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July 16, 2004
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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)
Officials Bring Case for Health Information Technology to Congress
Excerpt: "While federal agencies are working toward establishing electronic health records, implementing government data standards would speed adoption, officials told the House Government Reform Technology Subcommittee on Wednesday ..." (iHealthBeat.com; one-time registration required)

GAO Report: National Strategy Needed to Speed Implementation of Healthcare Information Technology
16 pages. Excerpt: "Health care is an information-intensive industry that remains highly fragmented and inefficient. Hence, the uses of information technology (IT)-- in delivering clinical care, performing administrative functions, and supporting the public health infrastructure-- have the potential to yield both cost savings and improvements in the care itself." (U.S. General Accounting Office)

Automakers, 'Losing Competitiveness,' Join UAW in Healthcare Costs Fight
Excerpt: "As U.S. companies struggle with health-insurance premiums that grew 10 times faster than inflation in the past three years, confrontation in the auto industry between labor and management has given way to common cause on health care." (Bloomberg News)

HHS Denies Conclusions in New York Times Article About Effect of Medicare Drug Benefit
Excerpt: "The New York Times 'got it wrong' in a July 14 article ... about the predicted effect on retiree health benefits under the Medicare Modernization Act, says Bill Pierce, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services." (BenefitNews.com)

Medicare Changes Policy on Obesity; Some Treatments Might Be Covered
Excerpt: "The federal Medicare program yesterday abandoned a long-standing policy that obesity is not a disease, removing what has been a major roadblock for many people trying to get treatment for the burgeoning health problem." (Washington Post; one-time registration required)

Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General

Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide: July 13, 2004
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 July 13, 2004. (Hewitt)

Newly Posted Press Releases

MONY Corporate Strategies Group Supports Product Innovation & Sales Efforts with AFS Online Technologies
(Deferral.com, Inc.)

Milliman Survey Foresees a 11% HMO Rate Increase, 12% PPO Rate Increase in 2005
(Milliman USA)

SEC Votes to Propose Requirement that Hedge Fund Advisers Register Under Investment Advisers Act
(U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)

Three Leading U.S. Business Organizations Call on FASB to Revamp Proposal Mandating Stock Option Expensing
(U.S. Chamber of Commerce)

Deferral.com Introduces Asset-Liability Mapping and Linking for COLI Insurance, Other Assets
(Resources For Living (RFL))
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Post a Help Wanted Ad

Plan Contributions Associate
for ICMA Retirement Corporation
in DC

Employer Support Specialist
for ICMA Retirement Corporation
in DC

Retention Specialist
for ICMA Retirement Corporation
in DC

Investor Services Associates
for ICMA Retirement Corporation
in DC

Regional Group Life Wholesaler
for Fortune 500 Insurance Carrier
in IL

Plan Administrator / Relationship Manager
for Weaver Partners
in ANY STATE

Finance Director
for RSM McGladrey
in MN

Retirement Plan Specialist (PART-TIME)
for Diversified Investment Advisors
in IL, WI

401(k) Trust Accountant/Conversion Specialist
for Advanced Benefits Consulting
in MO

Handy Links:
Copyright 2004 BenefitsLink.com, Inc.; except that you can reprint this newsletter in full (including this boilerplate part) without obtaining our permission.

Published by:

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Editor and Publisher: David Rhett Baker, J.D.

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