An online, clickable version of this newsletter is available at: http://benefitslink.com/2008/2008_05_08_welfare.html =========================================================== BenefitsLink Health & Welfare Plans Newsletter (Plain Text Format) May 8, 2008 Here are the Web's best new links about compliance and cost aspects of plan operation, design and policy. =========================================================== TODAY'S SPONSOR: University Conference Services Walking the Benefits Management Tightrope (Advert.) http://benefitslink.com/modperl/a_d_top.cgi?a_d=2008_05_08_welfare (Click on the above address or copy and paste it into your web browser.) Do you sometimes feel like a high wire acrobat performing without a net? That’s how it can seem as you try to span the chasm between managing an attractive benefits program and reigning in costs. The Health and Welfare Plan Management for Mid-Sized Employers, June 8–11, 2008, in Chicago, guides you through today’s complex benefit issues and offers solutions to help you master your technique. ---------------------------------------------------------- [Guidance Overview] Genetic Nondiscrimination Bill Expected to Be Signed Into Law (PDF) http://www.thompsonhine.com/publications/pdf/2008/05/geneticnondiscriminationbill1430.pdf 3 pages. Excerpt: "Specifically, GINA prohibits employers, employment agencies, labor organizations and joint labor-management committees from discriminating based on genetic information in [specific] circumstances . . . ." (Thompson Hine LLP) ---------------------------------------------------------- 2008 U.S. Organ and Tissue Transplant Cost Estimates and Discussion (PDF) http://www.milliman.com/expertise/healthcare/publications/rr/pdfs/2008-us-organ-tisse-RR4-1-08.pdf 20 pages. (Milliman) ---------------------------------------------------------- Paid Maternity Leave Still on Wishlist for Many U.S. Mothers http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/webfeatures_snapshots_20080507 Excerpt: "In a selection of 19 countries with comparable per capita income, the United States provides the fewest maternity leave benefits in both length of leave and paid time off . . . . This is considered separate from any disability insurance for which one may qualify. In fact, the United States falls two weeks short of the International Labor Organization's basic minimum standard of at least 14 weeks general leave. It is also the only country not to guarantee some amount of leave with income." (Economic Policy Institute) ---------------------------------------------------------- Employee Contributions for Health Care Are Nearly One-Month's Salary http://www.hr.cch.com/news/benefits/050808.asp Excerpt: "Employees' median annual contribution for family health care coverage is now $3,120, a 15% increase from 2007 and a 22% increase from 2006, according to Aon Consulting's 2008 Benefits and Talent Survey. This annual contribution represents nearly one-month's salary, based on the median household annual income of approximately $48,000, Aon noted." (Wolters Kluwer) ---------------------------------------------------------- Public Employers Barred from Providing Health Care Benefits to Partners of G.ay and Les.bian Employees http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008805080375 Excerpt: "The [Michigan Supreme Court] 5-2 ruling found that an amendment to the Michigan Constitution approved by voters in 2004 to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman also applied to employee benefits. Specifically, the court found that language in the amendment prohibiting recognition of other unions 'for any purpose' effectively bans same-sex partner benefits." (Detroit Free Press) ---------------------------------------------------------- Incentives to Switch from Prescription to Over-the-Counter Drugs Can Produce Large Savings http://www.aishealth.com/Bnow/hbd050108.html Excerpt: "A program that incentivized patients to switch from prescription drugs to over-the-counter (OTC) alternatives saved members thousands of dollars and provided the insurer with a solid return on investment (ROI), according to the PBM and health plan responsible for the initiative." (AISHealth.com) ---------------------------------------------------------- Lack of Health Care Weighs Heavily on Decision to Retire http://www.plansponsor.com/pi_type10/?RECORD_ID=41403 Excerpt: "Older workers without other health care insurance options are more likely to defer retirement to stay covered under their employer's plan, Watson Wyatt Worldwide found in a data analysis." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required) ---------------------------------------------------------- U.S. Manufacturers Spend Twice as Much as Foreign Competitors on Health Care, Report Finds http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=52006 Excerpt: "U.S. manufacturers that offer health insurance to employees spend an average of $2.38 per worker per hour on health care, substantially more than the amount spent by foreign competitors, according to a report released on Tuesday by the New America Foundation, the Los Angeles Times reports." (Kaiser Family Foundation) ---------------------------------------------------------- Senate Finance Committee Holds First in Series of Congressional Hearings on U.S. Health System Overhaul http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=51997 Excerpt: "The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday hold the first of at least eight congressional hearings focusing on strategies to reform the U.S. health care system, featuring testimony by former HHS secretaries Tommy Thompson and Donna Shalala, CQ HealthBeat reports." (Kaiser Family Foundation) ---------------------------------------------------------- Public Health Service Issues Clinical Guideline for Smoking Cessation (PDF) http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/treating_tobacco_use08.pdf 276 pages. Excerpt: "The U.S. Public Health Service today issued an updated clinical practice guideline to help health care providers reduce patients' use of tobacco. The guideline recommends clinicians and health care delivery systems consistently identify tobacco users seen in the health care setting, and offer every patient who uses tobacco some of the treatments recommended in the guideline. It also recommends insurers cover the counseling and medications identified as effective." (U.S. Public Health Service) =========================================================== Sponsored by: WorldatWork WorldatWork publications in the BenefitsLink Bookstore (Advert.) http://benefitslink.com/modperl/a_d_center.cgi?a_d=2008_05_08_welfare (Click on the address above or copy and paste it into your web browser.) WorldatWork, a not-for-profit professional association, is a leading publisher of compensation, benefits and total rewards information. With a portfolio of books, reports, survey briefs, booklets and online learning programs, WorldatWork creates, markets and distributes publications that are critical to improved organizational performance. WorldatWork has contributed to the education and development of business professionals worldwide since 1955. ========================================================== Links To Items on Executive Comp, Benefits In General ---------------------------------------------------------- [Guidance Overview] Newly Minted Rules for Deducting Performance Compensation under Section 162(m) (PDF) http://www.hansonbridgett.com/docs/newsletters/employee_benefits_law_update/EBenefitsMarch2008b.pdf 1 page. Excerpt: "The new ruling will not apply for performance periods beginning on or before January 1, 2009 or for compensation paid pursuant to employment contracts in effect on February 21, 2008 (excluding renewals, either automatic or by agreement)." (Hanson Bridgett LLP) ---------------------------------------------------------- Several States Plan Cutbacks and Early Retirement Plans http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/08/us/08tennessee.html?partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all Excerpt: "In Rhode Island, Gov. Donald L. Carcieri, a Republican, signed a spending plan last week that includes a provision to make state employees who retire after Sept. 1 pay more for their health insurance, a change that state officials say could prompt about 2,500 state workers to leave before the deadline." (The New York Times; free registration required) ---------------------------------------------------------- Vallejo, California, Votes to Declare Chapter 9 Bankrup.tcy http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/07/BACH10HUK6.DTL Excerpt: "The city and its public safety unions have been at the bargaining table for about two years. The city is asking for its police and firefighters to take salary, benefit and staff cuts, while the unions say any further cuts would endanger public safety as well as the safety of the police and firefighters. Vallejo spends 74 percent of its $80 million general fund budget on public safety salaries, significantly higher than the state average." (San Francisco Chronicle) ========================================================== Newly Posted Events 401(K) Automatic Enrollment- Is It Right For Your Organization? Nationwide on May 15, 2008 presented by Alexander Hamilton Institute http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43781 401(k) Plan Workshop in New York on May 22, 2008 presented by SunGard Relius http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43769 401(k) Plan Workshop Nationwide on May 22, 2008 presented by SunGard Relius http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43765 401(k) Plan Workshop in North Carolina on May 22, 2008 presented by SunGard Relius http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43766 401(k) Plan Workshop in Iowa on May 22, 2008 presented by SunGard Relius http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43767 401(k) Plan Workshop in Wisconsin on May 22, 2008 presented by SunGard Relius http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43768 401(k) Plan Workshop in Illinois on May 30, 2008 presented by SunGard Relius http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43770 401(k) Plan Workshop in Ohio on May 30, 2008 presented by SunGard Relius http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43771 Form 5500 Workshop in New York on May 21, 2008 presented by SunGard Relius http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43776 Form 5500 Workshop Nationwide on May 21, 2008 presented by SunGard Relius http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43772 Form 5500 Workshop in North Carolina on May 21, 2008 presented by SunGard Relius http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43773 Form 5500 Workshop in Iowa on May 21, 2008 presented by SunGard Relius http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43774 Form 5500 Workshop in Wisconsin on May 21, 2008 presented by SunGard Relius http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43775 Form 5500 Workshop in Illinois on May 29, 2008 presented by SunGard Relius http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43777 Form 5500 Workshop in Ohio on May 29, 2008 presented by SunGard Relius http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43778 Health and Welfare Plan Record Retention and Document Disclosures Nationwide on June 18, 2008 presented by Lorman Education Services http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43761 It's Time to Take Another Look at HIPAA Security Webcast Nationwide on May 22, 2008 presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43780 QDIA: What a Plan Sponsor Really Needs to Know Webcast Nationwide on May 15, 2008 presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43779 Return on Investment for Wellness Programs Nationwide on June 4, 2008 presented by Lorman Education Services http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=43757 Post yours! http://benefitslink.com/events/eventmaint.php ========================================================== Newly Posted Press Releases NIPA Honors Outstanding Volunteers at 2008 Annual Forum & Expo National Institute of Pension Administrators http://benefitslink.com/pr/detail.php?id=41906 Xenia, Ohio, Woman Indicted for Theft from Quality Caulking Inc. Retirement Plan U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) http://benefitslink.com/pr/detail.php?id=41908 Miller & Chevalier Adds Anne Batter and Thomas Cryan, Jr. to Nationally Recognized Employee Benefits Practice Miller & Chevalier http://benefitslink.com/pr/detail.php?id=41907 Major Initiative to Ease Health Care Workforce Crisis Receives Overwhelming Support American Society of Association Executives http://benefitslink.com/pr/detail.php?id=41909 Employers May Now Be At Risk of Being Sued Over 401(k) Costs Wealthcare Capital Management http://benefitslink.com/pr/detail.php?id=41910 Post yours! http://benefitslink.com/pr/maint.php ========================================================== Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings Document Specialist for Benefit Administration, Inc in WI http://benefitslink.com/modperl/job.cgi?n=H55111 Premium Billing Supervisor for The Boon Group in TX http://benefitslink.com/modperl/job.cgi?n=H55112 Executive Assistant for SageView Advisory Group in CA http://benefitslink.com/modperl/job.cgi?n=H55113 Client Consultant - Compliance / Technical - Fort Wayne, IN for Lincoln Financial Group in IN http://benefitslink.com/modperl/job.cgi?n=H55114 Compliance Manager for Vanguard in AZ http://benefitslink.com/modperl/job.cgi?n=H55116 Post yours! http://EmployeeBenefitsJobs.com/jobs/post_help_wanted.html View all jobs http://EmployeeBenefitsJobs.com/ RSS feed http://EmployeeBenefitsJobs.com/rss/jobs.rss =========================================================== Search previous newsletters: http://benefitslink.com/search =========================================================== Subscribe to the BenefitsLink Retirement Plans Newsletter, Too Sign-up form is at: http://benefitslink.com/newsletter/ =========================================================== This newsletter is sent to you each workday except federal holidays. 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