August 8, 2003 - 8,429 subscribers Today's sponsor: BeneCom Associates, LLC (Click on company name or banner to learn more.) BeneCom Associates, LLC, for one-stop benefit communications Since 1992, BeneCom has produced benefit communications, including enrollment materials, SPDs, benefit statements, newsletters and more, for companies large and small, nationwide. So if you've been looking for an independent benefit communications specialist, look no further. Click above for more information, or give us a call at (860) 674-2626, Ext. 11, or (770) 461-5559. We're here to help. (Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor) Washington Times Examines Health Savings Account Provision in House Medicare Bill Excerpt: "The Washington Times examines the debate over a provision in the House Medicare reform bill (HR 1) that would create health savings accounts ..." (KaiserNetwork.org) Trade Group Representing Canadian Pharmacies Says It Might File Lawsuit Over Pfizer Restrictions Excerpt: "The Canadian International Pharmacy Association, which represents 35 Canadian Internet and retail pharmacies, is considering filing an anti-competitive lawsuit against drug companies that are restricting shipments of their treatments to Canada, the Newark Star-Ledger reports ..." (KaiserNetwork.org) RAND to Study How Information Technology Can Benefit Health Care Press release. Excerpt: "RAND Health announced [on August 7, 2003] it is conducting a study to determine how much patient care could improve and how much money could be saved if health care professionals around the United States increase their use of information technology." (RAND) Text of IRS Booklet Being Sent to Individuals Likely to Qualify for the Health Coverage Tax Credit (PDF) Excerpt: "Since you have received this kit, you may be eligible to claim the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC). This important benefit pays 65% of your qualified health plan premiums for as long as you remain eligible. That means you can save 65 cents out of every dollar you're paying now. You can even claim the credit if you don't owe any federal income tax." (Internal Revenue Service) More Overweight Employees Sue Alleging Discrimination Excerpt: "As the number of obese Americans grows steadily, so have discrimination lawsuits by overweight employees, charging employers discriminated against them because of their appearance, or because their obesity was not treated as a disability, The New York Times reports." (BenefitNews.com) Third Circuit Reinstates Claims For Medical, Severance Benefits Due To Insufficient Notices The Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has reinstated a beneficiary's claims seeking medical and severance benefits on behalf of his deceased wife because the termination and COBRA notices sent by the wife's former employer were insufficient. The case is Emilien v. Stull Technologies Corp., et al. (No. 02-1422). (Spencer Benefits Reports) Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General CalPERS Fund Trustees Turn Up Heat on Executive Compensation Excerpt: "Calpers plans to start publicizing by the fourth quarter a list of 10 to 15 companies that overpays its executives and, consequently, does a disservice to shareholders. It also will highlight companies it feels structure good pay packages for execs, but the teeth of Calpers' announcement is on the negative side ..." (U.S. Banker) Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Proposals in New International Tax Bill August 7, 2003. Excerpt: "On July 25, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) introduced a corporate and international tax reform bill (H.R. 2896). Included among its many international and corporate tax reforms is a series of revenue-raising proposals to change the nonqualified deferred compensation rules." (Groom Law Group) Analysis: Option Expensing-- By Choice or By Mandate? (PDF) 10 pages. Excerpt: "In this Mellon HR Services white paper, our goal is to help our clients and colleagues better understand the implications of the expensing issue, and how the resolution of that issue may change the way some businesses are run in the future. We will not debate the merits ... Rather, we wish to provide the facts necessary to make informed decisions about the alternatives companies currently have regarding accounting for their options." (Mellon HR Services) Survey: Compensating Employees of Small Businesses (PDF) 28 pages. Excerpt: "The National Small Business Poll is a series of regularly published survey reports based on data collected from national samples of small-business employers." (NFIB Research Foundation) Opinion: Gay Marriage Highlights Divide Between Canadians, Americans Excerpt: "While some U.S. attitudes mirror the stance of their progressive northern neighbors, U.S. courts currently recognize a Canadian same-sex marriage to be as legally binding as a bus pass.... A U.S. Gallup Poll revealed that in the past two months, Americans' approval of gay marriage went from 59 percent in May to 49 percent in July. It seems that Americans are not so sure they want to follow Canada's lead after all." (The Daily Yomiuri) Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings Part-Time Flexible Spending Account Assistant for Leggette Actuaries, Inc. in TX Account Executive Director for Principal Financial Group in MA Defined Benefit Software Customer Support for DATAIR Employee Benefit Systems, Inc. in IL Employee Benefit Administrative Assistant for GreatBanc Trust Company in IL Plan Contribution Services Specialist for ICMA Retirement Corporation in DC Pension Account Manager for Valley Forge Pension Management, Inc. in PA Implementation Manager for Strong Investments, Inc. in WI Director, National Alliance Partner Sales for Stanton Trust Company in IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, OK, SD, WI Director of Search Coordination and Administration for Greenwich CT Retirement Services Provider in CT Newly Posted Webcasts (Post Yours!) Trends in Longevity and Implications for Retirement Planning on July 29, 2003 presented by TIAA-CREF Newly Posted Conferences (Post Yours!) PenServ 14th Annual Fall Seminar Series in NY, TX October 7, 2003 PenServ, Inc. Newly Posted Press Releases (Post Yours!) NAGDCA Announces 2003 Leadership Recognition Award Recipients (National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators, Inc.) ESOP Companies Outperform Stock Markets in 2002 (Employee Ownership Foundation) Handy Links:
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