[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 42, Volume 2] [Revised as of October 1, 2002] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 42CFR417.153] [Page 703] TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES PART 417--HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS, COMPETITIVE MEDICAL PLANS, AND HEALTH CARE PREPAYMENT PLANS--Table of Contents Subpart E--Inclusion of Qualified Health Maintenance Organizations in Employee Health Benefits Plans Sec. 417.153 Offer of HMO alternative. (a) Basic rule. An employing entity that is subject to this subpart and that elects to include one or more qualified HMOs must offer the HMO alternative in accordance with this section. (b) Employees to whom the HMO option must be offered. Each employing entity must offer the option of enrollment in a qualified HMO to each eligible employee and his or her eligible dependents who reside in the HMO's service area. (c) Manner of offering the HMO option. (1) For employees who are represented by a bargaining representative, the option of enrollment in a qualified HMO-- (i) Must first be presented to the bargaining representative; and (ii) If the representative accepts the option, must then be offered to each represented employee. (2) For employees not represented by a bargaining representative, the option must be offered directly to those employees. [59 FR 49839, Sept. 30, 1994, as amended at 61 FR 27287, May 31, 1996]