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April 2, 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
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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)
Washington State Governor Signs Bill To Help Small Businesses With Health Costs
Excerpt: "Although Washington state Gov. Gary Locke (D) recently signed a bill (HB 2460) that aims to help small businesses with their health costs, three small business groups on Wednesday said they are planning to draft a ballot initiative for the fall election to allow insurers to sell small companies 'bare-bones' health plans, the AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports." (KaiserNetwork.org)

Small Business Groups To Push Senate on Association Health Plan Legislation
Excerpt: "The National Federation of Independent Business and 160 other organizations on Thursday began a campaign pushing for the passage of a bill (S 545) that would allow small businesses to band together across state lines to form association health plans, the Washington Times reports." (KaiserNetwork.org)

Voluntary Benefits Can Be Win-Win, But Also Can Be Lose-Lose
Excerpt: "Corporate benefits packages may be shrinking, but voluntary benefits are skyrocketing. According to a recent survey, 6 of every 10 companies now offer at least one voluntary, or supplemental, benefit." (CFO.com)

Overview: IRS Issues Additional HSA Guidance
Excerpt: "Note that after the HSA is established, there is no guidance on whether there is an outside limit on obtaining tax-free payments or reimbursements from the HSA. For example, suppose an HSA is established today with a deposit of $1,000. A medical expense of $1,000 is incurred tomorrow. Without any outside deadline, the individual could leave the $1,000 in the HSA for 20 years and then withdraw $1,000 tax-free and claim it is a reimbursement of the medical expense incurred 20 years ago." (SunGard Corbel)

Health Savings Account Fever: a Blistering Pace for HSA Guidance Continues
6 pages. (Kilpatrick Stockton LLP)

Newly Posted Events

2004 CCA Annual Meeting
in Hawaii on October 17, 2004
presented by Conference of Consulting Actuaries/American Academy of Actuaries

2005 Enrolled Actuaries Meeting
in District of Columbia on April 3, 2005
presented by Conference of Consulting Actuaries/American Academy of Actuaries
Newly Posted Press Releases

Hewitt Study Shows Majority of Employers Likely to Offer New Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
(Hewitt Associates LLC)

ERIC Warns Government Roadblocks on Rate Relief Crippling Pension System
(ERIC (ERISA Industry Committee))

ACLI Encourages Congress, Administration, To Promote Long-Term Savings
(American Council of Life Insurers)

Mutual Fund Manager MFS Pays $50 Million Fine To Settle SEC Enforcement Action
(U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)

Authoria Announces Sixth Annual User Conference
(Authoria, Inc.)

Health Plans Fail To Disclose Required Coverage Information
(Office of New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Post a Help Wanted Ad

Pension Administrator/Compliance Analyst
for CNA Trust
in IL

Daily Plan Administrator
for Charlotte, NC TPA
in NC

Education Account Executive - Retirement Services
for Principal Financial Group
in CA

Senior Health and Welfare Administrator
for Black Mountain Management, Inc.
in NY

Retirement Consultant
for Towers Perrin
in CT, DC, GA, MA, NC, NJ, NY, PA

Executive Director/Fund Administrator
for large Taft Harley Fund located in New York City, New York
in NY

Paralegal-Legal Affairs
for American Express
in NY

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