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December 8, 2004
Today's sponsor: World Congress
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
World Congress Leadership Summit on Disease Management and Chronic Care The 1st Annual World Congress Leadership Summit on Disease Management and Chronic Care presents the nation's best practices and thought leaders in implementing successful disease management programs that produce positive clinical and financial outcomes. The conference agenda is designed to address the market demands from employers and public purchasers as well as the leading edge programs offered by health care insurers and providers.
(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
HSA Road Rules for Consumers, Employers, Insurers, Banks, Credit Unions and Administrators (PDF)
Principles, rules, and questions and answers on Health Savings Accounts. Excerpt: "HSA Road Rules is designed to be as simple and comprehensive as possible. However, as events warrant, the online version of HSA Road Rules will be updated, so check back at www.hsainsider.com periodically to make sure you have the most recent edition." (HSA Coalition)
Unmarried G.ay Couples Losing Health Benefits -- Large Massachusetts Employers Withdraw Coverage
Excerpt: "Many of the state's largest employers are dropping health benefits for unmarried g.ay couples, seven months after Massachusetts became the only state to legalize same-sex marriage. Massachusetts companies, some of which pioneered so-called domestic-partner benefits for unmarried, same-sex partners, said they are now withdrawing them for reasons of fairness: If g.ays and les.bians can now marry, they should no longer receive special treatment in the form of health benefits that were ...." (The Boston Globe)
Joint Comm. on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations Guidelines Refining Pay-for-Performance
Excerpt: "In a move that should encourage adoption of pay-for-performance initiatives, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations recently unveiled guiding principles (http://www.jcaho.org/news+room/news+release+archives/jcaho_112204_principles.htm) for these programs. JCAHO, which accredits nearly 16,000 health care organizations and programs nationwide, designed the principles for the use of purchasers, policymakers, third-party payers and health plans." (BenefitNews Connect)
Chart: High-Deductible Health Plans and Health Savings Accounts Available from Insurance Companies
Excerpt: "Insurers and financial institutions are getting their ducks in a row to offer large and small corporate customers package deals of high-deductible health plans and health savings accounts. Here's a sample of what's available from some of the country's top insurers, as well as insurers who specialize in consumer-driven health care plans." (Workforce Management)
The Health Plan, Medica, to Introduce Electronic Health Cards and Online Comparisons in Minnesota
Excerpt: "Minnetonka-based Medica plans to introduce electronic 'swipe' health-care membership cards and an online health plan comparison tool for all 1.2 million of its members. The programs, which start in January reflect changes called for by Gov. Tim Pawlenty when he announced the 'Smart Buy Alliance' to monitor health care costs and improve the flow of consumer health information, according to a statement from Medica." (The Business Journal (Minneapolis/St. Paul) via)
Blues Refine Pay-for-Performance Programs to Add Patient Safety and Specia.list Measures
Excerpt: "Although health care pay-for-performance programs are only in their infancy, some Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans already are adding refinements to existing initiatives to focus on specia.lists, encourage deeper investment from providers and incorporate patient-safety measures. Pay-for-performance programs are aimed at developing quality incentive initiatives that reward providers for improving the quality, safety and efficacy of care." (The AIS Report on Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans via AISHealth.com)
United Steelworkers to Offer Drug Benefits to Bethlehem Steel Corp. and Other Company Retirees
Excerpt: "The United Steelworkers union said yesterday that it will offer as early as February a pres.cription drug benefits plan to Bethlehem Steel Corp. retirees who lost their health-care benefits 20 months ago. The drug benefits plan will target about 48,000 retired hourly workers and their dependents at Bethlehem Steel, and 37,000 others at other bankrupt steelmakers whose assets were acquired by International Steel Group Inc. of Cleveland." (The Baltimore Sun; one-time registration required)
Most Blues Patients in Most States Will Have Access to Health Savings Accounts by the End of 2005
Excerpt: "The BlueCross BlueShield Assn., arguing the nation's health insurance problems can be alleviated by giving patients increased control over the care they choose, said in November that its member plans would offer a variety of PPO products tied to health savings accounts in virtually every state by 2006. The announcement, seen by the AMA and other HSA supporters as a vote of confidence, was one of several recent decisions by large insurers either to introduce or expand the ...." (American Medical News)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Understanding the Section 457(b) Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan
Excerpt: "Code Section 457 applies to an employer-sponsored retirement plan maintained by a state, local government or tax-exempt organization (other than a governmental unit), so anyone working for an organization of this type is eligible to participate in this type of retirement plan. These plans are commonly referred to as nonqualified deferred compensation plans." (Marco Island Eagle)
The Segal Company's 2005 Reporting & Disclosure Calendar for Multiemployer Plans in Printable Form (PDF)
23 pages. Excerpt: "This year, for the first time, [The Segal Company] created an easy-to-print, multiple-page PDF version of the 2005 Reporting & Disclosure Calendar for Multiemployer Plans." (The Segal Company)
The Segal Company's 2005 Reporting & Disclosure Compliance Calendar for Multiemployer Plans
Excerpt: "The Segal Company's 2005 Reporting & Disclosure Calendar for Multiemployer Plans summarizes compliance requirements for qualified, single employer benefit plans. [There is] a brief description of each requirement and information about such details as the plan(s) affected, filing requirements and due dates ...." (The Segal Company)
Retirees Return to the Workplace, but This Time It's on Their Own Terms
Excerpt: "While some other companies are rewriting their retirement policies to keep older workers from retiring, Eli Lilly and Procter & Gamble identified a different talent pool: retired professionals who wanted to return to work on a limited basis. In surveys, older workers say they would like to scale back their hours, in 'phased retirement,' rather than leave altogether. Some need the money; others want the challenges or camaraderie." (The New York Times; one-time registration required)
Advocates Hail Pennsylvania Court's Ruling on Same-Sex Benefits As Significant
Excerpt: "Monday's Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that extended benefits to same-sex partnerships did not alter the state's definition of marriage as a bond between a man and a woman. But advocates for g.ay and les.bian rights said yesterday that the court's ruling clearly defined same-sex partnerships as having a legal status separate from marriage." (The Philadelphia Inquirer; one-time registration required)
Comments on Executive Pay as Covered by Broc Romanek at TheCorporateCounsel.net Blog
Excerpt: "If you practice in the executive compensation arena, you need to be reading Broc Romanek who is following developments pertaining to a new wave of executive compensation lawsuits. .... One such lawsuit names the CEO, other executives, directors and the general counsel and 'seeks to recover money for the corporation almost solely on the basis that no corporate director could in good faith have allowed executives to have collected the amount of money that was paid' to them." (Attorney B. Janell Grenier via BenefitsBlog.com)
Letter to Treasury Requesting Guidance Under Section 409A of P.L. 108-357 re: NQDC Plans (PDF)
7 pages. Excerpt: "On behalf of the HR Policy Association, I am writing to provide additional information and request additional guidance on the implementation of new Internal Revenue Code section 409A under section 885 of the American Jobs Creation Act, P.L. 108-357. These comments expand on and supplement our comments dated October 29, 2004." (HR Policy Association)
Discussion of New Book: Pay Without Performance: the Unfulfilled Promise of Executive Compensation
Excerpt: "Out-of-control executive compensation schemes are 'widespread, persistent, and systemic,' and new reforms won't clean up the mess, argue law professors Lucian Bebchuk and Jesse Fried. Q&A and book excerpt." (Working Knowledge)
Commentary: JPMorgan Creates a New Option for Stock Options
Excerpt: "JPMorgan Chase & Co. is about to blaze a new path with employee stock options, showing you can do something socially responsible and useful, while also making a profit. In the last couple of years, JPMorgan has done major deals on stock options with Microsoft Corp. and Comcast Corp. Both companies offered to buy packages of options previously granted to employees. Then those packages were re-bought by Morgan, after first stripping away forfeiture and other provisions unique ...." (Bloomberg News)
Newly Posted Events
Certified Retirement Services Professional (CRSP) Exam
in North Carolina on June 18, 2004
presented by Institute of Certified Bankers
Certified Retirement Services Professional (CRSP) Exam
in South Carolina on January 29, 2005
presented by Institute of Certified Bankers
Certified Retirement Services Professional (CRSP) Exam
Nationwide on February 18, 2005
presented by Institute of Certified Bankers
Certified Retirement Services Professional (CRSP) Exam
in North Carolina on June 18, 2005
presented by Institute of Certified Bankers
Certified Retirement Services Professional (CRSP) Exam
Nationwide on August 5, 2005
presented by Institute of Certified Bankers
HSAs for Beginners
Nationwide on October 21, 2004
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Enrolled Actuary
for Long Island Employee Benefits Group, Ltd.
in NY
Benefits Service Manager
for Hewitt Associates
in IL, WI
Sales Representative
for National Retirement Services, Inc. (NRS)
in CA
Sr. Director of Sales
for Convergys
in ANY STATE, CT, DC, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA
Account Executive Director- Retirement Services
for Principal Financial Services
in MI
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