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CCH® BENEFITS — 04/27/11

New Claim List Functionality Available, ERRP Announced

from Spencer’s Benefits Reports: Plan sponsors are now able to complete claim list setup in the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program (ERRP) Secure Website (SWS) and submit claim lists via either the ERRP SWS or the plan sponsor’s or specified vendor’s mainframe to the ERRP mainframe. As previously announced, plan sponsors are now required to submit a claim list with all reimbursement requests. For detailed information regarding claim list setup and submission, ERRP encourages plan sponsors to review the ERRP Reimbursement Training: Claim List Online Training Module posted in the Training Presentations and Videos section of http://www.errp.gov.

With the addition of the claim list submission requirement, changes were made to the Early Retiree List (ERL) Response File processing. Beginning in April 2011, all ERL Response Files will have an expiration date. The ERL Response File will expire 90 days after creation, or at the time a reimbursement request is submitted (whichever is first), to ensure that plan sponsors have up-to-date information about the ERRP-eligibility of individuals covered by their plan. To include an ERL in a reimbursement request the plan sponsor must do the following within the 90 days the ERL Response File is active:

1. Create claim list;
2. Send claim list to ERRP Center;
3. Review claim list response file;*
4. Resubmit a claim list (if necessary);
5. Enter and submit summary cost report; and
6. Request reimbursement.

*ERRP notes that the claim list response file process does not begin until August 2011. Between April and August 2011, plan sponsors will, instead, receive an email about their submitted claim list.

According to the ERRP website, plan sponsors should note that if prior to April 2011 a summary cost report was in a ‘reviewed’ status but not yet included in a reimbursement request, then the status of the summary cost report will revert to ‘saved’ to ensure it is reviewed again after the claim list submission step is completed.

Contents of claim list. ERRP reminds plan sponsors that the claim list must include the claim items or services for which the plan sponsor is currently requesting reimbursement, as a well as all items or services for which the plan sponsor has previously requested reimbursement for that plan year (i.e., the claim list is cumulative, and each claim list submission is a full replacement for the plan year). Plan sponsors should note that, in order to substantiate any summary cost reports submitted in prior reimbursement requests, all plan sponsors that have received reimbursement at any time during the ERRP must submit an up-to-date and error-free claim list and a corresponding reimbursement request by Dec. 31, 2011. To submit a claim list to the ERRP Center, the plan sponsor will perform three steps in the ERRP SWS:

1. assign the view/send/receive claim data privilege,
2. complete claim list setup, and
3. submit claim lists.

For more information, visit http://www.errp.gov/

For more information on this and related topics, consult the CCH Pension Plan Guide, CCH Employee Benefits Management, and Spencer's Benefits Reports.

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