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February 18, 2003 - 8,053 subscribers
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Under Disease Management Programs, Doctor Bonuses Also Might Help the Patients
Excerpt: "In recent years, disease management programs have sprung up nationwide as employers and insurers grapple with rising medical costs. Nearly two-thirds of those costs go toward treating chronic illnesses like congestive heart failure." (New York Times; one-time registration required)
Rising Health Costs Affecting Employers' Hiring Ability
Excerpt: "Bloomberg/Seattle Times on Feb. 13 looked at how increasing health care costs are causing both small and large businesses to reduce hiring. Health care insurance costs rose 14% in 2002 and are expected to rise another 16% in 2003, according to consulting group Towers Perrin." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Audio Excerpt: Bethlehem Steel Retirees Could Lose Health Benefits
Excerpt: "A week after announcing it will sell nearly all of its assets to International Steel Group in a $1.5-billion deal, Bethlehem Steel asks a bankruptcy court to allow it to end health and insurance benefits for its 95,000 retirees and their families by March 31. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks with retired Bethlehem Steel employee Larry Redeman.' (Feb. 16, 2003) (National Public Radio)
Analysis: IRS Provides Guidance on When Foreign Adoptions Are 'Final' for Income Exclusion Purposes
IRS Notice 2003-15 (Feb. 10, 2003). Excerpt: "Adoption assistance plans may be offered under a cafeteria plan, but the uncertainty regarding when a foreign adoption is final makes it difficult to know when the income exclusion will apply.... This Notice provides more certainty ..." (EBIA Weekly)
Sixth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Claim That Denial of Speech Therapy Benefits Violated ADA
Kolling v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (6th Cir. 2003). Excerpt: "In this very brief opinion, the Sixth Circuit holds that Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not govern the contents of an employer-sponsored health plan. (Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination 'on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations of any place of public accommodation.' ...)" (EBIA Weekly)
Federal Appeals Court Says Patients Can Sue Health Plans for Medical Malpractice
Excerpt: "A federal appeals court in New York last week ruled that patients may sue their HMOs for medical malpractice for injuries resulting from the health plan's refusal to authorize medically necessary treatment, the New York Times reports." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Audio Excerpt: Medical Benefits a Rising Issue in Labor Talks
Excerpt: "Many American workers are being asked to contribute more to the cost of health care, a trend that is meeting resistance from unions. But the same weak economy that is prompting the call for workers to share more of the healthcare load gives employers more power at the bargaining table. NPR's Snigdha Prakash reports.' (Feb. 14, 2003) (National Public Radio)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Fourth Circuit Weighs in on ERISA Remedies, Plan Misrepresentations, Attorney Fees
Rego v. Westvaco Corp. (4th Cir. 2003). Excerpt: "The Fourth Circuit addresses several legal issues in this pension dispute, relevant for both ERISA pension and welfare plans.... The Fourth Circuit joins other courts here in narrowly interpreting what relief is available for alleged fiduciary breaches affecting benefits under ERISA plans--the prevailing trend is to limit claimants to what is provided under the literal terms of the plan in question." (EBIA Weekly)
If the Rules Are Changed, Will Stock Options Disappear?
Excerpt: "Companies fear that their stock values will fall as reported earnings decline because of the charge. But in a recent survey of finance professors, 38 percent said a new rule would have no effect on stock prices and 46 percent said it would have only a small effect." (New York Times; one-time registration required)
NERA Introduces New Standard for Valuing Employee Stock Options
Press release. Excerpt: "Compared to the widely used Black-Scholes and binomial methods of options valuation-- which were initially designed to value options bought and sold by individuals outside the corporation on open stock exchanges-- NERA ESO more accurately takes into account the distinct conditions affecting the value of options granted by corporations to their employees." (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
401(k) /Pension Administrator
for Great Lakes Pension Administrators, Inc.
in MI
Sr. Health & Welfare Consultant
for Buck Consultants
in MD
Pension Administrator-Defined Contribution Plans
for Pension, Inc.
in IA
Employee Benefits Team Coordinator / Paralegal
for Sinclair, Haynes & Cowing, PC
in KS, MO
Health & Welfare Operations Manager
for Ceridian
in FL
Pension Consultant/Document Specialist
for Pension Performance, Inc.
in IL
Qualified Plan Administrator
for High End Small Plan TPA
in FL
Plan Administrator/Consultant
for Retirement Funding
in MI
DC/401(k) Administrator
for Gelman Pension Consulting, Inc.
in NY
Newly Posted Conferences
(Post Yours!)
Structuring a 401(k) Plan.....
in NY
February 25, 2003
New York Metropolitan Area Chapter - ISCEBS
HIPAA Portability & Privacy
in MN
May 9, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans
in MN
May 8, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans
in MN
May 8, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
Cafeteria Plans
in MN
May 7, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
401(k) Plans
in MN
May 6, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
401(k) Plans
in OH
May 13, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
Cafeteria Plans
in OH
May 14, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans
in OH
May 15, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans
in OH
May 15, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
HIPAA Portability & Privacy
in OH
May 16, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
HIPAA Portability & Privacy
in CA
May 23, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
401(k) Plans
in CA
May 20, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
Cafeteria Plans
in CA
May 21, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans
in CA
May 22, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans
in CA
May 22, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
401(k) Plans
in MA
June 3, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
Cafeteria Plans
in MA
June 4, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans
in MA
June 5, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans
in MA
June 5, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
HIPAA Portability & Privacy
in MA
June 6, 2003
Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA)
SWBA/IRS Tax Exempts & Government Employers Conference
in TX
April 11, 2003
SouthWest Benefits Association
Newly Posted Press Releases
(Post Yours!)
Enhanced 412(i) Software from DATAIR
(DATAIR Employee Benefit Systems, Inc.)
Newkirk Announces Enhancements to Its Enroll Plus(TM) Enrollment Publishing System
(Newkirk)
National Physician Hotline Responds To Health Care Crisis
(Doctor On Call)
Handy Links:
- View Today's Active Message Threads
- Search BenefitsLink
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research
- Employee Benefits Library
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