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February 11, 2004 - 8,783 subscribers
Today's sponsor: CBI's 2nd Annual Disease Management Summit for Employers, Providers and Health Plans
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
Al Lewis and Warren Todd to speak at CBI's Disease Management Summit! CBI’s 2nd Annual Disease Management Summit for Employers, Providers and Health Plans: Improve Productivity and Outcomes While Reducing Absenteeism and Healthcare Costs, April 22-23, 2004 in Washington D.C. The Summit features employers and healthcare strategists who will present innovative strategies to evaluate and implement disease management programs. Through in-depth case studies, speakers and healthcare strategists will present financial and clinical outcomes that have effectively managed health care costs, decreased absenteeism and improved productivity for employees with chronic conditions.
(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
Amicus Brief Filed by Families USA in Supreme Court HMO Liability Case
Excerpt: "Families USA and 14 other consumer, disease, and disability groups have filed an Amicus Brief in support of a patient's right to sue her managed care company. Families USA is joined by The Arthritis Foundation, The Epilepsy Foundation, The Brain Injury Association, The Spina Bifida Association of America, The American Association of People with Disabilities, The Arc, The National Organization on Disability, ADAPT, Family Voices, ... the National Health Law Program." (Families USA)
Text of Amicus Brief by Families USA in Supreme Court HMO Liability Case
31 pages. Excerpt: "The denials of Ms. Calad's and Mr. Davila's requests for particular treatments were mixed treatment and eligibility decisions like that analyzed in Pegram. The consequences of those decisions do not give rise to any cause of action under ERISA Section 502. The decision of the Fifth Circuit, finding no ERISA preemption and hence no federal jurisdiction over Respondents' claims, should be affirmed." (Families USA)
City Cannot Mandate that Church Provide Benefits for Domestic Partners
Excerpt: "A federal judge ruled that an ordinance requiring employers receiving certain housing and community development funds to extend benefits to employees' domestic partners is preempted by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)." (PLANSPONSOR.com; one-time registration required)
Ninth Circuit Rejects "Treating Physician" Rule In Benefits Denial Case
On remand from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has rejected the 'treating physician' rule and upheld a plan administrator's decision to deny a beneficiary's claim for long term disability benefits. The case is Nord v. The Black & Decker Disability Plan (No. 00-55689). (Spencer Benefits Reports)
Ohio G.ay Marriage Ban Affects Domestic Partner Benefits
Excerpt: "Becoming the 38th state to institute such a decree, Ohio Governor Bob Taft last week signed a law prohibiting same-sex marriage. However, the law goes a step further in blocking domestic partners, g.ay or straight, from receiving benefits, a move that has benefits managers buzzing." (BenefitNews.com)
2003 Form M-1 Released; Electronic Filing Over Internet Permitted (PDF)
Excerpt: "SUMMARY: This document announces the availability of the Year 2003 Form M– 1, Annual Report for Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements and Certain Entities Claiming Exception. A copy of this new form is attached. It is substantively identical to the 2002 Form M–1, except that 2003 filings may be made electronically over the Internet." (U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration)
Employers Honored For Promoting Mental Well-Being
Excerpt: "Fifteen employers recently were honored by the American Psychological Association (APA) for promoting psychologically healthy workplaces." (BenefitNews.com)
Los Angeles Urged to Buy Drugs Through Canada
Excerpt: "The city of Los Angeles should buy pharmaceutical drugs from Canada rather than firms in the United States, potentially saving millions of dollars, City Councilman Dennis Zine said Monday. Zine said he planned to propose today that the city seek permission from the Food and Drug Administration to purchase U.S.-made medications from Canadian suppliers for city employees in workers' compensation cases and healthcare programs." (Los Angeles Times via Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights)
Medicare Drug Benefit Backers Take Offense
Excerpt: "Republicans yesterday joined in the administration's aggressive effort to promote and defend the new Medicare pr*scription drug law -- trotting out senior citizens who expect to see cost savings this year." (Washington Times)
Opinion: Medicare Drug Benefit Was Hidden Health Cost Coup
Excerpt: "One of the biggest beefs that liberals have against conservatives is that the latter are reflexively pro-business. That is, whatever the business community wants, conservatives will bend over backward to give them. This is untrue for principled conservatives. But, sadly, the Bush administration and the Republican Congress keep giving liberals ample reason to believe the stereotype is fact." (Bruce Bartlett in the Washington Times)
HSAs and Notice 2004-2 Reshape the Landscape for Active Employee Health Coverage
2/10/2004. (Kilpatrick Stockton LLP)
Remarks by the President on Access to Health Care
1/28/2004. Excerpt: "Right now, many insurance plans will cover virtually all of your health care costs, in exchange for a high-premium payment, which is paid by employers and their employees in various percentages, in different percentages. Under America's system of private medical care, families will continue to have this option, of course. We just want to provide additional options for families from which to choose, and the health savings account is one such option." (White House)
Britain OKs New-Gender Transsexu*l Unions
Excerpt: "Britain's upper chamber of Parliament on Tuesday approved legislation allowing transsexu*ls to obtain new birth certificates and marry in their adopted gender." (AP via Washington Post)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
AARP Research Report: the State of 50+ America (PDF)
44 pages. Excerpt: "This 'state of 50+' report card tries to answer the question of how we are doing over the past 10 years, and over the past year. Are we making progress toward greater economic and healthcare security? Is the boomer generation on track to be better prepared for retirement than a decade ago? Is the level of civic participation rising or falling as we enter the 21st century?" (AARP)
Commentary: U.S. CEOs Replace Option Grants With Free Shares
Excerpt: "As the bulk of U.S. companies disclose executive pay for 2003, we will find that stock-option grants have declined in size. That's the good news for those who think chief executive officers are paid too much. The bad news is that free share grants have taken up, or more than taken up, the slack." (Graef Crystal on Bloomberg.com)
Newly Posted Events
Outlook for Health Spending
Nationwide on February 11, 2004
presented by Kaiser Family Foundation
Newly Posted Press Releases
Healthcare Plan Professional Joins SunGard Corbel
(SunGard Corbel)
BEMAS Software, Inc. Expands Capabilities With Office Location
(BEMAS Software, Inc.)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Policy/Negotiations Project Manager (job number: 1911-03)
for UC Office of the President
in CA
K8517 Retirement & Savings Consultant
for (KBR) Kellogg Brown & Root, (a Halliburton company)
in TX
K8508 - Benefits Supervisor
for (KBR) Kellogg Brown & Root (a Halliburton company)
in TX
Senior Manager, Marketing
for Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
in CA
ERISA Attorney
for Frost Brown Todd LLC
in OH
Compliance Consultant
for Hewitt Associates
in IL
Compliance Processor
for Hewitt Associates
in IL
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