| The BenefitsLink Newsletter - Welfare Plans Edition |  |
July 12, 2001
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House Panel Delays 'Indefinitely' Hearing on Patients' Rights Legislation
Excerpt: "House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee leaders [on Tuesday July 10] postponed 'indefinitely' a hearing on patients' rights legislation that had been scheduled for next Monday, Congress Daily/AM reports." (KaiserNetwork.org)
The Potential for Discrimination in Health Insurance Based on Predictive Genetic Tests
Audio recording of testimony at yesterday's hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. (KaiserNetwork.org)
Health Insurance Association Testifies on Potential for Genetic Discrimination
Excerpt: "HIAA is well aware of the fact that there is considerable public concern about the potential for genetic discrimination in the insurance marketplace. At the same time, we are convinced that there is a great deal of misinformation about this matter.... [W]e believe that calls for federal legislation to address this issue fail to appreciate the extensive array of federal and state laws already in place, and the potential negative consequences of additional federal requirements." (Health Insurance Association of America)
Bush Administration Seeks To Let Federal Employees Keep Frequent Flier Miles
Excerpt: "The Bush administration has backed legislation that would allow [both military and civilian] federal employees to keep frequent flier miles earned on official travel.... In May, [the U.S. General Accounting Office] sent a report to Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., recommending that he introduce legislation to allow federal workers to keep the frequent flier miles they earn." (GovExec.com)
Opinion: Rx For High Prescription Costs Is Fewer Ads
Excerpt: "The juxtaposition of stories about the health care crisis with ads pushing prescription drugs to the public has begun to seem as contradictory as stories about the energy crisis flanked by ads for SUVs. Over the past few years, there has been an insidious increase in the number of ads for prescription drugs." (Ellen Goodman in the Boston Globe)
Fit Employees Hurt Less at Work
Excerpt: "'What companies like Xerox want to know is, does this program have value?' [researcher Shirley] Musich said. 'What does the company gain in spending money on employee wellness.' The answer, according to the study, is yes, such programs do have value because they save considerably more than they cost.... [T]he health appraisal participants had an average cost per injury of $6,506, compared with $9,482 for non-participants, the study found." (Washington Post)
Subcommittee Hearing on Patients' Bill of Rights Postponed Indefinitely
Excerpt: "Congresswoman Nancy L. Johnson (R-CT), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Ways and Means ... announced that because no floor votes are scheduled on the day of the hearing, and thus Members will not likely be present upon the scheduled hearing date, the Subcommittee hearing on Patient Bill of Rights, previously scheduled for Monday, July 16, 2001 ... has been postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date." (U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means)
Consumer Advocate Says Blue Cross's Sleight of Hand Should Not Derail Patients' Bill of Rights
Press release. Excerpt: "Jamie Court, executive director of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights[, said] 'Patients may feel better about their HMO after Blue Cross of California's announcement this week that doctors will receive bonuses based on patient satisfaction, but they are not likely to see any real difference in how well or quickly they heal when ill unless a federal patient's bill for rights is enacted." (U.S. Newswire via Yahoo! Politics)
Insurer's Recalculation of Disability Benefits Held Not Unreasonable in Light of Plan Language
Dandurand v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of America (D. Me. 2001). Excerpt: "This case illustrates how plan terms control benefit eligibility under an ERISA welfare plan. A plan administrator with the clear right to make benefit decisions will have them upheld unless the decisions conflict with the plain language of the plan or are completely unreasonable." (EBIA Weekly)
California Law Requiring Coverage of Prescription Contraceptives Applies to Catholic Charity
Excerpt: "The California [law] requires group and individual health insurance policies and disability insurance policies that include prescription drug benefits to also include coverage for prescription contraceptive methods. Catholic Charities conceded that it did not meet the statute's limited exemption that permits 'religious employers' ... to obtain employee health and disability insurance policies without coverage of prescription contraceptive methods." (EBIA Weekly)
Welcome to new BenefitsLink advertiser Anlyn Ltd.
Excerpt: "Anlyn specializes in the management of printing and fulfillment of personalized materials, particularly Benefits Enrollment Kits and Pension Statements. Our forte is complex, high-profile projects. Our strong organizational skills allow us to control complex issues caused by HMO plan changes, incorrect data, legal issues or other problems that arise during production. We pay careful attention to detail. Anlyn can provide full management or specific services for a project."
Form 5500 Blanket Extension Unlikely Despite ASPA Efforts
Excerpt: "The U.S. Department of Labor is unlikely to grant a blanket extension of time for plans to file the annual Form 5500 information return for the 2000 plan year, according to Brian Graaf, executive director of the American Society of Pension Actuaries, in an email to ASPA members on July 11." (BenefitsLink)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings (Post Yours!)
| Pension Administrator/Accountant | for First Mercantile Trust Company in TN |
| Client Service Manager | for ING-Aetna Financial Services in CT |
| Pension Accounting | for The Allied Companies in MI |
| Plan Administrator/Compliance Analyst | for Ceridian in VA |
Newly Posted Webcasts (Post Yours!)
| The Potential for Discrimination in Health Insurance Based on Predictive Genetic Tests | on July 11, 2001 presented by KaiserNetwork.org |
Newly Posted Conferences (Post Yours!)
| ERISA Fiduciary Conference | in IL on September 21, 2001 presented by Glasser LegalWorks |
| ERISA Fiduciary Conference | in NY on October 24, 2001 presented by Glasser LegalWorks |
| ERISA Litigation Conference | in NY on October 1, 2001 presented by Glasser LegalWorks |
| ERISA Litigation Conference | in CA on October 29, 2001 presented by Glasser LegalWorks |
| ERISA Litigation Conference | in FL on February 14, 2002 presented by Glasser LegalWorks |
Newly Posted Press Releases
| 1POINT ANNOUNCES FAITH BASED 401K PLATFORM USING THE TIMOTHY PLAN (1Point Administration Services) |
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