| The BenefitsLink Newsletter - Welfare Plans Edition |  |
July 13, 2001
Today's sponsor: The International Quality & Productivity Center (click)
The International Quality & Productivity Center presents a powerful conference on "Winning Strategies for Measuring & Improving Work/Life Initiatives," July 30-August 1, 2001 at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco, CA. By attending, you will from over 12 leading organizations on how to improve your workforce and become an "employer of choice," including: Texas Instruments, Inc., Fannie Mae, Eddie Bauer, Inc., DuPont, Wachovia Bank, WFD Consulting, Boston College Center for Work & Family and many more! For more information, please call 1-800-882-8684 or visit: http://www.iqpc.com/G067worklife160701
Lawmakers Debate Genetic Discrimination Measure
Excerpt: "All the potential benefits of the mapping of the human genome could be at risk if Congress fails to pass a law to protect Americans from insurance and employment discrimination based on individual genetic makeup, witnesses told a House subcommittee on Wednesday." (Medscape; free registration required)
Chart of State Genetic Privacy Laws
Excerpt: "Medical information is presumed confidential, but increasing capabilities to store and rapidly transfer data escalate the challenge of protecting privacy. Laws in all states restrict access to medical records. At issue is whether genetic information should be protected generally, as another component of health data, or by special genetic privacy laws.... Laws in 14 states require informed consent for a third party to perform or require a genetic test or obtain genetic information." (National Conference of State Legislatures)
Higher Premiums, More Restrictive Coverage for Older Versus Younger Retirees Violates ADEA
Fairly meaty summary and analysis of the April decision in Erie County Retirees Association v. The County of Erie, Pennsylvania. Excerpt: "By having a retiree health plan where retirees age 65 and older paid higher premiums and had more restrictive coverage than younger retirees, a county employer violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), a federal district court in Pennsylvania ruled." (Thompson Publishing Group)
IRS Issues Guidance on Elective Reductions for Transportation Benefits
Excerpt: "The IRS June 2 issued guidance on the definition of 'compensation' as it relates to transportation fringe benefits under qualified plans and 403(b) plans. The guidance, which is contained in Notice 2001-37, shows employers and plan administrators how to apply the changes to the Internal Revenue Code made by the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act (CRTRA) (P.L. 106-554), which was signed into law on Dec. 21, 2000." (Thompson Publishing Group)
Telecommuting: Overview of Potential Barriers Facing Employers
GAO-01-926, July 11, 2001. Excerpt: "This report addresses your request for information on potential tax, regulatory, and liability barriers that employers face when they establish telecommuting programs for their employees. Telecommuting refers to employees who routinely work (typically several days each week) from remote locations (often their residences) rather than exclusively at an employer-provided location." (U.S. General Accounting Office)
U.S. Workers Face Barriers to Health Coverage, Study Says
Excerpt: "Many working Americans are unable to get health insurance through their employers because of waiting periods for new employees and exclusions for part-time workers, a new study finds. Workers also are less likely to enroll when they have to shell out a high monthly contribution toward their health insurance, researchers write in the July/August issue of the journal Health Affairs." (Reuters via Excite News)
Analysis: Trade Association Operating as MEWA Is Single Employer Plan, DOL Rules
Excerpt: "The MEWA's governing structure and its member services were critical to determining that the association operates a single employer plan. Although the advisory opinion does not explicitly state so, association members that participate in the plan but have no voting power in governance would be treated as individual plan sponsors." (Thompson Publishing Group)
Online Webcast: Market Watchers and Policy Analysts Evaluate the Health Care System
No charge; sponsored by the Center for Studying Health System Change. Excerpt: "A half-day roundtable, focusing on the latest market trends and legislation, as well as their potential impact on health policy and the health care industry." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Kaiser Family Foundation Launches Comprehensive State Health Policy Resource Site
Excerpt: "The Kaiser Family Foundation today launched a new online resource, State Health Facts Online at www.statehealthfacts.kff.org, that provides comprehensive and current health policy information on all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. The free service offers information on a variety of issues, including managed care, the uninsured, Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP programs, women's health, minority health and HIV/AIDS." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Aetna Plans to Concentrate More on Self-Insured Business
Excerpt: "As part of its 'overall strategy to regain profitability,' Aetna intends to decrease the number of small employers -- those with 50 or fewer workers -- it covers and 'chase' medium and large employers, the Hartford Courant reports." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings (Post Yours!)
| Retirement Sales District Manager | for ADP, Inc. in CA, CT, KS, MI |
| Retirement Plan Administrator | for Donohue Feiman Retirement Plan Services in CO |
| Health and Welfare Consultant/Manager | for Ernst & Young LLP in TX |
| Account Executive | for Lockton Companies in MO |
| Benefit Health Analyst (Senior) | for The Segal Company in CO |
Newly Posted Webcasts (Post Yours!)
| Wall Street Comes to Washington | on July 12, 2001 presented by Center for Studying Health System Change |
Newly Posted Press Releases
| STRATEGIC FINANCIAL CONCEPTS AND ICM ASSET MANAGEMENT FORM PROMANAGE, INC. (ProManage, Inc.) |
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