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    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>0938-AI08</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>199704</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>0938</CODE>
            <NAME>Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>CMS</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>0900</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Health and Human Services</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>HHS</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Portability and Nondiscrimination in the Group Health Insurance Market (BPD-890-IFC)</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[This interim final rule sets forth minimum requirements applicable with respect to group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group health insurance coverage. A group health plan or health insurance issuer offering group health coverage may provide greater rights to participants and beneficiaries than those currently provided. This rule includes the following: (1) Limitations on preexisting condition exclusion periods. (2) Certification and disclosure of previous coverage. (3) Special enrollment periods for individuals (and dependents) losing other coverage. (4) Use of affiliation period by HMOs as alternative to preexisting condition exclusion. (5) Prohibited discrimination against individual participants and beneficiaries based on health status. (6) Guaranteed renewability in multi employer plans and multiple employer welfare arrangements.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Other Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>First Time Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Final Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>Yes</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>45 CFR 146 (New)</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 201</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST>
            <LEGAL_DLINE_INFO>
                <DLINE_TYPE>Statutory</DLINE_TYPE>
                <DLINE_ACTION_STAGE>Final</DLINE_ACTION_STAGE>
                <DLINE_DATE>04/01/1997</DLINE_DATE>
                <DLINE_DESC>  </DLINE_DESC>
            </LEGAL_DLINE_INFO>
        </LEGAL_DLINE_LIST>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>No</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Interim Final Rule</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>04/08/1997</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>62 FR 16894</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Interim Final Rule Effective</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>06/07/1997</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Interim Final Rule Comment Period End</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>07/07/1997</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <ADDITIONAL_INFO>BPD-890-IFC</ADDITIONAL_INFO>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>Yes</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>Businesses</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Federal</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <PRINT_PAPER>NA</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>Not Collected</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Julie</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Walton</LAST_NAME>
                <TITLE>Insurance Reform Implementation Task Force</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>0938</CODE>
                    <NAME>Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>CMS</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>410 786-4622</PHONE>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>7500 Security Boulevard,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Baltimore</CITY>
                    <STATE>MD</STATE>
                    <ZIP>21244</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
        <REINVENT_GOVT>No</REINVENT_GOVT>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
