of 5 or more employees. We do not regulate the Public Sector. Cities and counties have their own form of government." Since I'm fairly new to public employment, I plan on discussing this further with our City attorney.
Hate it too flattering a word for what I think about the latest round of hoop jumper compliance requirements. Being self-funded is rapidly moving from a good thing to a bad thing. Reminds me of the society described by Ayn Rand in Atlas Shrugged.
Exactly. We're also self funded and it's becoming a real pain. Remember the seven page privacy notice I mentioned above? Well, with font and margin setup I managed to get it down to 4 pages and copied it the needed 1000 times. Now guess what? The issuing party listed HR department heads to contact instead of the privacy officers. My shredder is going to be working overtime, and I get to kill another tree.
Environmental folks - hate seeing trees cut down, love spotted owls, that sort of thing. And I don't think they should be mad at the wood companies - they need to be mad at the beaurocracies who create the need for all this documentation!
Does anyone else believe it's an oxymoron that the section of HIPAA we are dealing with is called Administrative Simplification?!?!? :-?
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 04-12-03 AT 11:11AM (CST)[/font][p]With all of this going on, the time, effort, money, etc., why don't the congress critters understand why the cost of health insurance is going up and up and up. They must think they operate in a vacuum. It is legislated and regulated into higher prices. Then they will force us all into a socialist, government controlled health plan.
It is scary how much control they want over our lives.
I recommend a book call "Dependent on DC" by Charlotte Twight. You will find out how much you don't know about HIPAA.
I didn't read all the responses so I hope this isn't redundant.
It is the responsibility of the health plan to send the notice to your employees, not the employer. However, they can do what they did to us - sent the notice to us to distribute to our employees. Very irritating. It still remains their responsiblity though.
A good web site for HIPPA questions is [url]www.hhs.gov/ocr/hippa[/url]
A "group health plan" is a covered entity under the Privacy Rule and the other HIPAA, Title II, Administrative Simplification standards. A "group health plan" is defined as an "employee welfare benefit plan," as that term is defined by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), to the extent that the plan provides medical care. See 42 USC § 1320d(5)(A) and 45 CFR 160.103. Thus, to the extent that a flexible spending account or a cafeteria plan meets the definition of an employee welfare benefit plan under ERISA and pays for medical care, it is a group health plan, unless it has fewer than 50 participants and is self-administered. Employee welfare benefit plans with fewer than 50 participants and that are self-administered are not group health plans. Flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans are not excluded from the definition of "health plan" as excepted benefits. See 45 CFR 160.103, paragraph (2)(i) of the definition of "health plan."
So yes, you must send a notice to your employees.
Hope this helps.
And yes, I do hate HIPPA - more rules, regulations, and chances to be sued! Not to mention the additional work.
Why does everyone hate hippos? Granted they are ugly animals but they are kinda cool too! I mean unless you have had a bad experience with a hippo why hate them. Leslie is right, we all start hating hippos and those a--holes from Green Peace will be on us............ lets make sure those jerks stay in the Seattle area with all those whackos up there!!! I really think we should look at more land for the hippos.......wait hipaa? Oh I though it was hippos, damn I need to get my eyes checked........what the hell is a hipaa? Are they endangered like hippos?
DJ, you need to take a break or brake and eat more pork, it will sharpen your brain stems and clear your vision. The world is moving and you are standing still HIPAA IS: A MEDICAL ENVIRONMENT NIGHTMARE THAT IS COVERING US ALL WITH A LOT OF EXTRA HOG MANURE!
>Why does everyone hate hippos? Granted they are ugly animals but they >are kinda cool too! I mean unless you have had a bad experience with >a hippo why hate them. Leslie is right, we all start hating hippos >and those a--holes from Green Peace will be on us............ lets >make sure those jerks stay in the Seattle area with all those whackos >up there!!! >I really think we should look at more land for the hippos.......wait >hipaa? Oh I though it was hippos, damn I need to get my eyes >checked........what the hell is a hipaa? Are they endangered like >hippos? > >My $0.005 cents worth. >DJ THe Balloonman > >Now, now, DJ. I live in Seattle and we're not all jerks or whackos. Although, after watching the WTO you would be lead to believe this. I live in the suburbs. It's really too bad those of us on the eastside (where I live), can't vote in Seattle - the mayor and the city council would be the first to go.
Where is MO, anyway? JUST KIDDING. Unfortunately, Seattle has gotten way too popular with the wrong political persuasion.
Comments
I agree with your statements entirely. And after a recent, brief consultation with legal counsel they confirmed the same. Thanks for your reply everyone. And yes, I would welcome the notice to be sent via fax at 507-387-6436. Thanks!
I agree with Paula and Zanne...
[email]ccthomas@mrgmail.com[/email]
fax 702/597-7538
[email]ruthe@pneudraulics.com[/email]
Thanks!
Could you please send me a copy of your form? email [email]dbrockmeyer@ofallon.org[/email] or fax to 618-624-4508.
Thanks for your help and the heads up about the cafeteria plan.
email: [email]lpaquin@ruralresources.org[/email]
fax #: 509-684-4740 (attn: Lorie Paquin)
Fax 954-525-1266
Thanks
Also, does HIPAA apply to dental plans?
E Wart
I am new to this forum - an new to HR for that matter, and could use any help available.
Could I get a copy your sample Notice to Employees?
My email address is: [email]RobertS@rmtowill.com[/email]
Thanks!
Robert
Under the hrhero.com/headlines website under Tip of the Week for 1/17/03 there was a good article on HIPAA worth reading. One sentence that caught my eye was, "If your group health benefit plan has $5 million or less in receipts, the deadline is April 14, 2004." Since this applies to us, I am not in any hurry to do anything. I'll wait and see how the big dogs handle these issues and learn from their problems. Truth is, as a city government employer, I still need to determine what rules apply to us. I just got an email from the State of Tennessee Department of Labor which stated, "The Wage Regulation Act only covers Private Employments of 5 or more employees. We do not regulate the Public Sector. Cities and counties have their own form of government." Since I'm fairly new to public employment, I plan on discussing this further with our City attorney.
[email]sharon.bargel@durasupreme.com[/email]
fax: 320-543-3310
[email]pdusharm@ginsbergs.com[/email] or 518-828-0996
[email]Laura.Fernandes@collabo.com[/email]
Thanks!
I REALLY REALLY HATE HIPAA!
Thanks.
Does it help to know you are not alone?
Does anyone else believe it's an oxymoron that the section of HIPAA we are dealing with is called Administrative Simplification?!?!? :-?
It is scary how much control they want over our lives.
I recommend a book call "Dependent on DC" by Charlotte Twight. You will find out how much you don't know about HIPAA.
Good luck to all.
It is the responsibility of the health plan to send the notice to your employees, not the employer. However, they can do what they did to us - sent the notice to us to distribute to our employees. Very irritating. It still remains their responsiblity though.
A good web site for HIPPA questions is [url]www.hhs.gov/ocr/hippa[/url]
A "group health plan" is a covered entity under the Privacy Rule and the other HIPAA, Title II, Administrative Simplification standards. A "group health plan" is defined as an "employee welfare benefit plan," as that term is defined by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), to the extent that the plan provides medical care. See 42 USC § 1320d(5)(A) and 45 CFR 160.103. Thus, to the extent that a flexible spending account or a cafeteria plan meets the definition of an employee welfare benefit plan under ERISA and pays for medical care, it is a group health plan, unless it has fewer than 50 participants and is self-administered. Employee welfare benefit plans with fewer than 50 participants and that are self-administered are not group health plans. Flexible spending accounts and cafeteria plans are not excluded from the definition of "health plan" as excepted benefits. See 45 CFR 160.103, paragraph (2)(i) of the definition of "health plan."
So yes, you must send a notice to your employees.
Hope this helps.
And yes, I do hate HIPPA - more rules, regulations, and chances to be sued! Not to mention the additional work.
[email]casseybowden@ucwv.edu[/email] or 304-357-4994
I really think we should look at more land for the hippos.......wait hipaa? Oh I though it was hippos, damn I need to get my eyes checked........what the hell is a hipaa? Are they endangered like hippos?
My $0.005 cents worth.
DJ THe Balloonman
x}>
PORK
DJ The Balloonman
>are kinda cool too! I mean unless you have had a bad experience with
>a hippo why hate them. Leslie is right, we all start hating hippos
>and those a--holes from Green Peace will be on us............ lets
>make sure those jerks stay in the Seattle area with all those whackos
>up there!!!
>I really think we should look at more land for the hippos.......wait
>hipaa? Oh I though it was hippos, damn I need to get my eyes
>checked........what the hell is a hipaa? Are they endangered like
>hippos?
>
>My $0.005 cents worth.
>DJ THe Balloonman
>
>Now, now, DJ. I live in Seattle and we're not all jerks or whackos. Although, after watching the WTO you would be lead to believe this. I live in the suburbs. It's really too bad those of us on the eastside (where I live), can't vote in Seattle - the mayor and the city council would be the first to go.
Where is MO, anyway? JUST KIDDING. Unfortunately, Seattle has gotten way too popular with the wrong political persuasion.
I did get a laugh out of your hippo commentary.
>x}>