my 2 cents [MR] Frightening news

[Christofe DuBois]

I checked with our HR person here, who went through the code, and it is
exactly what it says it is...  the ability to exclude payout based on
hazardous activities.

The code itself mentions only two specifically- motorcylce riding and bungee
jumping, but we are checking with our carrier to see, if there even IS a
provision written for this, if they can provide us with a list of all
activities which fall under the 'dangerous activity' category...

-Christofe DuBois
Owner, THE HUNT
http://www.scahunt.com
Medieval Resources on the Web

----- Original Message -----
From: "Barbara S." <yakgoddess at hotmail.com>
To: <atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 1:19 PM
Subject: Fwd: Re: my 2 cents [MR] Frightening news


> To the gentles of the Merry Rose.
> This was posted to our Baronial List Serve here in Black Diamond and I
> thought it was well written and had some valuable information so I'm
passing
> it along to you.
>
>
> >From: Qaylah at aol.com
> >To: <blackdiamond at wlu.edu>
> >Subject: Re: my 2 cents  [MR] Frightening news
> >Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2001 15:29:52 EDT
> >
> >I've looked at the final regs and the commentary and personally I think
> >they are avoiding the intent of HIPAA (the laws these regs relate to).
> >However, unless HCFA/DOL/PWBA receives well thought out comments from the
> >public, nothing will change.  I practice in health care law (mostly
> >medicare/medicaid compliance) and well know that HCFA can change its mind
> >with enough persuasion.  So send in your comments.  Make sure they are
well
> >thought out, well reasoned and even if you aren't an attorney HFCA will
> >listen to you -sometimes even more so.
> >
> >Some of the comments I see people making here and elsewhere that I think
> >would be particularily useful to be sent in as commentary:
> >
> >1) What is hazardous recreation?  How will this be defined by the
> >companies?  Will this lead to increased litigation and tension between
> >insureds and insurers?
> >
> >2) What evidence justifies such an exclusion?  Do participants in these
> >activities have a higher rate of medical needs?  Are costly accidents
> >related to hazarous recreation a large portion of medical expenses?
> >
> >3) Intent of HIPAA was to be inclusive and prevent exclusion. This allows
> >discrimination in a subtle manner.
> >
> >4) How will one define related to the recreational activity?  If you had
> >bad knees before, will you now not be covered?
> >
> >5) Possible chilling effect on all types of recreational activities and
> >sports (we may be willing to live without bungee jumping but is the
intent
> >to ban skiing?).
> >
> >Go at it -go forth and be heard. Comments are due to be in hand by April
9,
> >2001 and if in snail mail must be an original plus three copies.
> >
> >-Qaylah
> >aka Stephanie J. Smith, Esq.
> >
> >ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted with a signed original
and
> >three copies (except for electronic submissions to the Internal Revenue
> >Service (IRS) or Department of Labor) to any of the addresses specified
> >below. Any comment that is submitted to any Department will be shared
with
> >the other Departments.
> >     Comments to the IRS can be addressed to: CC:M&SP:RU (REG-109707-97),
> >Room 5226, Internal Revenue Service, POB 7604, Ben Franklin Station,
> >Washington, DC 20044.
> >
> >Alternatively, comments may be transmitted electronically via the IRS
> >Internet site at: http://www.irs.gov/tax regs/regslist.html.
> >
> >Comments to the Department of Labor can be addressed to: U.S. Department
of
> >Labor, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, 200 Constitution
Avenue
> >NW., Room C-5331, Washington, DC 20210, Attention: Nondiscrimination
> >Comments.
> >
> >Comments may also be transmitted
> >by e-mail to: HIPAA702 at pwba.dol.gov.
> >
> >Comments to HHS can be addressed to: Health Care Financing
Administration,
> >Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: HCFA-2022-IFC, P.O.
Box
> >26688, Baltimore, MD 21207.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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