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September 6, 2001 - 6,348 subscribers
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Council Urges Employer-Employee Panel to Proceed Cautiously on Genetic Nondiscrimination Legislation
Excerpt: "The House Education and the Workforce Employer-Employee Relations Subcommittee today held its second hearing on a genetic discrimination bill (H.R. 602) sponsored by Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY). Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) has introduced a companion bill in the Senate (S. 318). In urging caution, the Council enumerated a specific list of issues lawmakers should consider as they study H.R. 602: ..." (American Benefits Council)
State-Law Claims on Guaranteed Renewable Coverage Do Not Involve Federal HIPAA Jurisdiction
Excerpt: "In the case, a federal district court in Texas ruled that just because a state-law claim indirectly involved a state statute that incorporated HIPAA's guaranteed renewability provisions does not mean that the case must be heard in federal court." (Thompson Publishing Group)
Regents Nix Same-Sex Benefits Proposal
Excerpt: " A proposal to offer health benefits to same-sex partners of University of Colorado employees died today after the chairwoman of the CU Board of Regents declined to break a tie vote. Regent Maureen Ediger, chairwoman of the board, said she did not vote for the proposal because she was not fully convinced that CU's failure to provide the benefits was costing the university good faculty." (Denver Post)
Time-Off Policies Benefit Employers and Staff
Excerpt: "Although companies continue to lay off employees because of the slowing economy, an increasing number of them are combining sick, vacation, and personal time in an effort to relieve stress and retain staff members. PTOs, or paid time off policies, are an emerging trend among both large and small corporations, particularly in the high-tech sector ..." (Boston Globe)
Telecommuting: Overview of Challenges Facing Federal Agencies
Excerpt: "In summary, perhaps the biggest challenge to establishing and expanding telecommuting programs in both the private and public sectors is management's concerns regarding the effect of telecommuting on the operation of their particular organization. These concerns relate to assessing whether the employer has the types of positions and employees suitable for telecommuting; protecting proprietary and sensitive data; and establishing cost-effective telecommuting programs." (U.S. General Accounting Office)
CMS Tightens Reviews of State Alternatives To HIPAA Guaranteed Coverage
The Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recommended in Program Memorandum 01-02 that states review and revise policies regarding eligibility for state alternatives to HIPAA guaranteed availability provisions. In states with alternative programs, employees who lose group health coverage apply for HIPAA guaranteed individual coverage through the state rather than through insurance companies offering individual policies. (Spencernet)
44 Million Were Uninsured in 2000
In early 2000, 16.1% of the U.S. population (44 million people) had no health insurance coverage, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) 2000 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). MEPS collects nationally representative data from a sample of 25,000 civilian non-institutionalized people on their health care use, expenditures, sources of payment, and insurance coverage. (Spencernet)
PBGC Lets Actuary-Employees Study On the Job
Excerpt: "In June, the Comptroller General ruled that the agency could pay for actuaries to attend training and exam review courses designed to hone their skills and help them pass accreditation exams. Actuaries at the agency can also study for the test during work hours at the discretion of their supervisor, the decision said." (GovExec.com)
Are the Benefits of Newer Drugs Worth Their Cost? Evidence from the 1996 MEPS
Excerpt: "This study analyzes data on prescribed medicines from the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) to examine the association between the use of newer medicines and morbidity, mortality, and health spending. We find that people consuming newer drugs were significantly less likely to die by the end of the survey and were significantly less likely to experience work-loss days than were people consuming older drugs." (Health Affairs)
Job-Based Health Insurance In 2001: Inflation Hits Double Digits, Managed Care Retreats
Excerpt: "Drawing on the results of a national survey of 1,907 firms with three or more workers, this paper reports on several facets of job-based health insurance, including the cost to employers and workers; plan offerings and enrollments; patient cost sharing and benefits; eligibility, coverage, and take-up rates; and results from questions about employers' knowledge of market trends and health policy initiatives." (Health Affairs)
Ailing Polaroid Sends Jolt with Health Benefit Cuts
Excerpt: "Polaroid Corp. of Cambridge, trying to stave off a bankruptcy filing as it struggles with a growing mountain of debt, will drastically reduce health benefits for employees and retirees. In recent memos to both groups, copies of which were obtained by the Globe, the company said that worker contributions to health care premiums would soar to about 50 percent from about 20 percent." (Boston Globe)
Keeping a Lid on Healthcare Expenditures
7 pages. Excerpt: "Five factors have contributed to rising healthcare costs: a growth in technology and consumer awareness, new pharmaceutical products, new legislation, a backlash against health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and market consolidation in HMOs." (Andersen)
Maryland Fines Five Health Care Insurers for Late Payment, Other Violations
Excerpt: "Maryland has levied $1.4 million in fines against five health insurers, including Aetna U.S. Healthcare, state Insurance Commissioner Steven Larsen announced Sept. 5. The Washington Post reports that violations included failing to comply with the state's prompt payment laws, not paying interest on late claims, and neglecting to 'monitor' subcontractors." (KaiserNetwork.org)
More Expensive Drugs May Result in Lower Overall Healthcare Costs
Excerpt: "There's little dispute over whether the research and development of stronger medicines or safer surgeries is driving the decades-long cost increase for prescription drugs, insurance premiums and even visits to the doctor. But in several essays and reports ... experts take on the issue of expensive medicines and suggest many are paying for themselves: People are staying healthier, living longer and avoiding lengthy and costly hospital stays." (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
Health Care Trends Continue to Climb, According to Survey by Buck Consultants
Press release. Excerpt: "Employers' health care costs will continue to spiral upward, according to a national survey of more than 90 health insurers, HMOs and third-party administrators released [September 5, 2001] by Buck Consultants ..." (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
2001 Employer Health Benefits Survey Results
Excerpt: "Employer-sponsored health insurance reaches nearly two out of every three Americans, including active workers, retirees, and their dependents. To provide current information about the nature of employer-provided health benefits, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust conduct an annual national survey of employers of all sizes. This brief summarizes findings from the 2001 Kaiser/HRET Survey." (The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation)
Massachusetts Attorney General Rejects Universal Coverage Initiative
Excerpt: "Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly ruled Sept. 5 that a proposed ballot initiative to 'drive' state lawmakers to enact a universal health care system for the state was unconstitutional, the Boston Globe reports." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Audio Recorded Webcast Available: State of Managed Care Quality
News conference held September 6, 2001 by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, Washington, DC. (KaiserNetwork.org)
Another Question is Answered in the Who's the Employer Q&A Column
Can a recipient organization provide an Incentive Stock Option (ISO) plan to persons who perform services for the recipient organization but are leased from a staffing firm? (BenefitsLink.com)
Another Question is Answered in the Professional Liability Insurance Q&A Column
We received the renewal quote for our third party administrator's professional liability insurance policy. There have been no claims and no other material changes in our practice since our previous renewal, and we were therefore quite surprised to see the renewal premium increase by more than thirty percent. We phoned our broker and the broker explained that the increase is due to insurance market conditions in general. Is this consistent with your experience? (BenefitsLink.com)
District Court Rules Against McDonnell Douglas on ERISA Claims Surrounding Plant Closure
Excerpt: "A judge in a U.S. federal district court ruled in favor of more than 1,000 older McDonnell Douglas workers, finding that the company, now owned by Boeing Co., closed a plant in 1993 to avoid paying pension, health and retiree medical benefits, the Wall Street Journal reported in its online edition Thursday." (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
From Canada: 25th Annual Pension & Benefits Consultants Report
Excerpt: "Total compensation has been discussed in consultant and plan sponsor circles over the past few years. Consultants say it is entrenched in most major U.S. organizations. Now, Canadian employers are starting to walk the talk. They are looking at a variety of rewards--pensions, benefits, salary, vacation, bonuses, stock options--and how organizations pay employees in the broadest sense of the word." (Benefits Canada)
Andersen's U.S. Compensation and Benefits News Briefs: August 20, 2001 Issue
Articles include: 'Final regulations out on domestic vs. foreign trusts; Reduction in back-up withholding rates; IRS invites comments on future of EP determination letters; Vacation cash-out option ruled not to trigger constructive receipt; DOL seeks ERISA Advisory Council nominations; IRS loses more employer-aircraft deduction cases; Senate Health Committee passes mental health bill." (Andersen)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings (Post Yours!)
| Consulting - Pension Actuary & Administrators | for Louis Kravitz & Associates, Inc. in CA |
| Managing Director-Executive Benefits-Dallas | for Clark Bardes/ Compensation Resource Group in TX |
| Pension Consultant | for Pentec, Inc. in CT |
| Pension/Financial Manager JobCode FS02758001 | for Gwinnett County BOC/Financial Services in GA |
| Compensation and Benefits Manager | for The Andrew Jergens Company in OH |
| Compensation Manager | for Leading Manufacturer of Vitamins, Minerals and Nutritional Supplements in CA |
| Employee Benefits Administration Team Leader- Institutional Trust | for Commerce Bancshares, Inc. in MO |
| 401(k) Sales Specialist | for Decimal, Inc. - The Online 401(k) in CA |
| HR BENEFITS SPECIALIST | for North Shore-LIJ Health System in NY |
| Client Relationship Manager | for Zurich Scudder Investments in CA |
Newly Posted Conferences (Post Yours!)
| Introduction to ESOPs | in OR on October 25, 2001 presented by National Center for Employee Ownership |
| Introduction to ESOPs | in TX on November 6, 2001 presented by National Center for Employee Ownership |
| Introduction to ESOPs | in TX on November 7, 2001 presented by National Center for Employee Ownership |
| Communicating Stock Options Workshop | in VA on October 24, 2001 presented by National Center for Employee Ownership |
| Communicating Stock Options Workshop | in WA on November 8, 2001 presented by National Center for Employee Ownership |
| Cash Balance Retirement Plans, 17 Years Later | in NY on September 19, 2001 presented by NY Metro Area Chapter - ISCEBS |
| Health and Welfare Benefit Plans: The Pressure is On | in DC on October 25, 2001 presented by American Bar Association Joint Committee on Employee Benefits and the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel |
| Compensation for Executives and Directors | in NY on November 1, 2001 presented by American Bar Association Joint Committee on Employee Benefits and the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel |
| ERISA Litigation | in IL on November 8, 2001 presented by American Bar Association Joint Committee on Employee Benefits and the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel |
| HIPAA and Other Health Laws: Compliance Assistance Seminar | in OH on September 11, 2001 presented by U.S. Department of Labor, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration and the State of Ohio Department of Insurance |
Newly Posted Press Releases
| Self-Service FAQ Module Added to Fringe Facts® Online (Benefit Software Inc.) |
| ICMA Retirement Corporation to host Web event in September on Retirement Reform Legislation (ICMA Retirement Corporation) |
| FamilyEdge Partners with Leading Corporations to Help Working Parents (Knowledge Kids Network) |
| Flex-Soft Announces the Latest Release of Its Software and Web-Based Application for the Defined Contribution Industry (Flex-Soft, Inc.) |
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Copyright 2001 BenefitsLink.com, Inc., but you may freely distribute this email newsletter in whole. This newsletter is edited by David Rhett Baker, J.D.
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