| BenefitsLink Welfare Plans Newsletter |   |
August 13, 2004
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Aetna Takes Small Steps To Pare Cost of Care
Excerpt: "[E]xpert coaching on tough, costly cases is becoming an important part of Aetna's strategic plan. Health insurers have been berated in recent years for alleged interference by non-health professionals in treatment decisions. But Aetna officials believe that by turning to medical experts, they can save costs and improve care simultaneously." (Wall Street Journal via SFGate.com)
FDA Raises Specter of Terrorism Through Imported Drugs
Excerpt: "'Cues from chatter' gathered around the world are raising concerns that terrorists might try to attack the domestic food and drug supply, particularly illegally imported pres.cription drugs, acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Lester Crawford says." (USA Today)
Survey: Many Small, Mid-Sized Employers Cutting Benefits to Lower Costs
Excerpt: "On average, small and mid-sized businesses held health costs to single-digit growth last year, but did so by cutting benefits, according to Marsh Inc.'s Mid-sized Employer Health Plans 2003 survey." (BenefitNews.com)
Health Care Issues Likely To Play Large Role in Presidential Elections
Excerpt: "The Des Moines Register on Friday examined how health care is 'shaping up as a key' issue in the presidential election, including in a 'majority of battleground states' -- such as Iowa, Ohio and Florida -- where the 'percentage of elderly residents tops the U.S. average.' According to the Register, health care has become a 'major component' of voters' general concern about the economy." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Some Americans Have Been Arrested In Mexico After Buying Drugs from Border Pharmacies
Excerpt: "Officials and politicians on both sides of the border are taking steps to clarify the rules about Americans buying pres.cription drugs and bringing them back to the USA after a 66-year-old Phoenix man was arrested and spent nearly eight weeks in a Mexican prison." (USA Today)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
High Court in California Nullifies G.ay Marriages
Excerpt: "California's Supreme Court on Thursday nullified the nearly 4,000 same-sex marriages that San Francisco sanctioned this spring, ruling that the city did not have the authority to take such action in defiance of state law.... Some city officials had thought the court might keep the same-sex marriages valid at least until it decides whether the ban on such unions is constitutional. But five justices decided that it would not be 'prudent or wise' ..." (Washington Post; one-time registration required)
PNC Could Mean Payday for Riggs Executives
Excerpt: "Riggs National Corp. executives would receive more than $7 million in severance payments if PNC Financial Services Group Inc. buys Riggs early next year as anticipated.... The payments would result from the change-in-control agreements that are part of the executives' contracts." (Washington Post; one-time registration required)
Executive Compensation Regulatory Update (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt: "This letter briefly updates our readers on the status of several accounting and federal tax issues that could affect executive compensation.... [Topics include:] Stock Option Expensing ... Earnings Per Share ... Deferred Compensation ... Incentive Stock Options" (Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc.)
Wealth, Happiness Don't Necessarily Go Hand In Hand
Excerpt: "On a scale of 1 to 7, where 1 means 'not at all satisfied with my life' and 7 means 'completely satisfied,' it's no surprise that survey-respondents who make Forbes magazine's list of the 400 richest Americans average 5.8, while homeless pavement dwellers in Calcutta average 2.9.... [but] the Inuit people of frigid northern Greenland also average 5.8. So do the cattle-herding Masai of Kenya, who live in dung huts with no electricity or running water." (Wall Street Journal via SFGate.com)
Newly Posted Events
19th Annual Advanced ALI-ABA and ABA Section of Taxation Course of Study - Tax Exempt Charitable Organizations
in District of Columbia on November 4, 2004
presented by ALI-ABA (American Law Institute-American Bar Association)
Compensation
in Georgia on September 14, 2004
presented by ASPA Benefits Council of Atlanta
The Final Word on HSAs – Overview of Recent IRS Guidance
Nationwide on August 26, 2004
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
What You Need to Know About Retirement Plan Audits
in Georgia on August 19, 2004
presented by Worldwide Employee Benefits Network (WEB) - Atlanta Chapter
Newly Posted Press Releases
Fred Reish to Receive ASPA’s Eidson Award
(Reish Luftman Reicher & Cohen)
PBGC To File Objection To UAL Agreement Blocking Pension Payments
(Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC))
IRS Chief Counsel Appoints Zelnik as Senior Counsel, Position Focuses on Abusive Transactions
(Internal Revenue Service (IRS))
Form 5500 Update
(FreeERISA.com)
401kRolloverGuide.com Announces the Launch of its Website
(401k Rollover Guide)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Relationship Manager (Potential Future Opportunities)
for Fidelity Investments
in KY
DC Plan Administrator
for Cuff & Associates, Inc.
in TN
401 (k) Benefits Analyst
for Watson Wyatt & Company
in MA
Pension Education Consultant
for Diversified Investment Advisors
in CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT
Defined Contribution/401 Administrator
for Berlin, Ramos & Co., Rockville, Maryland
in DC, MD, VA
Plan Administrator
for Pension Specialists, Inc.
in AZ
Retirement Plan Sales Consultant - New England
for Invesmart, Inc.
in CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT
Handy Links:
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- Search BenefitsLink
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research
- Employee Benefits Library
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