| The BenefitsLink Newsletter - Welfare Plans Edition |   |
December 7, 2001 - 6,718 subscribers
Today's sponsor: EBIA's COBRA: The Developing Law
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COBRA: The Developing Law is the authoritative resource for employers, administrators and advisors who handle COBRA compliance issues. Written by two leading employee benefits attorneys, this 796-page manual has all the information you need to bring your group health plans into compliance with COBRA. Click on the link above for more information.
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House Republican Leaders Offer $25B in Aid to Unemployed Under Stimulus Bill
Excerpt: "In Dec. 5 negotiations on economic stimulus legislation, House Republican leaders offered a provision that would spend $25 billion to extend benefits for unemployed workers and provide tax credits to help those workers purchase health insurance ..." (KaiserNetwork.org)
HIPAA Privacy Rules Update
Excerpt: "An Analysis & Evaluation of the Principle Privacy Provisions of the HHS Regulations Promulgated Pursuant to HIPAA" (Richard Kirschner, Esq., published by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans)
Genetic Discrimination Law Could Be Signed by Late Next Year
Excerpt: "The main Democratic supporter of broad legislation banning genetic discrimination in insurance policies and in the workplace predicted Thursday that the bill would pass Congress and get a presidential signature by the end of next year." (Medscape; free registration required)
Health Care Costs of Retired Steelworkers Behind Proposed Steel Companies Merger
Excerpt: "The health care costs of 600,000 older people are driving the proposed megamerger of America's steel industry, with union officials and company executives hoping for government money to pay the medical bills of retirees. The cost to the public? Perhaps $800 million a year." (Knight Ridder/Tribune via IFEBP)
Kaiser HMO, New State Regulator Square Off
Excerpt: "Kaiser Permanente, the state's largest HMO, and the fledgling California Department of Managed Health Care are butting heads in a case that tests regulators' ability to penalize health plans for alleged lapses in patient care." (Los Angeles Times)
Nearly Three-Fourths of HMO Members Are Enrolled In a National Managed Care Firm
Nearly three-fourths of HMO members are enrolled in national managed care firms, according to the HMO Industry Report recently released by InterStudy. The report focuses on enrollment trends, lists the top 25 largest and fastest-growing HMOs, analyzes sources of HMO enrollment growth and decline, and presents state-by-state enrollment information. (Spencernet)
Steel Company Decries Bailout Bid
Excerpt: "The head of nation's second-largest steel-maker [Nucor] criticized an industry bailout being pursued by rivals, saying it will lead the government into an expensive quagmire.... The companies are seeking to have the government assume responsibility for their $10 billion to $13 billion in pension costs. Nucor doesn't face the massive health and pension benefit obligations plaguing the companies talking about a merger." (Associated Press via Yahoo! News)
Gephardt: Congress Should Mull Helping Steel Companies with Pensions, Retiree Health Costs
Excerpt: "House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt said on Thursday Congress should consider picking up some pension and retiree health costs in order to help two of the biggest U.S. steel companies merge." (Reuters via Yahoo! Finance)
Overview: Employment Taxes and Tax Withholding - Stock Options
Summary of new rules applicable to incentive stock options exercised after 2002, by attorney Mark Poerio. (xpay.net)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings (Post Yours!)
| Benefits Manager | for Lynden Incorporated in WA |
| Consulting Actuary Pension | for An Excellent Opportunity with a Growing, Privately Held Firm in CA |
| DB Analyst CLIENT MANAGER | for This Top Notch Team!! in CA |
| Benefits Analyst I | for GreenPoint Financial Corp. in NY |
| Plan Administrator | for Ceridian in CA, CO, VA |
Newly Posted Press Releases
| SECURIAN RETIREMENT SERVICES LISTED ON 401KEXCHANGE.COM (401kExchange.com) |
| PacifiCare Dental Introduces New and Improved Dental PPO Plans (PacifiCare Dental & Vision) |
Subscribe to the Retirement Plans Edition, too (click)
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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