HIPAA Non-Discrimination Regulations for Group Health Plans

In yesterday's Federal Register, the Labor Department, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Health and Human Services Department published a final regulation on non-discrimination and wellness programs in the group insurance market as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (fondly known as HIPAA). The rules replace interim final rules that were published in 2001. The changes will be effective for FEHB plans on January 1, 2008.