CCH Introduces Health Plan Compliance Guide, One-stop Reference For Health Plan Compliance

(RIVERWOODS, ILL., February 3, 1999) – Finding a way through the ever-proliferating thicket of federal requirements for health plans has just gotten easier with the publication of the CCH Health Plan Compliance Guide, a two-volume loose leaf resource, from CCH INCORPORATED (CCH), a leading supplier of health law and information.

Those who administer, advise and provide services to health plans must cope with a confusing number of federal requirements, according to Jeff Kessler, product manager, CCH Health and Human Resources group.

"Access to health care has been a growing national concern, and the tendency in recent years has been to impose federal mandates on employer-sponsored plans to insure the widest possible coverage," said Kessler. "But piecemeal federal legislation can mean real headaches for plan administrators and others seeking to comply with the law and avoid costly penalties, lawsuits and sanctions."

Designed as a one-stop resource for those with front-line responsibility for plan compliance, the CCH Health Plan Compliance Guide employs an easy-to-read, question-and-answer format with real-life examples that illustrate how the law is applied. The transaction-oriented organization of the valuable Guide walks subscribers through all relevant concerns and processes, including:

Health Plan Legislative Environment
Designing Health Plans
Communicating Health Plans
Enrolling in Health Plans
Administering Health Plans
Processing Employee Terminations
Amending Health Plans
Terminating Health Plans
Avoiding Penalties, Sanctions, and Lawsuits
Working with Specific Types of Plan
Cafeteria Plans

Subscribers to the Guide can save time and ensure compliance with requirements efficiently by utilizing its many helpful tools. There are ready-to-use forms for employee communication, including sample notices and Certificates of Creditable Coverage. Model plan language can be adopted or adapted to meet the specific needs of plan sponsors. Projects can be managed using checklists that clearly outline employer responsibilities.

In addition to plain-language explanations and useful tools and forms, CCH Health Plan Compliance Guide contains the full text of relevant federal laws, regulations, rulings and releases that affect plan administration. Citations in the explanations direct users to these primary source documents for further research and documentation.

The Guide covers the complete range of federal laws that impinge on health plans, from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and COBRA, to the Family Medical Leave Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. More than a dozen federal acts are included.

Up to Date

Quarterly updating of the loose-leaf volume assures subscribers to the CCH Health Plan Compliance Guide that they are always current in their understanding of legal requirements and aware of the latest developments in the field. Updates include a "Report Letter" highlighting recent developments.

Availability and Pricing

For more information or to order the CCH Health Plan Compliance Guide, call CCH at 800-435-8878. Price for a one-year subscription is $349, plus applicable tax, shipping and handling. A special introductory price of $299 applies to orders placed by April 30, 1999.

About CCH INCORPORATED

CCH INCORPORATED, headquartered in Riverwoods, Ill., was founded in 1913 and has served four generations of business professionals and their clients. The company produces more than 700 electronic and print products for the tax, legal, securities, human resources, health care and small business markets. CCH is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wolters Kluwer U.S. The CCH web site can be accessed at www.cch.com.

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EDITORS NOTE: For an editorial review copy or electronic illustration of CCH Health Plan Compliance Guide, contact: Leslie Bonacum at 847-267-7153 or bonacuml@cch.com.