December 26, 2002 - 8,030 subscribers Today's sponsor: The COBRA Administrator Handbook (Click on company name or banner to learn more.) Get the COBRA Administrator Handbook for Complete Compliance The first and only compliance manual designed specifically for COBRA self-administration. Simple step-by-step format ensures accurate COBRA documentation, efficient record keeping and complete COBRA compliance protection. The only manual written by expert third-party administrators for COBRA nonprofessionals! Click above for more information. IRS Releases 2002 Version of Pub. 503, 'Child and Dependent Care Expenses' Includes description of changes becoming effective in 2003: "The credit can be as much as 35% (increased from 30% in 2002) of your qualified expenses.... The dollar limit on the amount of qualifying expenses will increase to $3,000 for one qualifying individual and $6,000 for two or more qualifying individuals." (Internal Revenue Service) IRS Releases 2002 Version of Pub. 970, 'Tax Benefits for Education' Contains description of changes for 2002, including modifications to qualified tuition programs, provisions for early withdrawals from IRAs, and extension of the tax-free status of employer-provided educational assistance programs. (Internal Revenue Service) IRS Releases 2002 Version of Pub. 969, 'Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs)' Explains Archer MSAs and Medicare+Choice MSAs, which were scheduled to end December 31, 2002 but have been extended to December 31, 2003. (Internal Revenue Service) Final Regulations on Information Reporting of Qualified Tuition Payments Originally published in the Dec. 19, 2002 Federal Register. Excerpt: "This document contains final regulations relating to the information reporting requirements for qualified tuition and related expenses under section 6050S of the Internal Revenue Code, including rules prescribing when the required information returns must be filed on magnetic media." (Internal Revenue Service) Bridging Insured-Uninsured Gap Becomes Fiery Health Care Battle In California Excerpt: "[M]ore than 6 million Californians ... are the focus of health care reform proposals that could pit powerful special interests-- from labor to business to medical groups-- against each other. Activists are pushing for universal health care-- guaranteed treatment for all Californians-- to revolutionize a system that has seen premiums soar, benefits cut, supply of doctors and nurses dwindling, growing strain on county safety nets and growth in the ranks of the uninsured." (The Modesto [Calif.] Bee) These Days, Workers Seeking More Than Paycheck Excerpt: "'When stress and uncertainty are as high as they have been this fall, it's a wake-up call for many working people,' said Deborah Clifford.... [She] added that if the work people do is not aligned with interests and strengths, then their work will suffer. She said she has identified the following seven trends: ..." (The Columbus [Oh.] Dispatch via Society for Human Resource Management) Analysis: Understanding HHS' Newest Guidance on HIPAA Privacy Rule Excerpt: "According to OCR, a business associate is a person or entity that performs certain specific functions, activities or services that involve the use or disclosure of PHI on behalf of a covered entity. The types of functions or activities that could make a person or entity a business associate include payment or health care operations activities, such as claims processing or administration, data analysis, utilization review, quality assurance, billing, benefit management ..." (Pepper Hamilton LLP) Audio Excerpt: Frist Faces Health Care Challenge in Senate Excerpt: "Newly elected Senate GOP leader Bill Frist -- who is also a physician -- has long been an advocate for health care issues. But NPR's Julie Rovner reports that Frist faces major obstacles to passing major health care legislation in the next Congress.' (Dec. 24, 2002) (National Public Radio) Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings Relationship Manager - Defined-Contribution Plans for The Vanguard Group in AZ Associate Counsel for 1199 National Benefit & Pension Funds in NY Newly Posted Conferences (Post Yours!) 2003 ASPA Annual Conference in DC October 26, 2003 ASPA & IRS Handy Links:
Feel free to send this email to friends, colleagues or clients, if you copy or forward this email in its entirety (including this boilerplate part). Copyright 2002 BenefitsLink.com, Inc. Published by: BenefitsLink.com, Inc. https://benefitslink.com/about.html 1298 Minnesota Avenue, Suite H Winter Park FL 32789 (407) 644-4146 Fax: (407) 644-2151 Editor and Publisher: David Rhett Baker, J.D. Housekeeping: |