by Shawn M. Gilman and Julia E. Loyd
On February 14, 2012, a final rule implementing Section 2715 of the Public Health Service Act, as added by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, regarding the requirements for group health plans and health insurance issuers to provide a summary of benefits and coverage (“SBC”) to interested parties was published in the Federal Register. As set forth in the final rule, an SBC must be provided upon request or the occurrence of certain events and the content and format of the SBC must be in accordance with the extensive requirements contained in the final rule and associated guidance that was also issued on February 14, 2012. Although an extension from the statutory effective date of March 23, 2012 has been granted in the final rule, group health plans and health insurance issuers in the individual and group health markets will be required to take a number of steps in order to ensure compliance with the SBC requirements by September 23, 2012.