August 7, 2003 - 8,429 subscribers Today's sponsor: Thompson Publishing Group, Inc. (Click on company name or banner to learn more.) “Coordination of Leave Strategies” 8/18/03 * 2:00 p.m. ET Do you have difficulty appropriately responding to leave requests? You are not alone! Many employers find recalling all the requirements of the seemingly overlapping leave laws to be both taxing and complicated. Luckily, we can help! Register for this exclusive audio conference and in just 90 minutes, and without leaving your desk, you can learn strategies to identify and avoid potential problems in handling employee leave requests. (Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor) CMS Promises Leniency for 'Good Faith' TCS Compliance Efforts Excerpt: "Health plans and other covered entities will not be fined immediately if they miss the Oct. 16 deadline for HIPAA standard transactions, CMS has indicated. However, plan sponsors should take immediate compliance steps, such as testing and vendor oversight, to qualify for this 'good faith' treatment if necessary." (Thompson Publishing Group) Defense Becomes Latest Agency to Cover Flexible Spending Account Fees Excerpt: "The Defense Department has agreed to pay fees for flexible spending accounts on behalf of its civil service employees, joining most other agencies in underwriting the program.... FSAs allow federal employees to set aside pretax money for certain dependent care and health care costs." (Washington Post) What You Need to Know to Provide Domestic Partner Benefits Excerpt: "The framework for a domestic-partner benefits program is also useful for understanding the tax and related implications of offering health benefits to employees' extended families, which may include grandchildren, grandparents, stepparents, and stepchildren." (HR Focus via International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans) In 10 Years, Family and Medical Leave Act Has Transformed Lives, Workplaces Excerpt: "Ten years ago Tuesday, President Clinton signed the Family & Medical Leave Act into law. Its passage gave millions of U.S. workers the right to take time off -- albeit unpaid -- for a variety of reasons, such as caring for a newborn or tending to an ill family member. A decade later, some observers say both employees and employers have adopted different attitudes toward the concept of leave." (The [Albany, N.Y.] Times Union via International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans) Pfizer: Canadian Internet Pharmacies Cannot Purchase Pfizer Products Through Wholesalers Excerpt: "In an effort to 'crac[k] down' on Canadian pharmacies that sell prescription drugs to U.S. consumers over the Internet, New York-based Pfizer, the world's largest drug company, sent letters to 46 Canadian pharmacies telling them that they must now purchase their medicines directly from the company instead of from wholesalers, the Wall Street Journal reports." (KaiserNetwork.org) Groups Increase Lobbying Efforts for Medicare Reform Excerpt: "Some interest groups have begun making appearances at several town hall meetings being hosted by Democrats and Republicans over the break. Employers Coalition on Medicare, a group of 60 large businesses and employer associations, has been encouraging member companies' plant managers and human resources personnel to attend such meetings in their local area ..." (KaiserNetwork.org) Key GOP Senator Knocks Association Health Plans (PDF) 2 page 'Dear Colleague' letter. Excerpt: "As we all struggle with addressing the problem of access to quality health insurance, I have strong concerns that we not worsen the problem in our effort to find a solution.... While [the bills modifying the legal treatment of association-sponsored health plans] may lower the cost for some, they will greatly increase costs for others." (Sen. Don Nickles (R-OK), via Mercer Human Resources Consulting) Chat Transcript: Democrats and Healthcare Reform Excerpt: "Writing about health care reform ..., Washington Post columnist Steven Pearlstein says the American people may be ready to embrace radical approaches." (Washington Post) Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings Actuary for Domestic Social Policy Division of the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the U.S. Library of Congress in DC Enrolled Actuary for TPA Firm in Southeast Michigan in MI Qualified Retirement Plan Administrator for CPA and Business Consulting Firm in TX Employee Benefits Account Manager for The Protector Group Insurance Agency, Inc. in CT, MA, NH, RI Health & Welfare Underwriter / Associate - Atlanta for PricewaterhouseCoopers in GA DC/401K Plan Administration for Management Recruiters of Wildwood in MO Newly Posted Webcasts (Post Yours!) Financial Education Is VITAL To Your Company – Learn Why on August 13, 2003 presented by The EDSA Group, Inc. A Primer on Employee Benefits Issues in Mergers and Acquisitions on September 24, 2003 presented by American Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Newly Posted Conferences (Post Yours!) HIPAA: Electronic Standards -- What Employers Need to Know in August 28, 2003 Thompson Publishing Group Employee Benefit Communications and HIPAA Privacy Rule Workshop in CA September 10, 2003 ArlenGroup Employee Benefit Communications and HIPAA Privacy Rule Workshop in CA September 17, 2003 ArlenGroup ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans in WA September 25, 2003 Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA) ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans in OR October 9, 2003 Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA) ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans in CO October 16, 2003 Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA) ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans in OH October 23, 2003 Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA) COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans in WA September 25, 2003 Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA) COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans in OR October 9, 2003 Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA) COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans in CO October 16, 2003 Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA) COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans in OH October 23, 2003 Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA) HIPAA Portability & Privacy in WA September 26, 2003 Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA) HIPAA Portability & Privacy in OR October 10, 2003 Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA) HIPAA Portability & Privacy in CO October 17, 2003 Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA) HIPAA Portability & Privacy in OH October 24, 2003 Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA) Cafeteria Plans in WA September 24, 2003 Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA) Cafeteria Plans in OR October 8, 2003 Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA) Cafeteria Plans in CO October 15, 2003 Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA) Cafeteria Plans in OH October 22, 2003 Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA) 401(k) Plans in WA September 23, 2003 Employee Benefits Institute of America LLC (EBIA) Newly Posted Press Releases (Post Yours!) Investment Committees: The Foundation Of A Dependable 401(K) Program (Resources for Retirement, Inc.) Handy Links:
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