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June 17, 2004 - 8909 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)
Internet Pharmacies: Some Pose Safety Risks for Consumers
35 pages. (U.S. General Accounting Office)

San Francisco Launches Pres.cription Drug Reimportation Web
Excerpt: "San Francisco on Tuesday launched a Web site that lists three Canadian pharmacies from which city residents can purchase lower-cost pres.cription drugs, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Regulators from Minnesota, which operates a similar Web site, have inspected and approved the three pharmacies ..." (KaiserNetwork.org)

HR Manager Had No Obligation to Explain COBRA Rights to Inquiring Mother
Estate of Weeks v. Advance Stores Co., Inc., 2004 U.S. App. LEXIS 10637 (4th Cir. 2004). Excerpt: "According to this Fourth Circuit opinion, it was not a breach of ERISA fiduciary duty for an employer's human resources manager to fail to mention COBRA when the mother of a former employee called, on the employee's behalf, to inquire about his medical coverage." (Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA))

Affiliated Service Groups Are Not Necessarily a Single Employer for MEWA Purposes
DOL Information Letter (May 24, 2004). Excerpt: "This DOL Information Letter responds to a question about whether an 'affiliated service group' under Code Section 414(m) is a 'single employer' for purposes of ERISA's definition of a multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA). A MEWA, by definition, provides benefits to the employees of two or more employers." (Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA))

Overview: Tax on Disability Benefits Depends on Whether Employee Was Taxed on Premiums
Revenue Ruling 2004-55 (June 9, 2004). Excerpt: "In this Revenue Ruling ... employees [were] given the opportunity to make an irrevocable election, prior to the beginning of each plan year, to have the employer pay the premiums for the coverage on a pre-tax or after-tax basis (pre-tax means that the premiums paid by the employer are not included in the employees' taxable W-2 income, while after-tax means that the premiums paid by the employer are included in the employees' taxable W-2 income)." (Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA))

Arkansas Battles Obesity
Excerpt: "Long-steeped in a Southern tradition of fried delights, the people of Arkansas are saying no more. The state, from its schoolrooms to the governor's mansion, is taking an honest look at its weight problem and coming up with innovative ways to cut the fat." (National Public Radio)

American Medical Association Confronts Obesity
Excerpt: "During the June 12-16 Annual Meeting of its House of Delegates (HOD), the AMA adopted several new policies targeting obesity and unhealthy eating, including the role of obesity in the lives of racial and ethnic minorities." (American Medical Association)

Overview: Tax Credits for Health Insurance
Excerpt: "The President has proposed tax credits to help people buy health insurance.... The proposal is to offer a federal health credit that you could claim on your taxes to help you to buy health insurance. The credit would be available to low- and middle-income workers who do not have access to good employer-based coverage." (HealthCareCoach.org)

Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General

Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide: June 8, 2004
Excerpt: "Hewitt's Federal Legislation Quick Guide provides short updates on federal legislation that is currently under active consideration by Congress or has recently been enacted into law, regarding health and welfare benefit plans, retirement plans, and human resources and employment law. Click ... to learn more about pending legislation in each area. These files were updated on June 8, 2004." (Hewitt)

Stock Option Accounting Reform Act (H.R. 3574) as Approved by the House Financial Services Committee (PDF)
9 pages. (American Benefits Council)

Testimony: Social Security Numbers-- Use Is Widespread and Protections Vary
26 pages. Testimony by Barbara D. Bovbjerg, director, education, workforce, and income security issues, before the Subcommittee on Social Security, House Committee on Ways and Means. GAO-04-768T, June 15. Highlights at http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d04768thigh.pdf (U.S. General Accounting Office)

Newly Posted Events

Cross-Tested Plan Workshop - Explore the Possibilities
in Georgia on September 23, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Cross-Tested Plan Workshop - Explore the Possibilities
in Arizona on September 1, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Cross-Tested Plan Workshop - Explore the Possibilities
in Utah on September 1, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Cross-Tested Plan Workshop - Explore the Possibilities
in Texas on September 1, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Cross-Tested Plan Workshop - Explore the Possibilities
in Washington on September 9, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Cross-Tested Plan Workshop - Explore the Possibilities
in Tennessee on September 16, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Cross-Tested Plan Workshop - Explore the Possibilities
in Texas on September 16, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Cross-Tested Plan Workshop - Explore the Possibilities
in District of Columbia on September 22, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Cross-Tested Plan Workshop - Explore the Possibilities
in Massachusetts on September 23, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Cross-Tested Plan Workshop - Explore the Possibilities
in Pennsylvania on September 23, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Cross-Tested Plan Workshop - Explore the Possibilities
in Mississippi on September 28, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Cross-Tested Plan Workshop - Explore the Possibilities
in North Carolina on September 30, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Cross-Tested Plan Workshop - Explore the Possibilities
in Minnesota on September 30, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Cross-Tested Plan Workshop - Explore the Possibilities
in New York on September 30, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Empowerment and Paternalism: The New Retirement Paradigm
Nationwide on June 28, 2004
presented by Financial Engines, Inc.

Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan Workshop - Discover the Advantages
in Texas on September 2, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan Workshop - Discover the Advantages
in Arizona on September 2, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan Workshop - Discover the Advantages
in Utah on September 2, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan Workshop - Discover the Advantages
in Washington on September 10, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan Workshop - Discover the Advantages
in Texas on September 17, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan Workshop - Discover the Advantages
in Tennessee on September 17, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan Workshop - Discover the Advantages
in District of Columbia on September 23, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan Workshop - Discover the Advantages
in Georgia on September 24, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan Workshop - Discover the Advantages
in Massachusetts on September 24, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan Workshop - Discover the Advantages
in Pennsylvania on September 24, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan Workshop - Discover the Advantages
in Mississippi on September 29, 2004
presented by SunGard Corbel

Second Annual 412i Bootcamp Training Program
Nationwide on July 29, 2004
presented by The 412(i) Company

Treasury Officials to Discuss Expected Late June Health Savings Accounts Guidance
Nationwide on July 13, 2004
presented by Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC)
Newly Posted Press Releases

As Medicare Drug Discount Cards Debut, Questions Remain About 2006 Insurance Program
(Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI))

Continued Drop in Job-Based Health Insurance Seen Because of Rising Costs and Structural Changes
(Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI))

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Meets With 2004 ERISA Advisory Council
(U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Public Affairs, Washington, D.C.)

Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Post a Help Wanted Ad

Retirement Plan Consultant
for Pension Benefits Unlimited, Inc.
in CA

Regional Director, GS-1801-15
for U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration
in TX

Defined Contribution Administrator
for Part- and full-time positions available at suburban Philadelphia TPA firm
in PA

Account Manager/Broker Assistant
for King Insurance Services
in CA

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