Final HIPAA Regulations Issued for Company Wellness Programs

The Departments of Treasury, Health and Human Services, and Labor jointly issued final regulations in hopes of clarifying how employers can set up their wellness program without violating the nondiscrimination requirements of HIPAA. HIPAA prohibits group health plans from singling out participants and beneficiaries based on a “health factor” such as medical status, history, genetics, claims in formation, or insurability. These final regulations take effect July 1, 2007. The Department of Labor has a detailed FAQ section on its website about the HIPAA nondiscrimination requirements.