"These final rules represent a significant step in the agencies' ongoing efforts to address inefficiencies in the federal IDR process, which has been burdened by high dispute volumes and complex eligibility determinations. Plan sponsors and their advisors should take note of the new communication requirements as these will require coordination with insurers, TPAs, and other service providers. Self-insured health plans should be particularly attentive to the updated batching rules, which differ in important respects from the proposed rules."  MORE >>