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February 18, 2004 - 8,783 subscribers
Today's sponsor: CBI’s 2nd Annual Disease Management Summit for Employers, Providers and Health Plans
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
Al Lewis and Warren Todd to speak at CBI's Disease Management Summit! CBI’s 2nd Annual Disease Management Summit for Employers, Providers and Health Plans: Improve Productivity and Outcomes While Reducing Absenteeism and Healthcare Costs, April 22-23, 2004 in Washington D.C. The Summit features employers and healthcare strategists who will present innovative strategies to evaluate and implement disease management programs. Through in-depth case studies, speakers and healthcare strategists will present financial and clinical outcomes that have effectively managed health care costs, decreased absenteeism and improved productivity for employees with chronic conditions.
(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
Government Begins Campaign Against Drugs from Canada
Excerpt: "Federal authorities on Tuesday started an information campaign in California to try to discourage people from buying their pr*scription drugs from Canada." (SFGate.com)
Increased Number of Employers Requiring Employees To Use Mail-Order Pr*scription Drug Programs
Excerpt: "The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday examined the 'growing number of large employers' that 'are forcing employees to get their pr*scription drugs through the mail rather than a local pharmacy.' International Business Machines, Southwest Airlines, General Motors, Ford Motor, DaimlerChrysler and several municipal governments recently initiated such pr*scription drug mail-order programs under which any pr*scription refilled more than twice has to be ordered through the mail." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Medicare Drug Benefit Seems to Be Hurting Bush's Popularity Rather Than Helping
Excerpt: "President Bush signed a pr*scription-drug act two months ago that is actually hurting his popularity instead of boosting support from the elderly as intended. A Gallup survey found that public disapproval of Mr. Bush's handling of health care has increased 13 percentage points since last year." (Washington Times)
Presentation: HIPAA's Final Security Regulations For Electronically Protected Health Information
Presented at the 33rd Annual ALI-ABA Advanced Course Representing the Professional and Closely Held Business, Scottsdale, Arizona, Feb. 12-14, 2004. (Attorney Greta E. Cowart of Haynes and Boone LLP)
Presentation: COBRA Update
Presented to the 33rd Annual ALI-ABA Advanced Course Representing the Professional and Closely Held Business, Scottsdale, Arizona, Feb. 12-14, 2004. (Attorney Greta E. Cowart of Haynes and Boone LLP)
Presentation: HIPAA Nondiscrimination and Portability Update
Presented to the 33rd Annual ALI-ABA Advanced Course Representing the Professional and Closely Held Business, Scottsdale, Arizona, Feb. 12-14, 2004. (Attorney Greta E. Cowart of Haynes and Boone LLP)
Presentation: Where Does Your Health Plan Fit in HIPAA's Privacy Regulation Requirements?
Presented to the 33rd Annual ALI-ABA Advanced Course Representing the Professional and Closely Held Business, Scottsdale, Arizona, Feb. 12-14, 2004. (Attorney Greta E. Cowart of Haynes and Boone LLP)
Presentation: HIPAA's Privacy Regulations and Their Impact on Group Health Plans
Presented at the 33rd Annual ALI-ABA Advanced Course Representing the Professional and Closely Held Business, Scottsdale, Arizona, Feb. 12-14, 2004. (Attorney Greta E. Cowart of Haynes and Boone LLP)
Misapplication of Change in Plan's Terms Results in $5,885 COBRA Notice Penalty
Excerpt: "A multi-employer health fund was assessed $5,885 in COBRA notice penalties after it improperly applied a plan amendment to a qualified beneficiary on a retroactive basis, even after being informed by a federal agency that a qualifying event did occur. The case is Burris v. Five River Carpenter District Council Health and Welfare Fund, No. 3:01-cv-30091 (S.D. Iowa, Jan. 15, 2004)." (Thompson Publishing Group)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
New Issue of Nixon Peabody's Benefits Briefs
If there's a law firm publication that's more fun to read than Nixon Peabody's Benefits Briefs®, I haven't see it yet! Excerpt: "Market timing in 401(k) accounts; Faulty SPD entitles domestic partner to benefits not enrolled for; Benefit entitlement of contingent workers; Unique plan held to 'benefit' employee as required by NY law; Return of excess pension payment ordered; Qualified parking fringe; Bankrupt creditors able to reach 403(b) accounts." (Nixon Peabody LLP)
Opinion: Why Some Employers See Value in Providing Higher Pay, Benefits
Excerpt: "Much of corporate America is driven today by the belief that to be competitive, companies must cut their employees' wages and benefits. Nowhere is this creed held more devoutly than among the supermarket chains that are enduring a strike and have locked out their workers in Southern and Central California." (Los Angeles Times; one-time registration required)
Opinion: What's Law Got to Do With It, Got to Do With It?
(With apologies to Tina Turner; could the writer's point also could be applied to state and local governments' efforts to reimport drugs from Canada?) Excerpt: "San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom says he was upholding the California Constitution's ban on discrimination by handing out marriage licenses (an expected 2,000 by today) to same-sex couples ... Newsom is defying the California law that explicitly defines marriage as between a man and a woman." (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Newly Posted Events
Employee Benefits Security Administration’s Audit Enforcement Activity and Other Compliance Issues
in New York on February 24, 2004
presented by New York Metropolitan Area Chapter - ISCEBS
Newly Posted Press Releases
NCPERS Joins Health Care Coalition
(National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems)
Federal Pension Insurer Takes First Step to Automate Premium Filing Process
(Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC))
The Newport Group Introduces New Online Tools for Plan Participants Including Personal Rate of Return
(The Newport Group)
The 412(i) Company Applauds IRS Action
(The 412(i) Company)
Private Insurance Paying Nearly Half Prescription Bill; Drugs Consume 10% of Health Budget
(Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI))
Transamerica Retirement Services Launches Transamerica Partner Series III To Enhance Partnership With Third Party Administrators
(Transamerica Retirement Services)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Business Analyst
for Constantin Control Associates
in NJ
2nd Vice President, Creative Services
for New York Life Investment Management
in MA, NY
Assistant Administrator
for Small, but rapidly-growing northeast Florida 'Daily Val' shop
in FL
401(k) Compliance Manager
for ADP Retirement Services
in NJ
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