Wellness Program Compliance Challenges: Rules Under ERISA, HIPAA, ADA, GINA, and the ACA Require New Attention to Design and Administration

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The wellness program compliance landscape has undergone significant changes over the last few years. Under the HIPAA/ACA wellness nondiscrimination rules that took effect in 2014, many new requirements were added and new options for incentives were made available. In 2016 the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued final regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) that should prompt plan sponsors to review their wellness programs for compliance with the EEOC guidance and, perhaps, revise their programs. Unfortunately, the new EEOC regulations do not always allow the same wellness program designs as the HIPAA/ACA regulations, and sometimes apply to programs that might not be recognized as wellness programs under ERISA, HIPAA, and the ACA. Complying with all of the requirements of the various regulatory agencies can be challenging and requires careful design and administration of wellness programs in order to avoid compliance missteps and penalties.

Join Christine Williams, senior counsel at Perkins Coie LLP, as she reviews the new EEOC regulations, compares them to the HIPAA regulations, and highlights areas that may require change.

What You'll Learn

Just a sampling of what will be covered:

• How do the EEOC regulations define a voluntary wellness program and how is that broader than the HIPAA/ACA regulations?
• How do the EEOC regulations differ from the HIPAA regulations?
• What are the differences between the maximum permissible incentives under the EEOC regulations and the HIPAA/ACA regulations, and can a wellness program be designed to comply with both?
• How are incentives for spouses of employees handled?
• How do the regulations affect smoking cessation incentives?
• What notice requirements apply under the various regulations?
• What confidentiality and privacy requirements apply to wellness programs?
• And much more!

More Information, How to Register