What is a federally qualified HMO?

[Alf]

There is an SPD reporting exception in DOL Reg. 2520.105-5 that applies to "qualified HMOs." Can anyone help me with some basic information about what these are? How would I know if ours is one?

[Kirk Maldonado]

My understanding is that very few HMOs are federally qualified; virtually all are state qualified. Try contacting your HMO.

[Guest Patricia Ibbs]

In the 1970s, there was a federal HMO Act passed. HMOs were allowed to mandate employers to offer them to employees, if the HMOs were federally qualified under the Act. In order to be federally qualified, the HMOs had to comply with a series of requirements listed in the Act.

The part of the HMO Act that allows HMOs to mandate employers (Sec. 1310)has elapsed so federal qualification, if it still exists, would be meaningless as far as the HMO Act and employers are concerned.