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June 10, 2004 - 8880 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)
Drug Companies Fight Pricing Suit
Excerpt: "Major drug manufacturers are fighting a lawsuit that accuses them of reaping millions from improper manipulation of pharmaceutical prices, arguing that the suit should be tossed out on the grounds that it isn't specific enough." (AP via Yahoo! News)

Overview: DOL Issues Final COBRA Notice Regulations – Action Needed (PDF)
7 pages. Excerpt: "The new regulations will require modifications to COBRA notices, procedures and SPDs by January 1, 2005 for calendar year plans." (Mellon's Human Resources & Investor Solutions)

Consumer-Driven Health Care, Beyond the Nutshell (PDF)
6 pages. Excerpt: "How do we provide financial incentives to employees to be intelligent consumers of medical services? There are numerous strategies. One such strategy is the use of co-pays, an approach used by most fee-for-service plans. But the problem with co-pays is ..." (Adams and Reese LLP)

Overview of Health Savings Accounts and Consumer Directed Health Care Plans (PDF)
8 pages. Excerpt: "[HRAs are] both an expansion and a liberalization of the Archer Medical Savings Accounts, which were available only to certain small businesses. (The legislation authorizing creation of Archer MSAs expired at the end of 2003.) This article will first describe the HSA and basic rules applicable to it, and then discuss the HSA's potential role in consumer-driven health care plans ..." (Adams and Reese LLP)

Beware of Health Insurance Scams
Excerpt: "As an aid to consumers, the Colorado Division of Insurance has recently posted a prominent new link on its home page to an article titled, 'Don't Get Burned by Insurance Fraud' (see www.dora.state.co.us/insurance/)." (The Denver Business Journal via bizjournals.com; one-time registration required)

States Take Up Their Own Healthcare Reform Efforts
Excerpt: "Already in the works, for instance: Maine's new Dirigo Health Plan. The plan groups individuals and employees of small businesses into an affordable health-insurance pool while the state subsidizes the poorest people." (Christian Science Monitor)

A Legislator's Guide to Seniors' Health Care Issues
Excerpt: "CAHI's new guide, 'Senior Century: A Legislators' Guide to Seniors' Health Care Issues,' suggest policies that legislators can enact to give Americans more control and financial independence throughout their retirement years." (Council for Affordable Health Insurance)

Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General

Business Group Has Poor Prognosis for Employee Health, Retirement Benefits
Excerpt: "U.S. workers' health and retirement benefits will shrink even if their pay rises in the next 10 years as more companies cut costs, according to a report from the American Benefits Council, which lobbies Congress on behalf of Fortune 500 companies." (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Opinion: Stock Option Reform Bill Threatened Again
Excerpt: "A stock option is a stock option, whether it's granted to the CEO or a mail room clerk. It's a seemingly inescapable bit of logic that nevertheless seems to have escaped the backers of a proposed law gaining momentum in Congress which would govern when and how to treat options as an expense." (Bruce Meyerson on AP via Washington Post; one-time registration required)

Newly Posted Events

Annual Fall Employee Benefits Law and Practice Update
Nationwide on November 10, 2004
presented by ALI-ABA (American Law Institute-American Bar Association)

The Proposed Nonqualified Plan Rules: How Should Employers Respond?
Nationwide on June 10, 2004
presented by Hewitt Associates LLC
Newly Posted Press Releases

The412iCompany to work with Principal Financial Group to provide 412i plans and 401(k) plans.
(The 412(i) Company)

ACLI President & CEO Frank Keating Issues the Following Statement in Response to the Joint SEC/NASD Report on Broker-Dealer Sales of Variable Insurance Products
(American Council of Life Insurers)

The Principal Financial Group Introduces Easy Online Advisor Tool for Popular Retirement Program; Advisors Save Time and Gain Convenience
(The Principal Financial Group)

CIGNA Health Advisors' Personalized Coach Approach Helps Members Make Better Use of Health Care and Benefit Programs
(CIGNA HealthCare)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Post a Help Wanted Ad

Account Service Representative, Employee Benefits
for Fred C. Church Insurance
in MA

Pension Consultants/Administrators
for Northern NJ Mid-Size Pension Consulting Firm
in NJ

Client Service Representative
for TPA Firm in Southeastern MI
in MI

Trust Accounting Administrator
for Associated Pension Consultants
in CA

401(k) Plan Administrator
for Northeast Planning Services, Inc.
in MA

Retirement Services District Manager (Sales) Texas
for ADP Retirement Services
in TX

Regional Vice President - Houston, TX
for BISYS Retirement Services
in TX

Inside Sales Representative
for BISYS Retirement Services
in PA

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