In light of new rules from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), employers should examine their wellness programs now (and during open enrollment for next year) to determine the potential impact of the final regulations, as many wellness programs will need to be changed to comply with the new rules.

In May, the EEOC published its much anticipated final regulations implementing the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as those laws relate to employer-sponsored wellness programs. The most significant changes under the EEOC’s final rules require compliance for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2017, but some clarifications are effective immediately.