The U.S. Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services have announced the release of a model notice (a PDF version and a Word version) for employers to use to inform employees of group health plan premium assistance opportunities available under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). On February 4, 2009, President Obama signed the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA, Pub. L. 111-3). The Department of Labor was required to provide the model notice to employers within one year of CHIPRA's enactment. The notice also requests comments regarding compliance with the Employer CHIP Notice requirement for use in the development of future compliance assistance materials and/or regulations. Public comments are due on or before April 5, 2010.
On April 2, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) proposed extending the deadline for public comment on the model employer CHIP notice. The EBSA is particularly interested in comments that evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary, that evaluate accuracy of the burden created by the collection of information, that enhance the quality and clarity of the information and that minimize the burden of the collection of information. Written comments must be submitted on or before June 1, 2010.
(updated April 5, 2010)