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January 8, 2004 - 8,783 subscribers
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Practitioner's Forum Discussion on Health Savings Accounts
Excerpt: "The following is the transcript of an informal discussion of employee benefit practitioners held in Washington, D.C. on December 9, 2003. The topic is Health Savings Accounts ('HSAs') ... signed into law by President Bush on December 8, 2003. In particular, the discussion focused on the importance of the creation of HSAs, the future viability of HSAs and the effect HSAs may have on employer-provided health care." (BNA Tax Management)
New Study Shows 24% Lower Costs Through Disease Management
Excerpt: "A new study (http://www.accordant.net/papers.html) by Accordant Health Services confirms that disease management programs lower short- and long-term medical costs and improve clinical outcomes." (BenefitNews.com)
For-Profit Insurers' Performance Assessed
Excerpt: "To researchers' surprise, a study found that for-profit health insurers are just as likely as not-for-profit ones to pay for costly operations for the elderly such as heart bypasses and knee replacements." (Washington Post)
Denial of Severance Benefits To Employee Who Resigned Did Not Violate ERISA
An employer did not violate ERISA when it denied severance benefits to an employee who submitted a 'notice of termination' following an assignment to a new position. This was the ruling of the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Curby v. Solutia, Inc. (No. 03-1545). (Spencer Benefits Reports)
New Jersey Senate to Weigh Measure on Same-Sex Unions
Excerpt: "A measure that would establish legal recognition and expand benefits for same-sex couples is expected to undergo intense debate on Thursday in the New Jersey State Senate. Both Democrats and Republicans say the legislation will win approval, and Gov. James E. McGreevey wants to sign it before the Legislature convenes on Tuesday, a spokesman said." (New York Times; one-time registration required)
Lifecare Teams With National Geriatric Association to Offer Elderly Care
Excerpt: "LifeCare (http://www.lifecare.com/) and the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (GCM, http://www.caremanager.org/) are partnering to give brokers and their clients a way to address effectively an issue that is costing employees sleep and businesses billions of dollars: elder care." (BenefitNews.com)
Most Striking Grocery Workers in California Now Ineligible for Health Benefits
Excerpt: "Employees of Albertsons, Kroger-owned Ralphs and Safeway-owned Vons who have been on strike since October to protest changes in their health benefits on Jan. 1 lost their health coverage and now must pay to keep their health insurance active because they did not work enough hours to maintain coverage, the Associated Press reports." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Wall Street Journal Examines Federal Incentives for Employers to Retain Retiree Drug Benefits
Excerpt: "Large companies that provide health benefits to retired employees likely will 'post big earnings gains' in 2003 or 2004 as a result of a provision in the new Medicare law (HR 1) that provides subsidies to companies with retiree pr*scription drug coverage to encourage them to retain such coverage, the Wall Street Journal reports." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Testimony: 'America's Uninsured-- Myths, Realities and Solutions'
Presented to the Senate Democratic Policy Committee. (The United States Chamber of Commerce)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Is It Time to Take the 'Spin' Out of Employee Communication? (PDF)
12 pages. Excerpt: "A Towers Perrin survey of 1,000 working Americans suggests that many companies may be losing the credibility battle when it comes to communicating with employees. Specifically, the survey responses indicate that companies may be trying too hard to 'spin' their internal communications and, as a result, may be undermining their credibility with many employees." (Towers Perrin)
New Disclosures for Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits (PDF)
Excerpt: "Most employers must act quickly to implement financial statement disclosures about pensions and postretirement benefits newly required under a revised accounting standard issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)." (Milliman USA)
Newly Posted Events
HSAs - Heath Savings and Investment Opportunity
Nationwide on February 5, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel
What's In It For Us? The New Medicare Law and Employer-Sponsored Health Plans
Nationwide on January 13, 2004
presented by ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits
Chronic Disease Management Strategies For Employers
in Illinois on April 19, 2004
presented by International Quality & Productivity Center (IQPC)
Enron Part Two: Directed Trustees and Employer Stick
Nationwide on January 27, 2004
presented by ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits
Newly Posted Press Releases
Hewitt Launches Flexible Spending Account Administration Service
(Hewitt Associates LLC)
Regulatory Uncertainty Eroding Employer Support for Pension Plans, Hewitt Study Shows
(Hewitt Associates LLC)
GoldK® TPA BackOffice™ Platform Achieves Rapid Market Acceptance Surpassing Its 50th TPA Partner
(GoldK, Inc.)
Portfolio Systems, Inc. Software Helps Attorneys and Investors
(Metrics Partners)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
ERISA Associate
for Trucker Huss, APC
in CA
Retirement Services Account Manager 2
for SunTrust Bank
in DC
Pension Actuary
for VPC Group
in ALL STATES, VA
Consultant/Broker
for Benefit Partners, Inc.
in CA
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