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August 25, 2003 - 8,445 subscribers
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Politics Reveal Different Sides of Obesity
Excerpt: "Even fat is the stuff of politics in Washington. And with obesity a growing health problem, lawmakers, lawyers and activists are lining up the way they do for most issues: on two sides." (USA Today)
Deduction or Distraction? the U.S. Treasury's Stance on Obesity
Excerpt: "Revenue Ruling 2002-19 revolutionizes the U.S. Treasury's philosophy on a critical health issue in the United States.... 97.1 million U.S. adults--or 54.9%--are overweight or obese." (The CPA Journal)
Background Paper on the Prevention and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity (PDF)
54 pages. Excerpt: "The prevalence of overweight and obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Nearly two-thirds of adult Americans are overweight or obese, and the prevalence of overweight among American children between the ages of 6 and 19 has tripled during the past 20 years, from 5 percent in 1980 to 15 percent in 2000." (Kaiser Permanente)
Vendors Introduce Combined Health Plan ID/Debit Card
Excerpt: "Vendors of flexible spending account (FSA) debit cards are leveraging new IRS rules and advances in technology to introduce combined cards that serve as identification for patients of health plans and prescription benefit managers (PBMs)." (BenefitNews.com)
IRS Will Study HRA Distributions In Divorce
The Internal Revenue Service is planning to issue guidance within the next year on how to handle health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) distributions in situations in which more than one covered beneficiary has a right to independently access the HRA. This guidance will consider how to distribute HRA funds in cases of a divorce or a dependent losing dependency status and whether an independent COBRA election would allow more than one individual to access all of the remaining HRA funds. (Spencer Benefits Reports)
Principal Picked for 529 Plan for Sale Only Through Iowa Employers
Excerpt: "Principal Financial has been tapped to manage and administer the nation's first 'workplace only' 529 college savings program." (PLANSPONSOR.com; one-time registration required)
Audio Report: Drug Firm's Spinoff Highlights 'PBM' Issues
Excerpt: "Drug giant Merck spins off its Medco subsidiary, one of several 'pharmaceutical benefits managers' that act as a middleman between drugmakers, insurance companies and consumers. The PBMs essentially set the drug prices millions of Americans pay, and critics say they tend to push more expensive drugs over cheaper competitors." (National Public Radio)
California Legislation Would Require Businesses to Insure Workers, Families
Excerpt: "Democrats, led by Senate Leader John Burton, want businesses to pay for the costs of insuring millions of Californians, who don't have the means to pay for health coverage. Burton, the most powerful lawmaker in Sacramento, is driving the passage of SB 2, which could fund workers in sectors such as agriculture, service and construction, who don't always receive such benefits." (The Orange County Register via International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans)
Congress Weighs Drug Companies
Excerpt: "Over fierce resistance from the drug industry, Congress is moving to authorize research that systematically compares the effectiveness and cost of top-selling prescription drugs." (New York Times; one-time registration required)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
New Technique for Handling Underwater Stock Options (PDF)
5 pages. Excerpt: "The new program involves a more timely buyout of the underwater options, either for cash or vested shares. Not only is employee morale improved as a result of the buyout, but the substantial dilution attributable to these significantly out-of-the-money options is eliminated. Unlike the 6-month-and-1-day program, the new program does trigger a compensation expense ..." (Morgan Lewis)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Fun & Challenging DC Compliance Position
for Louis Kravitz & Associates, Inc.
in CA
Trust Administrator
for CNA Trust
in CA
Retirement Plan Analyst - Compliance
for Invesmart
in MA
Sr. Retirement Programs Manager
for Providence Health System
in WA
DC / 401(k) Administrator
for BMI
in MO
Pension Administrator
for Third Party Administration Firm
in MD
Director – Defined Contribution
for Actuarial Designs & Solutions, Inc. (ADS)
in ME
Group Renewal Analyst
for Group Benefits Agency Serving Middle Market Employers
in NY
Senior Account Manager
for Group Benefits Brokerage Agency
in NY
Pension Assistant
for Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.
in DC
Pension Account Representative
for Minnesota Life Insurance Company
in PA
Pension Specialist
for Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.
in DC
Newly Posted Conferences
(Post Yours!)
Employer Healthcare Choices: Latest Data Findings and Making the Best Choice for Your Company
in ALL STATES
September 17, 2003
Thompson Publishing Group, Inc.
More 12B-1 Fees Come to Market: New Revenue-Sharing Opportunities for 401(k) Plans
in ALL STATES
September 18, 2003
Thompson Publishing Group, Inc.
Newly Posted Press Releases
(Post Yours!)
Treasury and IRS Issue Final Regulations On The Treatment of Stock-Based Compensation In Qualified Cost Sharing Arrangements
(Internal Revenue Service)
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