-
Start Preamble
AGENCIES:
Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury; Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, Department of Labor; Health Care Financing Administration, Department of Health and Human Services.
ACTION:
Interim final rules; delay of effective date and conforming amendments.
SUMMARY:
Consistent with the memorandum of January 20, 2001, from the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled “Regulatory Review Plan,” published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2001 (66 FR 7702), this action delays for 60 days the effective date for the rules entitled “Interim Final Rules for Nondiscrimination in Health Coverage in the Group Market,” published in the Federal Register on January 8, 2001 (66 FR 1378). This document also makes conforming amendments to reflect the delay in effective date.
DATES:
The effective date of the Interim Final Rules amending 26 CFR Part 54, 29 CFR Part 2590, and 45 CFR Part 146, published in the Federal Register on January 8, 2001, at 66 FR 1378, is delayed for 60 days, from March 9, 2001, until May 8, 2001. The conforming amendments in this document are effective May 8, 2001.
Start Further InfoFOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Russ Weinheimer, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, at (202) 622-6080; Amy J. Turner, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, Start Printed Page 14077Department of Labor, at (202) 219-7006; or Ruth A. Bradford, Health Care Financing Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, at (410) 786-1565.
End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental InformationSUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Consistent with the memorandum of January 20, 2001, from the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled “Regulatory Review Plan,” published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2001 (66 FR 7702), this action delays for 60 days the effective date and, for consistency, certain applicability dates for the rules entitled “Interim Final Rules for Nondiscrimination in Health Coverage in the Group Market,” published in the Federal Register on January 8, 2001 (66 FR 1378). These rules implement statutory provisions prohibiting discrimination based on a health factor by group health plans and issuers offering health insurance coverage in connection with a group health plan. The rules implement changes made to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Public Health Service Act, enacted as part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), and most of the guidance contained in these rules remains applicable for plan years beginning on or after July 1, 2001. This document also makes conforming amendments to reflect the delay in effective date.
To the extent that 5 U.S.C. 553 applies to this action, it is exempt from notice and comment because it constitutes a rule of procedure under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(A). Alternatively, the Departments' implementation of this rule without opportunity for public comment, effective immediately upon publication today in the Federal Register, is based on the good cause exceptions in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) and 553(d)(3), in that seeking public comment is impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public interest. The 60-day delay in effective date is necessary to give Department officials the opportunity for further review and consideration of new regulations, consistent with the Assistant to the President's memorandum of January 20, 2001. Given the imminence of the effective date, seeking prior public comment on this delay would have been impractical, unnecessary, and contrary to the public interest in the orderly promulgation and implementation of regulations. Because the delay is only for 60 days, a 30-day comment period before the delay could be effective would exhaust a substantial amount of time that group health plans, health insurance issuers, and State insurance commissioner's offices could otherwise use to review their plan documents, insurance policies, and State laws for purposes of the orderly implementation of the interim regulations. In addition, it would create confusion among State agencies, employers, plan administrators, issuers, and third party administrators as to the effective date of certain provisions, impeding their compliance and enforcement efforts.
Start List of SubjectsList of Subjects
26 CFR Part 54
- Excise taxes
- Health care
- Health insurance
- Pensions
- Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
29 CFR Part 2590
- Employee benefit plans
- Employee Retirement Income Security Act
- Health care
- Health insurance
- Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
45 CFR Part 146
- Health care
- Health insurance
- Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, and State regulation of health insurance
Conforming Amendments to the Regulations
Internal Revenue Service
26 CFR Chapter I
Start Amendment PartAccordingly, the publication on January 8, 2001 of the temporary and final rules, 26 CFR Part 54, is amended as follows:
End Amendment Part Start PartPART 54—PENSION EXCISE TAXES
End Part Start Amendment PartParagraph 1. The authority citation for part 54 continues to read in part as follows:
End Amendment Part[Amended]Par. 2. Section 54.9802-1 is amended by removing the date “March 9, 2001” in each place it appears in paragraph (i)(1) and adding in its place “May 8, 2001”.
End Amendment Part[Amended]Par. 3. Section 54.9802-1T is amended by:
End Amendment Part1. Removing the date “March 9, 2001” and adding in its place “May 8, 2001” in paragraph (i)(1).
2. Removing the date “March 9, 2001” and adding in its place “May 8, 2001” in paragraph (i)(3)(ii)(A) introductory text.
3. Removing the date “March 9, 2001” and adding in its place “May 8, 2001” in paragraph (i)(3)(ii)(C) Example 2 (ii).
Start SignatureRobert E. Wenzel,
Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue.
Approved: March 2, 2001.
Pamela F. Olsen,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration
29 CFR Chapter XXV
Start Amendment PartFor the reasons set forth above, the publication on January 8, 2001 of the interim final rule, 29 CFR Part 2590, is amended as follows:
End Amendment Part Start PartPART 2590—RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND RENEWABILITY FOR GROUP HEALTH PLANS
End Part Start Amendment PartParagraph 1. The authority citation for part 2590 continues to read as follows:
End Amendment Part[Amended]Par. 2. Section 2590.702 is amended by:
End Amendment Part1. Removing the date “March 9, 2001” and adding in its place “May 8, 2001” in the heading to paragraph (i)(1).
2. Removing the date “March 9, 2001” and adding in its place “May 8, 2001” in paragraph (i)(1).
3. Removing the date “March 9, 2001” and adding in its place “May 8, 2001” in paragraph (i)(3)(ii)(A) introductory text.
4. Removing the date “March 9, 2001” and adding in its place “May 8, 2001” in paragraph (i)(3)(ii)(C) Example 2 (ii).
Start SignatureSigned at Washington, DC this 16th day of February, 2001.
Alan D. Lebowitz,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, Department of Labor.
Health Care Financing Administration
45 CFR Subtitle A
Start Amendment PartFor the reasons set forth above, the publication on January 8, 2001 of the interim final rule, 45 CFR part 146, is amended as follows:
End Amendment Part Start Part Start Printed Page 14078PART 146—RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND RENEWABILITY FOR GROUP HEALTH PLANS
End Part Start Amendment PartParagraph 1. The authority citation for part 146 continues to read as follows:
End Amendment Part[Amended]Par. 2. Section 146.121 is amended by:
End Amendment Part1. Removing the date “March 9, 2001” and adding in its place “May 8, 2001” in the heading to paragraph (i)(1).
2. Removing the date “March 9, 2001” and adding in its place “May 8, 2001” in paragraph (i)(1).
3. Removing the date “March 9, 2001” and adding in its place “May 8, 2001” in paragraph (i)(3)(ii)(A) introductory text.
4. Removing the date “March 9, 2001” and adding in its place “May 8, 2001” in paragraph (i)(3)(ii)(C) Example 2 (ii).
Start SignatureDated: February 20, 2001.
Michael McMullan,
Acting Deputy Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
Approved: March 5, 2001.Tommy G. Thompson,
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 01-5895 Filed 3-8-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-P; 4510-29-P; 4120-01-P
Document Information
- Effective Date:
- 1/8/2001
- Published:
- 03/09/2001
- Department:
- Health Care Finance Administration
- Entry Type:
- Rule
- Action:
- Interim final rules; delay of effective date and conforming amendments.
- Document Number:
- 01-5895
- Dates:
- The effective date of the Interim Final Rules amending 26 CFR Part 54, 29 CFR Part 2590, and 45 CFR Part 146, published in the Federal Register on January 8, 2001, at 66 FR 1378, is delayed for 60 days, from March 9, 2001, until May 8, 2001. The conforming amendments in this document are effective May 8, 2001.
- Pages:
- 14076-14078 (3 pages)
- Docket Numbers:
- TD 8931
- RINs:
- 0938-AI08: Portability and Nondiscrimination in the Group Health Insurance Market (HCFA-2890-F), 1210-AA77: Prohibiting Discrimination Against Participants and Beneficiaries Based on Health Status, 1545-AW02: HIPAA Nondiscrimination Rules
- RIN Links:
- https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0938-AI08/portability-and-nondiscrimination-in-the-group-health-insurance-market-hcfa-2890-f-, https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1210-AA77/prohibiting-discrimination-against-participants-and-beneficiaries-based-on-health-status, https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1545-AW02/hipaa-nondiscrimination-rules
- Topics:
- Employee benefit plans, Excise taxes, Health care, Health insurance, Pensions, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
- PDF File:
- 01-5895.pdf
- CFR: (4)
- 45 CFR 146.121
- 45 CFR 2590.702
- 45 CFR 54.9802-1
- 45 CFR 54.9802-1T