This course examines the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act. It begins with a consideration of the genesis of its provisions in the National Uniform
Billing Committee and in earlier attempts to impose healthcare reform. The course discusses
the changes made in both group health insurance plans and individual health insurance plans
with respect to the imposition of pre-existing conditions exclusions and the insurer’s ability to
decline to offer coverage. Archer MSAs are explained, and the course looks closely at
important MSA issues including eligibility, permissible contributions and the tax treatment of
contributions and distributions.

A substantial part of HIPAA addresses the simplification of healthcare administration.
Accordingly, the course examines HIPAA’s requirements concerning:

• Electronic transactions;
• Security;
• National Provider Identifiers; and
• Privacy of protected health information.