This Web site will help employers ensure they are in compliance with the laws governing private-sector group health plans that cover an estimated 134 million Americans and their families.
Ann L. Combs, Assistant Secretary of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) launched a new interactive Web site to serve as a resource for employers in complying with the various federal health benefit laws. The Health Benefits Advisor is designed to help employers and other plan officials understand their responsibilities in operating group health plans.

Ann L. Combs, assistant secretary of labor for the EBSA, called the Web site an important resource for employers. "This Web site will help employers ensure they are in compliance with the laws governing private-sector group health plans that cover an estimated 134 million Americans and their families," she said.

The laws covered on the site are included in Parts 6 and 7 of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 19744 (ERISA). These laws include:

- The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (COBRA)
- The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
- The Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act of 1996 (Newborns’ Act)
- The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 (MHPA)
- The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA)

The new Web site guides employers through easy-to-use windows containing helpful tools and facts about health benefit laws. The Web site is part of EBSA's compliance assistance program that will now be available to nearly 2.5 million health benefit plans nationwide.