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October 10, 2003 - 8,548 subscribers
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Troubleshooting Problems in Qualified Domestic Relations Orders Audio Conference, Wednesday, October 22, 2003 * 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. ET Being able to anticipate problems – and knowing how to resolve them – are the keys to efficient QDRO administration. To learn or understand better how to spot and resolve problems in QDRO administration, please join Thompson Publishing Group and veteran QDRO specialists Joseph Adams and Judy Mester of Deloitte LLP for this interactive audio conference.
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HHS Says FSA/HRA Debit Cards Are Exempt from HIPAA Rules
Excerpt: "Further clearing the path for FSA/HRA debit cards to proliferate among employers, the Health Department's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) [on Oct. 8, 2003] announced transactions using the cards are exempt from HIPAA electronic data interchange (EDI) rules." (BenefitNews.com)
House Rejects Motion That Would Have Instructed Medicare Negotiators To Include Means-Testing
Excerpt: "The House on Tuesday voted 234-161 to reject a motion that would have asked negotiators charged with reconciling the House and Senate Medicare bills (HR 1 and S 1) to include means testing in the proposed prescription drug benefit, the Washington Times reports." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Medicare Drug Bill Could Have Bad Side Effect: Cut in Companies' Health Insurance for Retirees
Excerpt: "The Senate's top Republican on Thursday urged congressional negotiators wrestling with the details of a new drug benefit for Medicare to also brainstorm ways to prevent companies from canceling health insurance for retirees." (The [New Orleans] Times Picayune)
Determining COBRA Start Dates: Exceptions to the General Rule
Excerpt: "This COBRA tip will explore the specific situations that cause COBRA coverage to begin on dates other than the qualifying event date." (OnQue Technologies, Inc.)
Senators Seek Healthcare Tax Credit for Unemployed
Excerpt: "Under their plan, the federal government would pay nearly two-thirds the cost of health insurance for unemployed workers by expanding the tax credit already in place for people whose employers lost business due to competition from imports or moved their manufacturing operations overseas. The Treasury Department estimates 200,000 people are eligible for that credit." (AP via New York Times; one-time registration required)
Arkansas Attorneys File Motion To Lift Court-Imposed Ban on 'Any-Willing-Provider' Law
Excerpt: "Attorneys representing the state of Arkansas on Tuesday filed a motion in federal court asking that a ban on the state's 'any-willing-provider' law be lifted, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Profiting From Fun
Excerpt: "The work front has become a grind. Yet some firms still believe that serious business is done better with a laugh now and then." (TIME magazine)
UAW's New Contracts with Big Three Automakers Require Mail Order of Some Prescriptions
Excerpt: "The new United Auto Workers contracts with the Big Three auto manufacturers -- General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler -- and their suppliers include a provision that requires union members and retirees to purchase prescription drugs for chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, by mail order, the Detroit News reports." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Justice Department Presents Its Case Against Canadian Drug Wholesaler Rx Depot
Excerpt: " The Department of Justice on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma presented its case for a nationwide injunction against Oklahoma-based Rx Depot and partner Rx of Canada, which help U.S. consumers purchase prescription drugs from Canada, the AP/St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Disease Management Primer: Managing Dollars by Managing Disease
Excerpt: "The costliest participants to treat are those with chronic and serious, acute conditions that are often preventable. Developing programs aimed at patients with chronic conditions could be the key to getting control of health care costs. Disease management programs seek to alleviate some of this expense by better managing chronic illnesses and improving the overall health care of employees." (Aon Consulting)
How To Relax When You're Chained To Your Desk
Excerpt: "Economists are impressed by the powerful gains in the output of American workers. Productivity has risen at an annual average of 5 percent during the initial stages of this recovery, faster than any rebound in 40 years. But the output comes at a personal cost." (AP via SFGate.com)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Letting Older Workers Work
Excerpt: "Within 10 years, baby boomers will begin retiring in large numbers.... The situation could obviously be improved if older workers could be induced to work longer.... [T]here are a large number of economic, legal, and institutional barriers to more flexible employment arrangements for older workers. These were not considered a problem when there was a positive desire to move people out of the labor force early ..." (Rudolph G. Penner, Pamela Perun and C. Eugene Steuerle, published by the Urban Institute)
IRS Announces New Guidelines on Use of Faxes
Excerpt: "WASHINGTON -- The Internal Revenue Service [on Oct. 9, 2003] announced new facsimile guidelines that will make it easier for taxpayers and tax professional to correspond with the agency. The new guidelines will expand the list of documents and information the IRS will accept via fax." (Internal Revenue Service)
Judgment Amended in Refund Suit for Disallowed Deductions of Interest on Loans to Pay COLI Premiums
Excerpt: "The district court granted the government's motion to amend judgment and order additional factual findings in connection with a chemical company's refund suit. In a prior holding, the district court held that the taxpayer was entitled to a refund of taxes paid after the IRS disallowed deductions that the taxpayer claimed for interest paid on loans taken to pay premiums on corporate-owned life insurance (COLI) policies. [Dow Chemical Co., DC Mich.]" (CCH Tax Newsletter)
New Law Helps With Retirement Benefits for Workers Hurt on the Job
Excerpt: "President Bush has signed legislation that will help make up any shortfall in retirement benefits for federal employees who are disabled or injured while on the job." (Washington Post)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Employee Services Division Chief
for Arlington County (Virginia) Government
in VA
Retirement Plan Administrator
for Retirement Plan Services, Inc.
in NC
Employee Benefits Specialist
for Kibble & Prentice
in WA
401k Wholesaler - Regional Vice President
for BISYS Retirement Services
in IL, TX
Newly Posted Webcasts
(Post Yours!)
Critical Issues in Establishing Employee Ownership
on October 29, 2003
presented by Beyster Institute
Ask the Experts about Medicare and Prescription Drug Reform
on October 15, 2003
presented by kaisernetwork.org
Newly Posted Press Releases
(Post Yours!)
Philadelphia-Area 401(k) Leader Hires Two Executives to Oversee Development and Growth
(Resources for Retirement, Inc.)
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