Public Hearing on Proposed Claims Procedures [01/04/1999]
Volume 64, Number 1, Page
65-66=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration
29 CFR Part 2560
RIN 1210-AA61
Public Hearing on Proposed Claims Procedures
AGENCY: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, Department of
Labor.
ACTION: Notice of public hearing.
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SUMMARY: The purpose of this Notice is to inform interested persons
that the Department of Labor will hold a public hearing on both
February 17 and 18, 1999, and, if necessary, on February 19, 1999,
regarding the adoption of regulations governing the processing of
employee benefit plan claims under section 503 of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, (ERISA). The
Department published in the Federal Register proposed changes to the
requirements governing the processing and appeal of claims by employee
benefit plans under ERISA (63 FR 48390, September 9, 1998). The purpose
of the public hearing is to obtain and consider further information and
views on the proposed regulation and the effects of the proposed claim
procedure changes on plans, plan participants, plan sponsors and
service providers.
DATES: The public hearing is scheduled for February 17 and 18, 1999,
and, if necessary, February 19, 1999. The hearing will begin at 10 a.m.
on each of these days. Requests to testify at the hearing should be
received by the Department no later than January 15, 1999. Oral
statements will be limited to 10 minutes. Individuals with
disabilities, who need special accommodations, should contact Jeffrey
J. Turner by February 5, 1999, at the address below.
ADDRESSES: Requests to testify at the hearing should be submitted to:
Jeffrey J. Turner, Office of Regulations and Interpretations, Room N-
5669, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. All requests
will be open to public inspection at the Public Documents Room, Pension
and Welfare Benefits Administration, Room N-5638, U.S. Department of
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210 from 8:30
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The hearing will be held in the U.S. Department of
Labor Auditorium, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeffrey J. Turner, Office of Regulations and Interpretations, Pension
and Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, at (202)
219-8671. This is not a toll-free number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 9, 1998, the Department of
Labor (the Department) published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the
Federal Register (63 FR 48390) revising the minimum requirements for
benefit claims procedures of employee benefit plans covered under Title
I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). In that
notice, the Department invited interested persons to submit written
comments concerning the proposed regulations on or before November 9,
1998. On October 30, 1998, in response to requests from the public for
additional time to prepare comments, the Department extended the
comment period through December 9, 1998 (63 FR 58335). A number of
comments submitted in response to the solicitation for public comment
requested that the Department hold a public hearing on proposed
regulation. Because of the complexity and importance of the issues
involved, the Department believes that it is appropriate to hold a
public hearing on the proposed regulation. The information obtained
from the hearing will assist the Department in assessing whether, and
to what extent, the
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proposed regulation should be modified in conjunction with the adoption
of a final rule.
Notice of Public Hearing
Notice is hereby given that a public hearing regarding the
Department of Labor's proposed claims procedure regulations (63 FR
48390, September 9, 1998) is scheduled for February 17 and 18, 1999,
and, if necessary, February 19, 1999. The hearing will begin at 10:00
a.m. on each of these days. Oral presentations will be limited to 10
minutes, but an extended statement may be submitted for the record.
Requests to testify should be submitted to the address identified
above, no later than January 15, 1999. It is requested that persons
testifying on behalf of plans, plan sponsors, and service providers be
prepared to answer questions pertaining to specific claims processing
procedures and practices (e.g., methods of notification, time frames,
etc.) of their plans, their clients' plan(s) or their members' plans.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 23rd day of December, 1998.
Leslie B. Kramerich,
Deputy Assistant Secretary For Policy, Pension and Welfare Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 98-34819 Filed 12-31-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-M
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