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March 31, 2004 - 8,783 subscribers
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(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
Employers Audit Workers' Health Claims
Excerpt: "Looking to bring down soaring health-care costs anywhere they can, more employers are scouring their health plans for fraud, abuse and simple mistakes by employees or administrators." (Wall Street Journal via SFGate.com)

Frequently Asked Questions About Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
Excerpt: "What is a Health Savings Account ('HSA')? How can I get a Health Savings Account? Who is eligible for a Health Savings Account? What Is a 'High Deductible Health Plan' (HDHP)? Who can contribute to a Health Savings Account? How much can I contribute to a Health Savings Account? Do Health Savings Account funds roll over year after year and get invested?" (U.S. Treasury Department)

Overview: IRS, Treasury Resolve Key HSA Issues
Excerpt: "While the law creating HSAs said preventive services could be provided on a first-dollar or low-deductible basis by otherwise high-deductible plans linked to HSAs, the regulatory agencies had been bombarded with questions on what constitutes preventive care. In response, under Notice 2004-23, the IRS and Treasury provide a safe harbor of benefits that it considers to be preventive and thus not subject to the cost-sharing requirements of the high-deductible plan." (Business Insurance)

Actuaries Comment on Earlier HSA Guidance (PDF)
7 pages; 3/30/04. Excerpt: "This letter presents the comments of the American Academy of Actuaries' Health Savings Account Subgroup regarding Notice 2004-2 issued by the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service, which provides guidance on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)." (American Academy of Actuaries)

Employer-Sponsored Disability Insurance: Where are the Gaps in Coverage?
Working paper. Excerpt: "Public policy debates about workers without health insurance fail to consider an important economic risk these workers face in the event of an illness or injury: the risk of lost wages." (National Bureau of Economic Research)

Telecommuting Can Produce Savings But Many Employees Reluctant
Excerpt: "As a CFO in these still uncertain economic times, imagine saving $3,000 per employee per year. And lopping $71 million off your real estate bill. Oh, and how about a 4 to 12 percent boost in employee productivity? Sound good? Those are some figures thrown around by advocates of telecommuting ..." (CFO.com)

Opinion: Opponents of California Mandatory Heath Insurance Law Doctor the Facts
Excerpt: "One of the drawbacks of California's system of ballot-box legislating is that special interests keep trying to swing elections by misrepresentation, backed up with stupefying wads of cash. Today's exhibit: the so-called Coalition of Californians Against Government Run Healthcare, a front for the California Chamber of Commerce and a couple of other employer lobbies." (Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times; one-time registration required)

Continued Labor Disputes Over Benefits Could Affect Health Insurers' Bottom Lines
Excerpt: "Large increases in health insurance premium rates, the slow economic recovery and local market conditions are contributing to labor disputes around the country as workers fight to maintain health benefits." (Managed Care Week via AISHealth.com)

Drug Companies Cut Canadian Supply
Excerpt: "Older Americans who rely on Canadian pharmacies to obtain pres.cription drugs at prices they can afford have reacted in anger and alarm to the news that Pfizer has choked off their pipeline." (AARP Bulletin)

A Primer on the New Medicare Discount Cards
Excerpt: "Discounts will vary between cards. Medicare officials estimate savings averaging 10 to 15 percent, with perhaps up to 25 percent on certain brands and more on some generics. One drawback: Sponsors will be allowed to change prices weekly." (AARP Bulletin)

Map to National Healthcare in Medicare Law?
Excerpt: "Tucked away at the back of the new Medicare pres.cription-drug law is an ominous provision that looks like a roadmap to government-controlled universal health care. This provision has serious implications for every American." (Sue Blevins in the Washington Times)

Big Premium Hikes Jolt Owners of Long-Term Care Insurance
Excerpt: "While CNA promised purchasers that premiums could not be increased because of their age or individual claims history, it reserved the right to ask state insurance commissions for across-the-board increases based on total claims." (AARP Bulletin)

Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General

Text of DOL Amicus Brief in 5th Circuit Standing-to-Sue Case Alleging Fiduciary Breach Under DC Plan (PDF)
33 pages; Milofsky v. American Airlines. Excerpt: "Statement of the Issues: 1. Whether participants in individual account pension plans have standing to sue plan fiduciaries under section 502(a)(2) of [ERISA] for relief to the plan when the alleged violations affected some, but not all, of the plan participants' accounts. 2. Whether participants are required to exhaust internal plan remedies before bringing suit to recover losses resulting from fiduciary breaches under section 502(a)(2) ..." (U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor General)

Text of DOL Amicus Brief in 2d Circuit ERISA 510 Case (PDF)
26 pages; Nicolaou v. Horizon Media. Excerpt: "Question Presented: Whether section 510 of ERISA ... protects from retaliation a plan participant and fiduciary who complains to management concerning possible ERISA violations." (U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor General)

Britain to Give Legal Recognition to G.ay Partnerships
Excerpt: "Britain confirmed plans on Wednesday to give legal recognition to g.ay partnerships, a move bringing it into with most other EU members.... Under Britain's Civil Partnership Bill, same-sex couples will be allowed to make a legal commitment to each other at a formal ceremony and have similar rights on pensions and property to heterose.xual partners." (Reuters via Washington Post; one-time registration required)

Massachusetts Attorney General Opinion Lessens Ability of Many Same-Sex Couples to Marry
Excerpt: "Same-sex couples living in states where laws ban g.ay marriage will not be able to marry in Massachusetts, the state's attorney general said Tuesday." (New York Times; one-time registration required)

Interested in Speaking to Upcoming NAGDCA Convention? Details Here
Excerpt: "The committee identified topics ... for the general sessions, concurrent sessions ... and government member breakout sessions, and would appreciate your feedback.... The speakers for the general sessions have already been determined." (National Association of Governmental Defined Contribution Plans)

Giant, Safeway Grocery Workers OK Pact
Excerpt: "The operators of the two largest supermarket chains in the Baltimore-Washington area avoided a possible strike Tuesday as employees voted to ratify a new four-year labor agreement." (AP via Washington Post; one-time registration required)

Newly Posted Events

What's New with FASB Webcast
Nationwide on May 19, 2004
presented by ASPA (American Society of Pension Actuaries)

National Teleconference on 412i Plans
Nationwide on April 23, 2004
presented by The 412(i) Company

Aggressive Practices in Employee Benefits: The IRS Crackdown on Schemes too Good to be True -- 90-Minute Interactive Audio Conference
Nationwide on April 20, 2004
presented by Thompson Interactive

Pensions&Investments Defined Contribution 401(k) West Coast Conference
in California on October 24, 2004
presented by Pensions & Investments and IBF*International Business Forum

5th Annual Employers' Summit on Controlling Healthcare Costs
in Virginia on May 12, 2004
presented by IBF Conferences*International Business Forum
Newly Posted Press Releases

ICMA-RC Selects Newkirk to Develop Age-Based Financial Planning Seminars
(Newkirk)

Deputy Assistant Secretary Named For Employee Benefits Security Administration
(U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Public Affairs, Washington, D.C.)

Workplace Options Launches the ROI Forum - a Web-based Forum Dedicated to Work/Life and EAP Return on Investment (ROI)
(Workplace Options)

IOMA Research Provides New Framework for Attacking Skyrocketing Corporate Health Care
(IOMA (The Institute of Management and Administration))
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Post a Help Wanted Ad

Sr. Plan Administrator
for American National Insurance Company
in TX

401(k) Sales
for Alliance Benefit Group of New England
in MA, NH

Relationship Manager
for BISYS Retirement Services
in PA

Plan Tax & Reporting Supervisor
for The Vanguard Group
in PA

Defined Benefit Specialist
for The Paragon Consulting Group, Inc.
in MA, VA

Pension Compliance Administrator
for Interactive Retirement Systems, Ltd.
in MN

Senior Advisor, Business Integrator & Production Support
for NRECA
in VA

Actuarial Associate- Retirement
for Towers Perrin
in CT, DC, GA, MA, NJ, NY, PA

Director Of Investment Marketing
for MassMutual
in MA

Retirement Plan Administrators
for Metavante Corporation
in CA

Conversion Project Leader
for The Vanguard Group
in PA

DB/DC Administrator
for Gelman Pension Consulting, Inc.
in NY

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