| BenefitsLink Welfare Plans Newsletter |   |
January 20, 2005
Today's sponsor: Financial Research Associates, LLC
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
Made in America Taft Hartley Benefits Summit Financial Research Associates presents: The 2nd Annual Made in America Taft Hartley Benefits Summit February 6-9, 2005 in Palm Springs To Register call 800-280-8440 or visit www.frallc.com The summit will consist of concurrent tracks, one covering topical issues regarding DC/DB plans and the other covering current for health & welfare topics. Don't miss out, register today! All Administrators and Trustees save $1,000!
(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
The Value of Health Care Information Exchange and Interoperability: The Business Case
Excerpt: "In this paper we assess the value of electronic health care information exchange and interoperability (HIEI) between providers (hospitals and medical group practices) and independent laboratories, radiology centers, pharmacies, payers, public health departments, and other providers. We have created an HIEI taxonomy and combined published evidence with expert opinion in a cost-benefit model." (Health Affairs)
Report Recommends National Health Information Network
Excerpt: "A group of 13 health and information technology organizations on Tuesday in a report recommended that a 'common framework' for a national health information network at the request of the Bush administration, the New York Times reports. According to the 54-page report, to improve health care and reduce costs, physicians should have the ability to exchange patient information with hospitals, laboratories, specia.lists, health insurers and researchers." (Kaiser Family Foundation)
The Employer's Guide to Health Improvement and Preventive Services
Excerpt: "The National Business Group on Health updated and revised the Employer's Guide to Clinical Preventive Services to provide guidance on the development and implementation of prevention and health promotion programs as well as to translate research evidence on clinical preventive services such as screenings, counseling and immunizations into business language. This guide will provide large employers with pertinent and timely information about practical strategies arranged in a ...." (National Business Group on Health)
CDC Letter Cites Computer Error for Problems with Obesity Study Results
Excerpt: "A computer error caused CDC in a March 2004 study to overstate by about 35,000 the number of annual obesity-related deaths in the United States, according to a letter from four agency researchers published on Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the AP/Boston Globe reports.' (The National Journal Group, Limited. via BlueCross BlueShield Association)
Many Firms Seek to Spare Vision and Dental Coverage As Costs Rise
Excerpt: "With health insurance premiums rising at double-digit rates during the past few years, employers have been struggling to find ways to rein in costs. Dropping ancillary benefits like dental and vision insurance might seem like a quick fix, but many firms appear reluctant to do so. For many employers, retaining or even adding such benefits has become a relatively inexpensive way to take the sting out of cutbacks in medical coverage." (San Francisco Chronicle)
Nation's Health Care Needs 'Bold' Reform, According to HHS Nominee
Excerpt: "President Bush's nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday that the nation's entire health care system needs comprehensive reform, and he defended his administration of health programs while governor of Utah." (The Salt Lake Tribune)
Newly Released Surveys Examine Current Success Of HSAs
Excerpt: "Since the Jan. 1, 2004 effective date for health savings accounts (HSAs), the media have been inundated with claims about the market, who is buying them, and why. Three new surveys recently have been released to answer those questions." (Spencer Benefits Reports)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
The Death of the Discount Stock Option
Excerpt: "A frequent planning technique for management compensation has been the issuance of non-qualified stock options where the option exercise price is less than the fair market value of the option stock on the date of grant. This planning technique is no longer tax effective under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the 'JOBs Act'), which was enacted on October 22, 2004." (Andrew Rudolph, Esq. and David Kaplan, Esq., Pepper Hamilton, LLP via BNA Tax Management)
Layoff Of Employee To Reduce Costs Did Not Violate ADEA Or ERISA, Eighth Circuit Rules
Excerpt: "The layoff of an employee in conjunction with a series of cost-cutting measures did not violate the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) or ERISA. This was the ruling of the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Iverson v. Ingersoll-Rand Company (No. 03-3411)." (Spencer Benefits Reports)
Newly Posted Events
2005 Plan Administration Skills Workshop -- Dallas
in Texas on February 4, 2005
presented by SouthWest Benefits Association
2005 Plan Administration Skills Workshop -- Houston
in Texas on February 25, 2005
presented by SouthWest Benefits Association
2005 Plan Administration Skills Workshop -- Oklahoma City
in Oklahoma on February 18, 2005
presented by SouthWest Benefits Association
First Quarter 2005 Update
Nationwide on February 17, 2005
presented by McKay Hochman
Newly Posted Press Releases
ERISA Fiduciary Guild Announces Special Advisory Board
(ERISA Fiduciary Guild)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Defined Benefit Calculation Specialists
for Constantin Control Associates
in NJ
Pension Plan Administrator
for South Florida TPA
in FL
Marketing/Sales/Enrollments
for South Florida RIA, TPA and Record Keeping Firm
in FL
Retirement Plan Administrator
for Independent Retirement Plan Administration Company
in FL
Associate Account Manager Health & Welfare Practice
for Charles W. Cammack Associates, Inc.
in NJ, NY
Employee Benefits Tax Group - Manager
for Deloitte & Touche
in IL
Client Data Processor
for Decimal, Inc. - The Online 401(k)
in CA
Employee Benefits Paralegal
for Chang, Ruthenberg & Long
in CA
Benefits Delivery Manager
for Hewitt Associates
in IL
Handy Links:
- View Today's Active Message Threads
- Search BenefitsLink
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research (hypertext article)
- Employee Benefits Library
Copyright 2005 BenefitsLink.com, Inc.; except that you may reprint this newsletter in full (including this sentence) without obtaining our permission.
Published by:
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Editor and Publisher: David Rhett Baker, J.D.
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