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The BenefitsLink Newsletter -
Welfare Plans Edition February 7, 2001 Today's sponsor is EmployeeBenefitsJobs.com (click on banner for more information)
ERISA Did Not Preempt Michigan No-Fault Insurance Law Holding Health Insurer Primarily Liable Excerpt: "Ruling in two consolidated cases, the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has held that ERISA did not preempt a provision of Michigan insurance law specifying that where no-fault auto insurance coverage and health care coverage are coordinated, the health insurer is primarily liable for the insured's medical expenses. The ruling came in American Medical Security, Inc. v. Auto Club Insurance Association of Michigan." (Spencernet) Employers Plan To Share More Of Drug Cost Hikes With Workers Excerpt: "As prescription drug costs continue to soar--perhaps as quickly as 15% to 20% annually for the next several years--68% of employers believe they will have to share more of the costs with benefit plan participants, a recent study has revealed." (National Underwriter Company) New Jersey Creates a Health Advocate Program; Offers Way to Contest HMO Denials Excerpt: "New Jersey healthcare consumers will have a government-funded ally in their struggles with managed-care plans, thanks partly to the travails of a 23-year-old woman left disabled after brain surgery eight years ago. The HMO Consumer Help Law creates an ombudsman program to educate the public and help patients who feel they have been wrongly denied health care." (The [Bergen County N.J.] Record) AMA Urges Congress to Break Gridlock And Pass Compromise Bipartisan Patients' Rights Bill Excerpt: "The American Medical Association [on Febraury 6] announced its strong support for the compromise bipartisan patients' bill of rights introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and urged Congress to break through the gridlock and pass the bills swiftly." (PR Newswire) Norwood Yields to Bush on HMO Excerpt: "Maverick on Monday. Team builder on Tuesday. And in between, Rep. Charlie Norwood got a dose of the persuasive powers of President Bush's chief adviser." (New York Times; free registration required) Bush Stalling on Patients' Bill of Rights Excerpt: "President Bush, who campaigned on a promise to bring Republicans and Democrats together on legislation defining patients' rights, raised objections [Tuesday] to the major bipartisan bill addressing the issue in Congress." (New York Times; free registration required) Patients' Rights Bill in Congress Excerpt: "President Bush said Tuesday he hopes to have a patients' bill of rights on his desk soon, even as his staff worked to peel away Republican support for bipartisan legislation." (New York Times; free registration required) Patients' Bill of Rights Compromise Proposed Excerpt: "A bipartisan group of lawmakers yesterday unveiled a compromise health-care package that would allow patients to sue private health insurers for huge damages while trying to provide a legal buffer for companies that offer health coverage to employees." (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Bush Urges Limited Patients' Rights Excerpt: "Senior Bush administration officials said yesterday they plan to send Congress this week a blueprint of the protections they believe the federal government should guarantee to patients in HMOs. But they warned they will oppose key aspects of new patients' rights legislation unveiled yesterday on Capitol Hill." (Washington Post) Senate Coalition Unveils 'Bipartisan Patient Protection Act' Excerpt: "Millions of Americans enrolled in Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) would be provided with comprehensive patient protections under the 'Bipartisan Patient Protection Act of 2001' that was introduced in the Senate today by Senators John McCain (R-AZ), John Edwards (D-NC), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Bob Graham (D-FL)." (John McCain's Straight Talk America) Analysis: Democrats Questioning Bush's Promises of Flexibility Excerpt: "Put President Bush anywhere near a gaggle of Democrats and he cannot pat their backs warmly enough, smile at them widely enough or proceed with more alacrity in assigning them their own nicknames. In the realm of gestures and imagery, Mr. Bush is a bipartisan love machine. But what about the realm of actual policy?" (New York Times; free registration required) McCain Joining Democrats to Offer Health Rights Bill Excerpt: "Senator John McCain, the maverick Republican who irritated many leaders of his own party in his quest for the presidency, will join Democrats this week in proposing legislation intended to break a three-year impasse over patients' rights." (New York Times; free registration required) HMO Bill In Doubt After Bush Bid For Delay Excerpt: "Lawmakers will introduce legislation Tuesday to give Americans an unprecedented right to sue their health plans-- but they will do so without the help of its chief Republican sponsor after a private lobbying blitz by the Bush administration." (Reuters via Excite! News) Opinion: HMO Regulation Turns Into A Smooth Operation in California Excerpt: "Having served as chief of staff to [California governor Gray] Davis when the governor was state controller, ["HMO czar" Daniel] Zingale knows that Davis prefers a measured, incremental approach in almost all things. HMO regulation is one of them. So Zingale has taken an interesting tack. Instead of sneaking around, taking names and trying to nail companies for screwing up, he has cozied up to the health plan executives ..." (Sacramento Bee) Former Labor Secretary Reich Sees Perils of Slow Economy Excerpt: "American corporations should not use the slowing economy as an excuse to lay off employees or cut back on perks that help workers maintain a healthy work/life balance, former Labor Secretary Robert Reich warns." (Dallas Morning News) Opinion: Stock Options Are Theft Excerpt: "One of Britain's biggest shareholders yesterday branded the stock option plans enjoyed by many U.S. company directors as 'theft' and called for new stock exchange rules to prevent the mega-pay packages being exported to Europe." (Guardian Unlimited)
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