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March 30, 2004 - 8,783 subscribers
Today's sponsor: HIPAA Solutions Rx

(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)

Is Your Organization Impacted By HIPAA?
Your answer is probably not a simple "yes" or "no", more likely it is "How
much?"
To help you understand this confusing regulation, HIPAA Solutions Rx and the
law firm of Miller & Chevalier have developed some great resources.  Now,
Miller & Chevalier's Privacy Manual, QuickStart Guide and Model Documents
are available to you through HIPAA Solutions Rx.  Get started by visiting
www.hipaaemployer.net to learn how companies who are fully insured, self
insured, have flexible spending accounts, and even those who are
administered by a third party, are impacted by HIPAA.
Then, consider adding one of Miller & Chevalier's compliance tools to your
library.  Ordering online at www.hipaarx.net is easy or call toll free
1.866.447.2211. SHRM & NAM members receive special discounts - go to their
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(This is not an advertisement for legal services)

(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
IRS Modifies HSA Eligibility Rule for 2004, 2005 for Individuals Covered by Pres.cription Drug Plan (PDF)
3 pages. Excerpt: "This revenue procedure provides transition relief from Revenue Ruling 2004-38 for determining an 'eligible individual' ... who may make contributions to a Health Savings Account (HSA). The transition relief covers the months before January 1, 2006, in the case of an individual who is covered by both a high deductible health plan (HDHP) and by a separate plan or rider that provides pres.cription drug benefits before the minimum annual deductible of the HDHP is satisfied." (Internal Revenue Service)

Rev. Rul. 2004-38 Clarifies HSA Eligibility Rule for Individuals Covered by Pres.cription Drug Plans (PDF)
5 pages. Excerpt: "May an individual contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA) under section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code if the individual is covered by both a high deductible health plan (HDHP) that does not cover pres.cription drug benefits and by a separate pres.cription drug plan (or rider) that does not qualify as an HDHP because the plan provides benefits before the individual has satisfied the minimum annual deductible required by section 223(c)(2)(A)?" (Internal Revenue Service)

IRS Provides Safe Harbor for Preventive Care Benefits Under High-Deductible Health Plan (PDF)
7 pages. Excerpt: "This notice provides a safe harbor for preventive care benefits allowed to be provided by a high deductible health plan (HDHP) without satisfying the minimum deductible under section 223(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code." (Internal Revenue Service)

HSAs Established Before April 15, 2005 Can Cover Expenses Incurred On or After January 1, 2004 (PDF)
3 pages; IRS Notice 2004-25. Excerpt: "This notice provides transition relief for calendar year 2004 for eligible individuals who establish an HSA or on before April 15, 2005 from the requirement that qualified medical expenses may only be paid or reimbursed by an HSA if incurred after the HSA has been established." (Internal Revenue Service)

Preventive ERISA Compliance Medicine for Health and Welfare Plans (PDF)
At pp. 1-3 of 11-page document. (Milliman USA)

Employers: Practicing Humanity Goes Long Way
Excerpt: "[S]ometimes it's employers who seem to have been raised by wolves. They fail to recognize that workers, particularly those at the bottom of the wage ladder, are human beings, not some lower life-form. For instance: ..." (Workforce.com)

Adoption Programs Gaining Ground
Excerpt: "The Calvert Group is one employer that kicks in money and time for employees who adopt children. But the take-up rate is low, so it costs companies little to increase employee morale and goodwill by offering this benefit." (Workforce.com)

Maine To Provide Universal Health Care
Excerpt: "Other states have tried -- and failed -- to create universal health care. Now, Maine intends to show them how it's done. This summer, the state will begin enrolling people in its health care program, called Dirigo -- the state motto and Latin for 'I lead.' It is aimed at ensuring health care access for all 1.3 million residents." (AP via Washington Times)

Alabama Governor Proposes Changes to State-Provided Retiree Health Insurance
Excerpt: "A person can work at a public school or state agency for as few as 10 years and get full health insurance coverage from the state starting at age 60 for the rest of his or her life. That's the same benefit given to someone who works 25 years or more for the state. Gov. Bob Riley said Monday he'd like to see that change." (AL.com)

Can the Rise of Consumerism Control Increasing Healthcare Costs? (PDF)
At pp. 4-8 of 11-page document. (Milliman USA)

Opinion: Kerry Prescribes More Government-Run Health Care
Excerpt: "Kerry would nationalize significant portions of the private health insurance industry and subject what remains to tight bureaucratic control from Washington, D.C." (Michael F. Cannon, published by the Cato Institute)

Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General

House Opposition to Expensing of Stock Options Increases
Excerpt: "The high-tech lobby, which turned to Congress a decade ago to help block a requirement to count stock options as expenses, is finding friends in high places on Capitol Hill again." (Washington Post; one-time registration required)

Tougher Accounting Rule Expected for Stock Options
Excerpt: "In a ruling that could change the way many Americans are paid, the nation's top accounting authority is expected to decree as early as today that companies must treat employee stock options as business expenses when they are issued." (Los Angeles Times; one-time registration required)

Massachusetts OKs Marriage Amendment
Excerpt: "Massachusetts lawmakers yesterday passed a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman and to make their state the second in U.S. history to create civil unions for homose.xuals." (Washington Times)

D.C.-Area Grocery Chains, Workers Reach Tentative Agreement
Excerpt: "Negotiators for the two largest supermarket chains and unions representing their 18,000 Washington area workers have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, sources said [Monday]." (Washington Post; one-time registration required)

Newly Posted Events

Not Just a Technology Issue: The Critical Role of Attorneys in HIPAA Security
Nationwide on April 21, 2004
presented by American Health Lawyers Association

125 Plan Administrator
in Pennsylvania on July 14, 2004
presented by MHM Resources Inc.

125 Plan Administrator Training
in Missouri on May 19, 2004
presented by MHM Resources Inc.

125 Plan Administrator Training
in Georgia on October 6, 2004
presented by MHM Resources Inc.

125 Plan Administrator Training
in Missouri on November 17, 2004
presented by MHM Resources Inc.
Newly Posted Press Releases

Hewitt Associates to Launch New Advertising Program
(Hewitt Associates LLC)

Cottage Health System Refines HR Administrative Processes with Open Enrollment Provided by Benefit Software’s Fringe Facts® Online
(Benefit Software Inc.)

The Honorable John W. Snow Prepared Remarks: Health Savings Accounts Event at the Department of the Treasury
(U.S. Department of Treasury)

Treasury Issues Additional Guidance on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
(U.S. Department of Treasury)

Merrill Lynch And McCamish Systems Form Alliance To Serve Non-Qualified/Deferred Compensation Plans
(Merrill Lynch and McCamish Systems)

The Boomers Will Be Slow to Retire, Says Economist Richard Hokenson, but When They Do, They'll Hit the Beach in Large Numbers
(Hokenson & Company)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Post a Help Wanted Ad

Employee Benefits Sales Representative
for Great-West Healthcare
in CT, NY, WA

Client Services Representative
for PAi
in NV, WI

401k Client Service Representative
for BISYS Retirement Services
in PA

401(k) Administrator
for Alliance Benefit Group of New England
in NH

Project Manager-CCI
for Transamerica
in CA

Retirement Plan Consultant
for Invesmart
in OH

Controller
for MassMutual
in MA

Fund Administrator
for SEIU Local 74 Benefit Funds
in NY

Daily 401(k) Plan Administrator
for Newport Group of North Carolina, Inc.
in NC

Client Relations Manager
for ING U.S. Financial Services
in CA

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