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January 6, 2003 - 8,030 subscribers
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Analysis: COBRA Coverage for Former Spouse Must Begin on Date of Divorce
Excerpt: "The IRS has issued promised guidance regarding the COBRA coverage that must be made available when group health plan coverage for an employee's spouse is eliminated prior to but 'in anticipation of' a divorce ... [D]ifficult questions remain: When is coverage reduced or eliminated 'in anticipation of divorce'? What proof may a plan require that the employee reduced or eliminated the spouse's coverage in anticipation of a divorce--arguably a matter of the employee's subjective intent?" (EBIA Weekly)
Court Allows Terminated Employee With No Group Health Plan Coverage to Pursue COBRA Claim
Baraschi v. Silverwear, Inc. (S.D.N.Y. 2002). Excerpt: "In this case, the worker was not covered by the plan--she had been denied enrollment. As a general rule, this would disqualify an individual for COBRA coverage. One exception under the IRS COBRA regulations might [apply]: If an individual is denied or not offered coverage under a plan due to a violation of applicable law, then the individual will be considered to have had the coverage that was wrongfully denied or not offered." (EBIA Weekly)
Audio Excerpt: Slumping Economy Forces Cutback of Pre-Paid Tuition Plans
Excerpt: "Many states have offered families a chance to pay for a child's college education years ahead of time, but current budget woes are forcing many states to back away from pre-paid tuition plans. NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports.' (Jan. 6, 2003) (National Public Radio)
More Employees Working Flexible Hours
Excerpt: "Almost 29 million full-time wage and salary workers, or nearly 29 percent, have schedules that allow them to vary the time they begin or end their day while working 40 hours weekly, according to the Labor Department. But only about one-third of those employees work for companies with official flex time policies." (AP via StarTribune.com)
Some Companies Offering Workers Help with Debts
Excerpt: "More people with mounting debt are turning to their employers for help, and companies are responding by offering workshops, call centers, and online tools to help their employees get a handle on their finances. That's because helping their employees' bottom lines also helps protect their own." (New York Times; free registration required)
American Medical News: Our Most Intriguing Medical Facts of 2002
Excerpt: "80% of patients with uncomplicated infections recover within a week without antibiotics.... 20 million people miss work each year due to pain, costing business some $50 billion in replacement labor." (American Medical Association)
20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors in Children
Press release with link to the above-entitled report. Excerpt: "The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the American Academy of Pediatrics today announced a partnership to help put valuable information about preventing medical errors into the hands of pediatricians and parents across the country." (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
Spending on Children's Prescriptions Rises Rapidly
Excerpt: "According to the 2002 Drug Trend Report from Medco Health Solutions, spending on prescription drugs for children through age 19 increased 28% last year. By comparison, spending rose 23% for those between 35 and 49, and increased less than 10% for individuals over age 65." (BenefitNews.com)
California HMO Association Chief Leaves After Four Bruising Years
Excerpt: "In a recent interview, the 58-year-old [Walter] Zelman remained pugnacious and unrepentant over his choices, saying managed care has saved hundreds of billions of dollars nationwide in health care costs--money which has helped provide health insurance coverage to more people and funded other necessary services." (California HealthCare Foundation)
Increase in Physicians' Malpractice Insurance Hurting Healthcare
Excerpt: "Americans are beginning to feel the effects of double-digit increases in medical malpractice insurance premiums, which are prompting doctors to flee states with the highest rates, refuse to perform high-risk procedures, retire early out of frustration or stage protests such as one underway in West Virginia." (Washington Post)
Opinion: Healthcare Crisis Has Insurers Clamoring for Government Intervention
Excerpt: "The insurers are right, though their concern is late coming. The condition of American health care has deteriorated to the point that nothing short of a complete overhaul involving the federal and state governments, the medical community, businesses, consumers and, yes, insurers can save it." (Sarasota [Fla.] Herald-Tribune)
Columnist Questions Whether Direct-to-Consumer Drug Ads Should Air
Excerpt: "Although new FDA Commissioner Dr. Mark McClellan said he plans to create new standards for direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertisements and increase enforcement, 'many ... who have to answer patients' questions every day wonder whether these commercials should be on the air at all,' Dr. Erin Marcus, assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of Miami Medical School, writes in a New York Times opinion piece." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Bush Plans To Revise Drug Patent System Could Create Potential for Abuse, PhRMA Says
Excerpt: "The Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America last week said in comments filed with the FDA that regulations proposed by President Bush to reduce patent protections for brand-name treatments could lead to 'gamesmanship' by generic drug companies, the Wall Street Journal reports ..." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Retirement Plan Sales Consultant
for Invesmart
in WA
Client Director Operations, Defined Benefit, Health and Welfare, Defined Contribution
for Citistreet
in FL
Operations Manager, Defined Benefit, Health and Welfare, Defined Contribution
for Citistreet
in FL
Newly Posted Conferences
(Post Yours!)
HR Guide to 401(k) Plans: Procedures for Plan Administration
in CA
January 16, 2003
Western Pension & Benefits Conference - Orange County Chapter
Online Class - CEBS Course 4, Retirement Plans: Defined Benefit Approaches and Plan Administration
in ALL STATES
March 10, 2003
IFEBP/CEBS Program
Online Class - CEBS Course 7, Asset Management
in ALL STATES
March 10, 2003
IFEBP/CEBS Program
National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems 2003 Legislative Conference
in DC
February 3, 2003
National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems
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