Welfare Plans Edition
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June 20, 2000
Supreme Court to Hear Case on ERISA Preemption of State Law Regulating Beneficiary Designations
Excerpt: "The court said it will hear a Washington state woman's argument that she is entitled to the life insurance and pension benefits of her ex-husband, who died in an accident shortly after they were divorced. His children from a previous marriage say they should receive the benefits." (New York Times; free registration required)
Subrogation Clauses Enabling Health Plans to Recover Funds in Personal Injury Suits
Excerpt: "'When they (HMOs) go after compensation in excess of their costs, they're depriving victims of revenues that may be very necessary to help them recover,' said California state senator Adam Schiff." (SmartMoney.com)
Supreme Court Managed Care Ruling: Score One for the Conservatives (Opinion)
Excerpt: "And who now defends this wonderful world of HMO-dominated medical practice? Not the left: Democrats have been at the forefront of the effort to rein in the arrogance of the HMO bureaucracies ... It is, amazingly, the Republicans who have come to the defense of HMO medicine." (Boston Globe)
Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Negligence Cases in Which HMOs Claim ERISA Preemption
Excerpt: "The Supreme Court ordered a lower court Monday to reconsider whether a Pennsylvania health maintenance organization can be sued in state court by a man who says inadequate care left him a quadriplegic ... The justices ordered Pennsylvania courts to restudy the case in light of the Supreme Court's ruling last week that barred some federal lawsuits by patients against HMOs." (Associated Press)
What Do E-Signatures Mean For You?
Excerpt: "But what exactly will your digital signature look like? While most folks might imagine scribbling with little electronic pens on an interactive notepad, digital signatures will, for the foreseeable future, remain far more arcane -- and not entirely intuitive." (Business Week)
Employee Retention in the Information Technology Field: To Have and To Hold
Excerpt: "From customized jobs to flexible work policies to unlimited earnings potential, [the companies we've rated as the] Best Places to Work are finding ways to make themselves too attractive for employees to leave." (ComputerWorld.com)
New issue online of the Pension & Benefits Update email newsletter by Tax Analysts: June 19, 2000
June 19, 2000 issue includes summary descriptions of Rev. Proc. 2000-27 re GUST amendments; Notice 2000-32 re tax withholding on hardship distributions; Notice 2000-30 re reporting IRA recharacterizations and reconversions occurring after 2000; PLR 200023052 re distribution of VEBA surplus on termination. (Tax Analysts, Inc.--see www.taxbase.org)
Where Healthcare Reform Happens: the States
Excerpt: "The healthcare debate is just that in Washington - debate. But beyond the nation's capital, there is plenty of action at the state level, where activist legislatures and grass-roots campaigns are changing healthcare delivery." (Christian Science Monitor)
New England Journal of Medicine Editor Calls for Single Payer System
Excerpt: "The fundamental problem is that it is impossible to regulate health care in an employment-based system if employers can opt out." (Physicians for a National Health Plan)
Preparing for Life Without the Estate Tax
Excerpt: "What are the various ways in which the estate tax could be repealed or reformed? Based on what's happened in the past, four possibilities rise to the top: ... To illustrate the impact each of the possible legislative outcomes could have on the wealth transfer market, I thought it would be helpful to crunch some numbers." (National Underwriter Company)
How to Manage Telecommuters
Excerpt: "Telecommuting is growing in popularity. Hiring telecommuters has many advantages and managing telecommuters is easier than you might think." (CNN.com)
Washington DC Area Governments Back Telecommuting to Support Public Agenda
Excerpt: "The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), a coalition of officials from Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, recently announced it intends to make sure that 20% of the greater Capital area's work force is telecommuting in five years." (Employee Benefit News)
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