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May 9, 2003 - 8,202 subscribers
Today's sponsor: EBIA's Group Health Plans: Federal Mandates Other Than COBRA & HIPAA
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
Easy-to-use compliance guides written by experienced benefits attorneys Group Health Plans: Federal Mandates Other Than COBRA & HIPAA, covers QMCSOs, health coverage for adopted children, the Mental Health Parity Act, minimum hospital stays for newborns and mothers, the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act, federal employment laws affecting group health plans (ADA, ADEA, USERRA, etc.), Medicare Secondary Payer, HMO nondiscrimination requirements, etc. Click above to order this or other EBIA publications!
(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
Health Plan Charge Cards: the Next Wave? (PDF)
2 pages. Analysis of Rev. Rul. 2003-43, which gives guidance to employers who provide (or would like to provide) expense reimbursements under flexible spending accounts or health reimbursement arrangements through debit or credit cards. (Seyfarth Shaw)
36 State Attorneys General Ask Federal Lawmakers To Oppose Legislation Authorizing AHPs
Excerpt: "Attorneys general of 36 states have sent a letter to Congress that asks lawmakers to reject legislation to authorize association health plans, the [Nashville] Tennessean reports ..." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Covering Health Issues: a Sourcebook for Journalists
Includes chapters on employer-sponsored coverage, health care costs, managed care and mental health coverage. Useful glossary. Excerpt: "This publication is made possible by a generous grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation of Princeton, N.J., whose interest in assuring better access to health care for all Americans is, we trust, served by the publication." (Alliance for Health Reform)
Consumer Guides for Getting and Keeping Health Insurance; Now Available for Each State
Excerpt: "Thanks to a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute has written A CONSUMER GUIDE FOR GETTING AND KEEPING HEALTH INSURANCE for each state and the District of Columbia-- fifty-one in all. These Consumer Guides are available at this web site and will be updated periodically as changes in federal and state policy warrant." (HealthInsuranceInfo.net)
Debit Card Rules Clarify Some Issues, Muddy Others
Excerpt: "Legal and health experts say IRS is on the right track in issuing guidance Tuesday regarding the use of debit cards for flexible spending and health reimbursement accounts, but add that the rules could use some tweaking before taking effect at year's end." (BenefitNews.com)
Overview: HHS Says HIPAA Rules Apply to Flexible Spending Arrangements
Excerpt: "The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has finally answered whether flexible spending arrangements (FSAs) are covered under the Administrative Simplification provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). According to a Frequently Asked Question that HHS published on April 24, 2003, the answer is 'yes.'" (The Segal Company)
Texas Bill Would Allow Stripped-Down Health Insurance
Excerpt: "If the legislation is signed by the governor, it will let insurance companies tailor health plans that do not include some coverage the state now requires. For example, a company that wants to offer a policy that does not cover the cost of children's hearing tests or immunizations could design such a plan." (The Fort Worth [Tex.] Star-Telegram)
In Maine, Support Continues for Single-Payer Health Proposal Despite Governor's Approach
Excerpt: "Gov. John Baldacci's proposed health-care plan, which would retain a strong role for private insurers, has not silenced talk of creating a fully state-run insurance system in the years ahead that would leave no room for commercial insurance companies." (MaineToday.com)
Opinion: Nation is Not Ready for Mr. Gephardt's Medicine
Excerpt: "We would feel better about Mr. Gephardt's plan ... if it didn't represent some old-fashioned thinking on his part, and if it didn't arrive with a political sting in its tail... It sounds nice ... to offer universal health care instead of a tax cut, but the truth is that at the moment the country can't afford either." (Washington Post)
IRS to Clarify Rules Governing Tax-Exempt HMOs
Excerpt: "The Internal Revenue Service announced in a two-page field directive that it will propose regulations to clarify the tax-exempt status of not-for-profit HMOs-- an issue raised in a recent federal court ruling on a health plan owned by Intermountain Health Care, Salt Lake City." (Modern Healthcare)
Another Question is Answered in the Eldercare: the Work/Life Issue Q&A Column
What are the laws governing a person who is to be employed as an eldercare giver? What qualifications should be looked for? Are there specific laws or can anyone be a caregiver? (BenefitsLink.com)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Lawmakers, CEOs Criticize FASB for Stock Options Move
Excerpt: "It was billed as a round table, but seemed more like a boxing ring Thursday as lawmakers and CEOS rained verbal blows on America's accounting rulemaker for moving towards a requirement to expense stock options." (Reuters)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Senior Product Specialist - Retirement Plan Marketing
for Edward Jones
in MO
DC/401(k) Administrator
for Retirement Plan Services, L.L.C.
in MO
Pension Administrator
for Thomas, Doll & Company, CPAs
in CA
Policy/Negotiations Project Manager
for UC Office of the President
in CA
Account Analyst - Retirement Plan Services
for Strong Financial Corporation
in WI
Fund Accountant
for ICMA Retirement Corporation
in DC
Client Communication Specialist/Sr.
for Standard Insurance Company
in OR
Newly Posted Conferences
(Post Yours!)
Financial Planning Basics
in WI
July 18, 2003
International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Investment Planning and Program Design
in WI
July 21, 2003
International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
A "Life Stages" Approach to Analyzing and Communicating Work/Life Value
in MA
June 10, 2003
Greater Boston Chapter of ISCEBS
Form 5500 Preparation Workshop
in NJ
May 21, 2003
Northern New Jersey Chapter - ISCEBS
Managed Care Liability
in PA
September 29, 2003
American Conference Institute
Newly Posted Press Releases
(Post Yours!)
Benefit Software Inc. Reduces the Paperwork of Open Enrollment for Vital Processing Services®
(Benefit Software Inc.)
Labor Department Obtains Restitution for Participants of Minnesota 401(k) Plan
(U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Public Affairs, Chicago)
Labor Department Seeks Appointment of Independent Fiduciary
(U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Public Affairs, Atlanta)
Treasury and IRS Issue Regulations For Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements
(Internal Revenue Service)
Handy Links:
- View Today's Active Message Threads
- Search BenefitsLink
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research
- Employee Benefits Library
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