| The BenefitsLink Newsletter - Welfare Plans Edition |  |
March 6, 2001
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Short Delay in Effective Dates for HIPAA Privacy Regulations Plus Reopened Comment Period
Excerpt: "Due to some mistakes in processing the regulations, the effective and compliance dates have now been extended for a short period. The source of the problem is DHHS's failure to comply with the federal Congressional Review Act, under which an agency regulation must generally be submitted to Congress 60 days prior to its effective date." (EBIA Weekly)
Key Republican Wants Privacy Rules Blocked
Excerpt: "The Republican leader in the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday urged the White House to block ... rules aimed at protecting the privacy of patients. In a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas said the new rules would have little impact on patients' privacy while clearing the way for the federal government to obtain certain private medical information 'at any time and without notice.'" (Reuters via Excite! News)
IRS Officials Comment on Cafeteria Plan Election Change Regulations
Excerpt: "During a February 28 ECFC Teleconference, IRS officials discussed the final cafeteria plan election change regulations ... IRS officials present were Harry Beker, Christine Keller and Felix Zech ... The regulations may not be earth shaking, but the earth was shaking here in Seattle while we listened to the call (10:55 a.m. Seattle time)." (EBIA Weekly)
Disability Claim Barred; Plaintiff Failed to File Suit Within Time Limit Imposed by Plan Document
Clark v. NBD Bank, N.A. (6th Cir. 2001). Excerpt: "The employer-sponsored long-term disability plan in this dispute required that claims be filed no later than nine months following any injury on which a claim was based. The former employee in the case alleged that she filed a claim shortly after her on-the-job injury occurred but received no response from the plan." (EBIA Weekly)
HMOs Lose Attempt To Get Doctors' Lawsuit Dismissed
Excerpt: "However, [U.S. District Judge Federico] Moreno found fault with the legal underpinnings of several of the physicians' claims and set a March 26 deadline for the physicians to substantiate their allegations under anti-racketeering laws." (Modern Healthcare)
IRS Rules on VEBA Providing Health Coverage to Non-Tax Dependent/Nonspousal Domestic Partners
IRS Priv. Ltr. Rul. 200108010 (Nov. 17, 2000). Excerpt: "A self-insured multiemployer voluntary employees' beneficiary association (the Fund) requested a ruling regarding the tax consequences of providing health coverage to nondependent, nonspousal domestic partners of participating employees.... the IRS took the opportunity to provide a basic primer on the relevant tax principles." (EBIA Weekly)
On Capitol Hill, Much Interest in Expanding Health Benefits for Federal Employees
Excerpt: "At least a half-dozen bills, introduced in the House and Senate, seek to augment the coverage provided government workers and retirees through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. The bills reflect the interests of members of Congress and their constituents and, if enacted, would continue a trend of the last decade, when more than a dozen significant changes were made to FEHBP." (Washington Post)
The State of Health Insurance in California: Recent Trends, Future Prospects
Excerpt: "In 1999, 6.8 million nonelderly Californians were uninsured, down from 7.3 million the previous year. This drop in the number of uninsured was the result of a 2.3 percentage-point gain in employment-based health insurance coverage and a slower decline in Medi-Cal coverage compared to the previous several years.... Between 1994 and 1999, coverage from job-based insurance and public programs changed significantly." (UCLA Center for Health Policy Research)
Legislative Activity on the Benefits Front - March 2001 (PDF)
(Milliman & Robertson)
Link to Full Text of SEC Proposed Rule on Disclosure of Stock Options and Other Equity Compensation
Excerpt: "We are proposing amendments that would require registrants to disclose, at least annually, information about the total number of securities that have been authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans in effect as of the end of the last completed fiscal year.... The purpose of the amendments is to promote investor understanding of a registrant's equity compensation policies and practices so that investors can make informed voting and investment decisions." (Securities and Exchange Commission)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings (Post Yours!)
| Employee Benefit Tax Manager | for Deloitte & Touche, a Professional Services Firm in OH |
| Sr. Benefit Administration Specialist-Multiple Locations | for Towers Perrin in PA, VA |
| Client Services Representative | for ClearBenefits, Inc. in CA |
| Retirement Plan Administrator | for Keiter, Slabaugh, Penny & Holme, LLC in VA |
| Participant Services Meeting Leader | for KeyBank in WA |
Newly Posted Conferences (Post Yours!)
| SunGard Corbel Client Conference | in FL on June 25, 2001 presented by SunGard Corbel |
| 1-Day "Hot" Topics Update Seminar | in FL on June 27, 2001 presented by SunGard Corbel |
| SunGard Corbel Advanced Pension Conference | in IL on September 12, 2001 presented by SunGard Corbel |
| SunGard Corbel Advanced Pension Conference | in FL on February 13, 2002 presented by SunGard Corbel |
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