August 13, 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) Many Doctors Push National Health Insurance Excerpt: "Nearly 8,000 U.S. physicians are calling for government-financed national health insurance, which they say would cover every American while saving billions of dollars." (AP via Washington Post) AMA Position: We Strongly Oppose Single-Payer Health System Excerpt: "Reiterating the AMA's position on health insurance, AMA President Donald J. Palmisano, MD, [on August 12, 2003] said, 'A solution to the problem of the uninsured is desperately needed-- but a single-payer health care system is not the answer.'" (American Medical Association) Annual Physical Checkup May Be an Empty Ritual Excerpt: "Checkups for people with no medical complaint remain the single most common reason for visiting a doctor ... At $120 to $150 per visit (and $2,000 or so for the gold-plated 'executive physical' that many companies offer to top executives), that adds up to more than $7 billion a year." (New York Times; one-time registration required) Generic Drugs Gaining Market Share Excerpt: "The push is on to make generic the prescription brand of choice. Last year, for the first time ever, generic drugs commanded more market than brand-name prescription medicines ..." (The [Raleigh, N.C.] News & Observer) Consumer-Directed Healthcare Vendor Directory Excerpt: "The Galen Institute Center for Consumer Driven Health Care has compiled a list of companies offering consumer driven health care products. Employers, individuals, and others can search the directory to find information on products companies offer and how to contact them." (The Galen Institute) Analysis: Use of Debit/Credit Cards for Health Plan Reimbursements (PDF) Nice 5-page analysis of Revenue Ruling 2003-43. (Linda Shashinka, Esq. of Near North Insurance Brokerage) Why Offer Child Care Benefits? Excerpt: "Employers with employees who have difficulties in balancing the need for child care with the demands of their jobs experience the ripple effects of absenteeism, disrupted work flow, even turnover.... The absence of even one employee and the consequent disruption of his or her work has an effect on other employees -- those with whom the employee works, those whose work is dependent on that of the employee, and ultimately, the entire company ..." (Thompson Publishing Group) Adoption Assistance Model Plan Documents Excerpt: "Under Section 137 of the tax code, employer-provided adoption assistance benefits must be provided under a 'written plan.' This is one of the requirements of a qualified adoption assistance plan.... By clicking on the links below, you may view examples ... created by David Fuller of the international law firm McDermott, Will & Emery, an authority on adoption assistance benefits. (Thompson Publishing Group) Frequently Asked Questions About Adoption Assistance Plans 18 questions and answers. (Thompson Publishing Group) Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General California's Benefit Software Inc. Helps Companies Help Employees Excerpt: "Employers pay staff anything from 25 percent to 35 percent above their agreed salaries in work-related benefits, according to Santa Barbara entrepreneur Larry DuBois.... Mr. DuBois says not all employers realize the cost of benefits and very few workers appreciate the full value of their employment package. His company's mission is to change all that." (Santa Barbara News-Press via NewsAlert.com) Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings Plan Administrator for JRN Benefits in CA Qualified Plan Consultant for Benefit Solutions Corp in IL, IN, MN, WI Implementation Specialist for Milliman USA in TX Retirement Benefits Manager for The Pyramids Group (Executive Search Firm) in OH Pension Plan Administrator for The Pension Alliance in PA Client Services Consultant for American United Life Insurance Company (AUL) in DC, MD, VA Health Benefits Analyst for The Segal Company in GA Newly Posted Conferences (Post Yours!) Introduction to ESOPs - Burlingame in CA October 1, 2003 National Center for Employee Ownership Introduction to ESOPs - Costa Mesa in CA October 2, 2003 National Center for Employee Ownership Introduction to ESOPs in NE October 14, 2003 National Center for Employee Ownership Introduction to ESOPs in IA October 15, 2003 National Center for Employee Ownership Introduction to ESOPs in IL October 22, 2003 National Center for Employee Ownership Introduction to ESOPs in MN October 23, 2003 National Center for Employee Ownership Introduction to ESOPs in NJ October 28, 2003 National Center for Employee Ownership Introduction to ESOPs in PA October 29, 2003 National Center for Employee Ownership Introduction to ESOPs in MA October 30, 2003 National Center for Employee Ownership Introduction to ESOPs in OH November 4, 2003 National Center for Employee Ownership Introduction to ESOPs in MO November 5, 2003 National Center for Employee Ownership Introduction to ESOPs in TX November 6, 2003 National Center for Employee Ownership Town Hall Meeting on the Health Care Crisis 2003 in TX August 27, 2003 Austin Chapter International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists (ISCEBS) The Beat Goes On: New Cash Balance Cases That May Rock Things in DC August 26, 2003 American Bar Association Joint Committee on Employee Benefits Newly Posted Press Releases (Post Yours!) New Features Provide Branding Options for Sponsors and Administrators (Deferral.com, Inc.) Handy Links:
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