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January 27, 2012 Get Retirement News  |  Advertise  |  Unsubscribe  |  Past Issues  |  Search

Employee Benefits Jobs

Government Retirement Plan Wholesaler
for AXA Equitable in AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NM, NV, OR, WA, WY

ERISA/Health and Welfare Benefits Attorney
for Krieg DeVault in GA

Defined Benefit Client Consultant
for Diversified in MA

Senior Relationship Manager
for MassMutual Financial Group in CA

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Webcasts and Conferences

Forces of Change: New Strategies for the Evolving Health Care Marketplace
in Massachusetts on September 10, 2012 presented by Harvard School of Public Health Center for Continuing Professional Education

HSAs: Passing Fad or Wave of the Future?
Nationwide on February 7, 2012 presented by Seyfarth Shaw LLP


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[Guidance Overview]
American Health Benefit Exchanges
"In 2014, individuals and small business will be able to purchase private health insurance through state-based Exchanges. This document reflects information and guidance issued through statute, rule, or communications from the federal government concerning the activities and options as they related to the development of a health benefit exchange." (National Conference of State Legislatures)


Need to advertise your benefits’ value? Try benefit statements!   [Advert.]

Sponsored by Benecom Associates, LLC

Ad campaigns are expensive, but BeneCom’s benefit statements are an economical promotional tool you can use to “advertise” the value of your benefits – value that’s often ignored. So, discover BeneCom’s impact on your benefits, not your budget!


[Guidance Overview]
ERISA 'Participant' Status Is Not a Jurisdictional Issue
"Whether a plaintiff is a 'participant' has posed one of the great metaphysical questions in ERISA benefits litigation. It is usually clear that the person was once a participant — but following separation from employment, are they still? The question can present itself in the form of another ERISA imponderable — that of standing . . . ." (Roy Harmon III, Health Plan Law)

[Guidance Overview]
Prepare for Health Plan Participant Fee
"Many questions about the fee are currently unanswered, including when it must be paid. Proposed regulations are expected on this and other matters. In the meantime, Notice 2011-35 provides information for plan sponsors and issuers to ensure they have properly budgeted for this expense." (Dorsey & Whitney LLP)

WellPoint to Increase Primary-Care Reimbursement
"Beginning in the summer, WellPoint will increase reimbursement for primary-care services — offering those physicians a fee increase of around 10% with the chance of additional payments that could bolster what they receive for covered patients by as much as 50% — in an attempt to lower acute-care costs, the WSJ reports." (The Wall Street Journal)

The State of Massachusetts Health Reform, in 3 Charts
"Health Affairs is out . . . with a four-year look back at Massachusetts health reform. It has some good news (coverage has gone up!) and not-so-good news (health care isn't getting any cheaper). With the Massachusetts reforms serving as the model for the federal law, it's worth taking a look at what has and hasn't worked in the Bay State reforms." (The Washington Post; free registration required)


7th Annual Employer Health & Human Capital Congress   [Advert.]

Sponsored by World Congress

Find solutions to empower improved health outcomes, restructure benefits to achieve cost sustainability and implement measurable wellness and benefit designs that stand up to CFO-scrutiny. February 7-9, Washington, DC


Health Care Reform Law Requires Greater Collaboration Between HR and Finance Executives
"According to a Towers Watson/Forbes Insights survey of more than 300 HR and finance executives, both groups of respondents see changes ahead in their own roles when it comes to reward programs, as the provisions of the 2010 Affordable Health Care Act take effect." (Human Resource Executive Online)

Following Benchmark Proposal, HHS's List of Largest Small Group Products by State
"This information is intended to complement HHS' December 16, 2011 bulletin, which proposed a benchmarking approach for defining essential health benefits." (Practical Law Company)

Health Insurance Deductibles Doubled in 7 Years, Study Finds
"A recent study by the Commonwealth Fund shows just how much more consumers are paying for employer-provided health insurance." (The New York Times; free registration required)

U.S. Financial Worries Rival Those of 1992, According to Gallup Poll
"Americans' worries about maintaining their standard of living (51%), being able to pay medical bills (43%) or losing their job (34%) in the next 12 months are among the highest Gallup has measured in the past 20 years, on par with the levels seen in 1991 and 1992, Gallup says." (LifeHealthPro)

State of the Union: Time to Trim the Regulatory Fat in Health Care
"As Obama continues to shift away from touting the Affordable Care Act and focus on its implementation, it's clear that streamlining federal regulations will be a top priority for the White House this year. And as one of the nation's most heavily regulated sectors, health care stands to be significantly affected." (California HealthCare Foundation)

Employers Should Offer Health Care Options
"In choosing employee health benefits, businesses have two main options for fully insured plans — a 'preferred provider organization' or a 'health maintenance organization.'" (World Publishing Co.)

Health Plans Seeking the Cost Savings of Generic Drugs Must Still Remain Vigilant for Overcharges
"Employer plans appear vulnerable to at least two forms of pharmacy fraud, according to the U.S. Health and Human Services Department's Office of Inspector General: collecting brand name prices for dispensing generics; and 'dispensing fees.'" (SmartHR)

One Year of Innovation: Taking Action to Improve Care and Reduce Costs (PDF)
"The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (the Innovation Center), is an important new resource for health care providers dedicated to improving how our health care system works. Its mission is to move quickly to identify, test, and spread delivery and payment models to help providers improve care while cutting costs." (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation)

Benefits in General; Executive Compensation

Lessons Learned: The Inaugural Year of Say-on-Pay (PDF)
"CalSTRS wants to reflect on what it learned during the 2011 proxy season, the first with mandatory Say-on-Pay at a majority of U.S. companies. Not only to improve our process going forward, but to help influence the market towards a better alignment between pay and performance." (California State Teachers' Retirement System)

Death Benefits Available to Surviving Families of Florida Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of Duty (PDF)
This document is a comprehensive summary of death benefits available to surviving families of Florida law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. (Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. via Cypen & Cypen)

Press Releases



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