Proposed amendments to Summary Plan Description Regulations--Department of Labor. Notice of proposed rulemaking.

This document contains proposed amendments to the regulations governing the content of the Summary Plan Description (SPD) required to be furnished to employee benefit plan participants and beneficiaries under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, (ERISA). These amendments are being proposed to implement information disclosure recommendations of the President's Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry, as set forth in their November 20, 1997 report "Consumer Bill of Rights and Responsibilities," by clarifying benefit, medical provider and other information required to be disclosed in, or as part of, the SPD of a group health plan and for other reasons as well. This document also contains a proposed amendment to repeal the limited exemption with respect to SPDs of welfare plans providing benefits through qualified health maintenance organizations (HMOs). In addition, the Department is proposing a number of amendments to the SPD content regulation that are intended to update and clarify the application of provisions affecting both pension and welfare benefit plans. The amendments contained in this document will affect employee pension and welfare benefit plans, including group health plans, as well as administrators, fiduciaries, participants and beneficiaries of such plans.