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April 6, 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,
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Then, consider adding one of Miller & Chevalier's compliance tools to your
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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)
More Employers Checking Eligibility of Dependents Receiving Health Coverage
Excerpt: "USA Today on Tuesday examined how some companies increasingly are 'using a mix of forgiveness and punishment to weed out' ineligible family members from their employee health insurance plans." (KaiserNetwork.org)

Exempt from HIPAA? Are You Sure?
Excerpt: "With the April 14, 2004, deadline for small health plans to comply with the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information issued under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (the HIPAA Privacy Rule) approaching, many sponsors of fully-insured health plans feel secure that their plans are exempt from HIPAA. That might not be the case, however." (BNA Tax Management)

HIPAA Compliance For Small Group Health Plans: Four Steps for Determining What You Need to Do
Excerpt: "For employers sponsoring small group health plans, the following four steps will assist in determining what you need to do to make sure your group health plans are compliant with the HIPAA privacy requirements: ..." (BNA Tax Management)

Overview: Pharmacy Carve-outs Are Allowable for HSA Holders Until '06, Treasury Dept. Says
Excerpt: "Until the end of 2005, individuals covered by a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) can contribute funds to a health savings account (HSA) even if they also hold a separate policy or rider that covers pres.cription drugs, Treasury Dept. officials said at a March 30 briefing." (Inside Consumer-Directed Care via AISHealth.com)

Drug Reimport Battle Intensifies, but Health Plans Stay on Sidelines
Excerpt: "The struggle to contain pres.cription drug costs by reimporting them from Canada reached a critical point March 12 when the U.S. Senate approved the nomination of Mark McClellan, M.D., as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services -- with a caveat. But health plans for now seem to be staying out of the battle." (Drug Cost Management Report via AISHealth.com)

Harrah's Entertainment Shifts Health Costs to Executives
Excerpt: "Workers who make $90,000 or more pay twice as much for health care, on average, as those who make less than $30,000, said Gary Thompson, spokesman for the Las Vegas-based company." (Las Vegas Sun)

Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General

Which Nations Will Go Forth and Multiply?
Excerpt: "Countries like France and Japan at least got a chance to grow rich before they grew old. Most developing countries are growing old before they get rich." (Fortune)

Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Post a Help Wanted Ad

Retirement Plan Administrator
for R.J.L. Pension Services, Inc.
in FL

Project Manager
for Transamerica-The Winning Organization
in CA

401(k) Sr Plan Specialist
for BISYS Retirement Services
in PA

Account Executive
for Transamerica
in

Account Service Representative, Employee Benefits
for Fred C. Church Insurance
in MA

Client Service Representative
for TPA Firm in Southeastern MI
in MI

Trust Accounting Administrator
for Associated Pension Consultants
in CA

Regional Manager – Institutional Trust & Custody
for U.S. Bank
in MN

Institutional Services Communication Specialist
for BB&T (Branch Banking and Trust Co.) in Knoxville, TN
in TN

Defined Contribution Software Customer Support
for DATAIR Employee Benefit Systems, Inc.
in IL

Employee Benefits Sales and Service
for Tow Financial Advisors
in CA

ERISA Consultant
for BISYS Retirement Services
in MN

FSA Administrator
for Oxford Associates
in MD

Pension/Corporate Paralegal
for Edwards & Angell, LLP
in FL

Account Executive-Boston
for Transamerica
in MA

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