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December 29, 2003 - 8,783 subscribers
Today's sponsor: The John Marshall Law School Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
Spring 2004 Information Sessions Learn about the nation’s only LL.M. degree program in employee benefits law. 18-course curriculum includes: Pension, Profit-Sharing and 401 (k) Plans Executive Compensation Health and Welfare Benefit Plans ERISA Litigation Full- or part-time joint J.D./LL.M programs available Information sessions on degree programs in tax law or employee benefits law: Friday, Jan. 9, from 5 to 6 p.m. Contact the Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits at 312.987.2380 or visit our website.
(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
Many Insurers Want One Regulator Instead of 50
Excerpt: "After more than 150 years of state-by-state regulation, many of the biggest insurance companies are leading a revolution to establish a federal regulator in Washington and shift state regulators to a secondary role." (New York Times; one-time registration required)
Some Companies Perk Up Benefits
Excerpt: "The sluggish economy has caused many companies to scale back such benefits as health care coverage. But many new-style perks that flourished in the dot-com era -- such as pet insurance, concierge service and on-site massage -- are surviving the odds, with a number of companies maintaining or expanding their voluntary benefits." (USA Today)
Opinion: Making the Medicare Drug Plans Work
Excerpt: "HHS, the agency that manages Medicare, has the tough job of transforming a very complicated, ideologically driven piece of legislation into a practical drug benefit that will work for our older and disabled citizens when they go to the pharmacy to get the drugs they need." (Donna Shalala in the Washington Post)
New Federal Reports Highlight Issues in Health Care Quality
Excerpt: "The Department of Health and Human Services has released two reports that represent the first comprehensive national effort to measure the quality of health care in the U.S. and assess disparities in access to and utilization of care." (The Commonwealth Fund)
Overview: IRS Provides Guidance on Health Savings Accounts
12/24/03. Excerpt: "Using a question and answer format, Notice 2004-2 explains what HSAs are, who can establish them, and the basic rules for HSA contributions and withdrawals. Key issues addressed in Notice 2004-2 follow: ..." (RIA Federal Taxes Weekly Alert)
Some Doctors Letting Patients Skip Co-Payments
Excerpt: "For years, health plans have sought to control medical costs by negotiating fees with a group of preferred doctors and requiring patients to pay extra for going outside the network. But some doctors and clinics - eager to help hard-pressed patients or calculating that it can benefit their business - have begun to foil the cost-control efforts by waiving those extra charges." (New York Times; one-time registration required)
Maine Universal Health Plan Takes Shape
Excerpt: "Maine took a bold step earlier this year to create one of the nation's most far-reaching health insurance plans, naming it Dirigo, Maine's motto and Latin for 'I lead.' Dirigo Health is expected to sign its first enrollees this summer." (AP via Yahoo! News)
Those Year-End Bonuses Aren't Always Green
Excerpt: "Each employee received 10 raffle tickets to place in various boxes for prizes like dinner certificates, a dedicated spot in the front row of the company's parking lot or the corner office." (New York Times; one-time registration required)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
IRS Unit Will Focus on Lawyers and Accountants
Excerpt: "The Internal Revenue Service will announce this morning that it is going to focus on misconduct by lawyers and accountants who represent wealthy individuals and corporations." (New York Times; one-time registration required)
Military Call-Up Prompts Focus on USERRA
Excerpt: "Signed into law nine years ago by President Clinton, USERRA was designed to give employees who take a leave of absence for active military service certain statutory rights-- not only to reemployment, but to specific coverage for retirement and wellness benefits." (Journal of Accountancy)
Newly Posted Events
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Wisconsin on April 2, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Georgia on March 19, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in California on February 26, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
in Illinois on April 22, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
in Washington on March 24, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
in Missouri on February 26, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Massachusetts on April 3, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in New York on April 2, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Texas on March 19, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Colorado on February 27, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
in Minnesota on April 22, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
in North Carolina on March 25, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
in Iowa on March 4, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Ohio on April 3, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Illinois on April 21, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Washington on March 25, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Missouri on February 27, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
in Pennsylvania on April 22, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
in Ohio on March 25, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
Nationwide on February 24, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Illinois on April 23, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in North Carolina on March 26, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Louisiana on February 27, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
in Massachusetts on April 29, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
in Kansas on March 25, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Minnesota on April 23, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Ohio on March 26, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Nebraska on March 3, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in California on February 24, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
in Michigan on April 1, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
in Indiana on March 4, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Pennsylvania on April 23, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Kansas on March 26, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Iowa on March 5, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in New Mexico on February 26, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
in Wisconsin on April 1, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
in Georgia on March 18, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
Nationwide on February 24, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in New York on April 28, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Michigan on April 2, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Indiana on March 5, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in Texas on February 26, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
in New York on April 1, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
in Texas on March 18, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop (1-day program)
in California on February 25, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop - New Format!
in New Jersey on April 29, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
Ever wondered if employees complain about their 401(k) Plans?
in California on January 13, 2004
presented by Western Pension & Benefits Conference - Los Angeles Chapter
Newly Posted Press Releases
S&P Equity Market Analysts Reports Pension Under-funding at Historic High Despite Market Gains
(Standard & Poor's)
Gilsbar Named One of the Top Ten Best Places to Work by New Orleans CityBusiness
(Gilsbar, Inc.)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Benefits Analyst
for CPE
in CA
401(k) Client Relationship Manager
for Great West Life & Annuity
in GA, IL, NY
Defined Benefit/Defined Contribution Account Manager
for National Retirement Services, Inc.
in CA, NC
Plan Administrator
for Thomas F Barrett Inc.
in DC, MD
401 (k) Cashiering Financial Control
for Constantin Control Associates
in MN
Qualified Retirement Plan Administrator
for Benefits Integrity
in CO
Retirement Plan Recordkeeper
for Fortress Retirement Services, Inc.
in IA
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