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May 16, 2003 - 8,228 subscribers
Today's sponsor: EBIA's HIPAA Portability & Privacy
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Debit Card Guidance: Everyone Likes Plastic (Even the IRS) (PDF)
4 pages. Excerpt: "The Internal Revenue Service has released its eagerly awaited guidance on the use of debit and credit cards for reimbursement of health expenses by health flexible spending accounts ('Health FSAs') and health reimbursement arrangements ('HRAs')." (Kilpatrick Stockton LLP)
UnumProvident Told to Try Settling ERISA Suit
Excerpt: "A federal judge instructed a group of policyholders and UnumProvident Corp. to pursue settlement discussions in a dispute over the company's handling of disability claims." (New York Times; one-time registration required)
Audio Report: Obesity Health Costs Rival Those of Smoking
Excerpt: "Federal statistics show more than half of all Americans are overweight or obese, an increase of more than 70 percent over the past decade. A study in the journal Health Affairs shows obesity-related health problems cost taxpayers billions of dollars annually -- about the same amount as smoking-related illnesses. NPR's Patricia Neighmond reports.' (May 15, 2003) (National Public Radio)
Opinion: Universal Healthcare Coverage Issue Gaining Traction
Excerpt: "Having 'figured out that universal health care is now a winning hand,' the Democratic presidential candidates 'just have to figure out how to play it,' a Los Angeles Times editorial states." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Rhode Island House Approves Bill Sanctioning Canadian Prescription Drug Imports
Excerpt: "The Rhode Island House on May 13 unanimously passed a bill (HR 5478A) that would help state residents purchase prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies, the Providence Journal reports ..." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Average Cost of New Drug Development Reaches $897 Million, Study Says
Excerpt: "The average cost of developing a new prescription drug is $897 million, almost four times the cost in the early 1990s, according to a study by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, Bloomberg/Bergen Record reports." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Gateway Shareholders Vote Against Expensing Options
Excerpt: "The proposal, made by the Central Pension Fund of the International Union of Operating Businesses and Participating Employees, was defeated by a vote of 77 percent to 23 percent at Gateway's annual meeting in Sioux City, Iowa." (Reuters)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Defined Benefit New Business Consultant
for New York Life Investment Management, LLC
in MA
Internal Sales Consultant
for New York Life Investment Management, LLC
in MA
Administration Department Supervisor
for Retirement Plan Administration and ERISA Specialists
in IL
Senior Compliance Specialist
for The Segal Company
in MA
Plan Processing Specialist
for Bisys
in PA
Plan Administrator
for Associates in Excellence
in CA
Senior Plan Specialist
for Bisys
in PA
Compliance Administrator
for Bisys
in PA
Qualified Retirement Plan Sales Person
for Tycor Benefit Administrators, Inc.
in DE, MD, NJ, PA
Benefits Analyst
for Weyerhaeuser
in MD
Retirement Plan Manager
for Weyerhaeuser
in WA
Newly Posted Webcasts
(Post Yours!)
Health Care Access and Affordability -- Its Impact on the Economy
on May 14, 2003
presented by Kaiser Family Foundation
Newly Posted Conferences
(Post Yours!)
Consumer Driven Health Care -- An Early Report Card
in MO
June 10, 2003
The Kansas City Chapter of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists
Newly Posted Press Releases
(Post Yours!)
IRS Clarifies Tax Treatment of Various Medical Expenses
(Internal Revenue Service)
412i Boot Camp in Seattle during July Sold Out
(The 412 Company)
Handy Links:
- View Today's Active Message Threads
- Search BenefitsLink
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research
- Employee Benefits Library
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