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February 10, 2005
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IQPC's 2nd Annual Chronic Disease Management Strategies for Employers The 2nd Annual CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR EMPLOYERS - WEST: Effectively Managing Rising Costs, Increasing Productivity and Implementing Wellness Programs in the Workplace March 1 - 2, 2005 * San Francisco, CA Hear from Johnson & Johnson, Schlumberger, Union Pacific Railroad, Wachovia, HSBC, Boeing, Coca-Cola, WE Energies, Archer Daniels Midland, DMAA, Natl Assoc of Manufacturers, Pacific Business Group on Health, among many others. Click above or visit http://www.iqpc.com/na-2130-02/enews
(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
New Association Health Plan Bill Promises Old Debate
Excerpt: "One of President Bush's favorite benefits issues, association health plans, has returned to news along with a proposal that renews controversy over whether the programs pose an opportunity for small businesses to buy affordable health insurance, or a way to defraud employers and brokers." (The Adviser via BenefitNews.com)
Seventh Circuit Finds that FEHBA Preempts Plan's Subrogation Claim Against Enrollee (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt: "The Federal Employees Health Benefits Act (FEHBA) preempts a plan administrator's state law claim for reimbursement from an enrollee under the plan's subrogation provision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled Jan. 24 (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois v. Cruz, 7th Cir., No. 03-4170,1/24/05)." (Pension & Benefits Reporter via Miller & Chevalier)
Maryland Consortium to Advance E-Prescribing Effort
Excerpt: "Twenty-seven health care organizations in Maryland have created a consortium to speed physician adoption of electronic prescribing to improve patient safety, Modern Physician reports (Fong, Modern Physician, 2/8). The Maryland Safety Through Electronic Prescribing initiative, the first such program in the nation, will provide a collaborative forum for stakeholders to discuss the challenges to e-prescribing adoption." (California HealthCare Foundation)
Revised Estimate Revives Fight in Congress on Medicare Pres.cription Drug Costs
Excerpt: "New cost estimates for Medicare's pres.cription drug benefit prompted members of Congress of all political stripes on Wednesday to demand changes in the Medicare law before the benefit becomes available next year." (The New York Times; one-time registration required)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
An Overview of the Deferred Compensation Provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (PDF)
28 pages. Excerpt: "Among (many) other things, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 substantially rewrote the rules governing all sorts of deferred and executive compensation arrangements. [Mintz Levin is] pleased to provide you with a copy of a comprehensive article on the subject, ...." (Tax Management Compensation Planning Journal via Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo P.C.)
Exploring NYSE's and Nasdaq's Shareholder Approval Requirements for Equity Compensation Plans (PDF)
Pages 2-18 of 18 pages. Excerpt: "This articles discusses these new shareholder approval requirements ...." (Benefits Law Journal via)
Employee Benefits Developments for 2005: A Checklist
Excerpt: "With the arrival of some long awaited deadlines and the introduction of various new compliance requirements, the coming months promise to be busy ones for those involved in the design and administration of employee benefit plans. The following list identifies a number of developments and issues that may require your attention. The list is not intended to be comprehensive or to provide exhaustive detail with respect to any specific requirement." (Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP)
Sustaining Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance in Year Two and Beyond (PDF)
20 pages. Excerpt: "Indeed, a replay of the year one compliance fire drill is as untenable as it is unwise: Few companies could again marshal the resources or survive the disruption. But if year two under Sarbanes-Oxley is to cause less pain and provide more gain, companies must plan, design, and implement an efficient and effective program for sustainable compliance." (Deloitte)
Overview: Proposed USERRA Regulations and USERRA Amendments of Interest to Employers (PDF)
3 pages. Excerpt: "While the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 ... was enacted more than ten years ago, ... there were no regulations accompanying the law. In September 2004, [DOL] issued proposed regulations in a question and answer format that seek to clarify some potential ambiguities .... The final USERRA regulations are expected in June of this year. In addition, in December 2004, Congress passed new legislation that amends portions of USERRA." (Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.)
Overview: NASD Amends Rules Governing Eligibility of Claims for Arbitration (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt: "[The week of February 3, 2005,] NASD announced changes to the rules governing time limits on the submission of claims in arbitration. The NASD Code of Arbitration Procedure ('the NASD Code') retains the rule that claims are ineligible for submission to arbitration where six years have elapsed from the occurrence or event giving rise to the claim." (Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP)
Hudson County Is First in NJ to Cover Staffers' Partners
Excerpt: "Hudson County is poised to extend health and pension benefits to county employees' same-sex partners. If approved by the Board of Freeholders, the measure would make Hudson the first county in the state to offer health benefits to same-sex partners and the second to extend pension benefits, according to a list compiled by the State Division of Pensions and Benefits." (The Jersey Journal)
Newly Posted Events
ASPPA Summer Conference and Western Pension & Benefits Conference Annual Conference
in Nevada on July 16, 2006
presented by ASPPA and WP&BC
Automatic Rollovers - Implementation of the New Rules
Nationwide on March 17, 2005
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.
Enroll Plus® Demo
Nationwide on February 16, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
Enroll Plus® Demo
Nationwide on March 30, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
Enroll Plus® Demo
Nationwide on April 20, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
Enroll Plus® Demo
Nationwide on May 18, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
Enroll Plus® Demo
Nationwide on May 18, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
Enroll Plus® Demo
Nationwide on June 15, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
Enroll Plus® Demo
Nationwide on July 20, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
Enroll Plus® Demo
Nationwide on August 17, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
Enroll Plus® Demo
Nationwide on September 21, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
Enroll Plus® Demo
Nationwide on October 19, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
Enroll Plus® Demo
Nationwide on November 16, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
Enroll Plus® Demo
Nationwide on December 21, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
GuidancePlus Demo
Nationwide on February 11, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
GuidancePlus Demo
Nationwide on February 18, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
GuidancePlus Demo
Nationwide on February 25, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
Introduction to Retirement Plans
in Illinois on June 7, 2005
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.
Introduction to Retirement Plans
in Massachusetts on August 9, 2005
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.
Newkirk Fund Central Demo
Nationwide on February 24, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
Newkirk Fund Central Demo
Nationwide on March 29, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
Newkirk Fund Central Demo
Nationwide on April 5, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
Newkirk Fund Central Demo
Nationwide on April 14, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
Newkirk Fund Central Demo
Nationwide on April 21, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
Prototype Plan Seminar
in Illinois on April 19, 2005
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.
Prototype Plan Seminar
in Massachusetts on May 10, 2005
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.
Prototype Plan Seminar
in New Jersey on June 21, 2005
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.
Prototype Plan Seminar
in Ohio on July 19, 2005
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.
Prototype Plan Seminar
in Pennsylvania on August 16, 2005
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.
Retirement Plan Insights - Strategic Retirement Planning Seminars
in Pennsylvania on May 24, 2005
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.
Retirement Plan Insights - Strategic Retirement Planning Seminars
in Illinois on June 7, 2005
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.
Retirement Plan Insights - Strategic Retirement Planning Seminars
in Missouri on July 12, 2005
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.
Retirement Plan Insights - Strategic Retirement Planning Seminars
in Massachusetts on August 9, 2005
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.
Retirement Plan Insights - Strategic Retirement Planning Seminars
in Ohio on October 18, 2005
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.
Retirement Plan Insights - Strategic Retirement Planning Seminars
in Maryland on November 21, 2005
presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.
SmartStatement Demo
Nationwide on February 16, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
SmartStatement Demo
Nationwide on February 22, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
SmartStatement Demo
Nationwide on March 3, 2005
presented by Newkirk Products, Inc.
SPARK ARPS Training and Accreditation Program
in Massachusetts on March 30, 2005
presented by Society of Professional Administrators and Recordkeepers (SPARK)
The SUMMIT
in Florida on February 25, 2006
presented by ASPPA (American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries)
Newly Posted Press Releases
McKay Hochman Offers Automatic Rollover eSeminar
(McKay Hochman Co., Inc.)
Movers and Shakers: Newly Posted Announcements of Promotions and New Personnel
(Post Yours!)
Mullin Consulting Promotes Kevin Bachler and Heidi O'Brien
Erich J. Urbach
(Assist America, Inc.)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Retirement Professionals
for BeneTemps, Inc.
in CT, MA, NY, RI
Pension Consultant / Administrator
for White Plains NY Mid-Sized Pension Consulting Firm
in NY
Consulting Actuary
for RSM McGladrey, Inc.
in IL
401(k)/DC Administrator
for Benetech, Inc.
in CA
Pension Administrator
for Benetech, Inc.
in CA, VA
Defined Benefit
for Constantin Control Associates
in NJ
Benefit Project Specialist
for Aon Consulting
in MD
401(k) Administrator
for Iron Administration, LLC located in North Suburban Chicago, IL
in IL
Flexible Spending Account Administrator
for ProView
in CA
Employee Benefits Premium Billing/Reconciliation Analyst
for ProView
in CA
Employee Benefits Call Center Representative
for ProView
in CA
Corporate Counsel, Corporate Services
for Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
in CA
Actuary
for Greenbook Pension Services, Inc.
in CA
Human Resources - HR Benefits Representative
for Central Virginia Electric Cooperative
in VA
Ongoing Delivery DBP Business Analyst
for Hewitt Associates
in IL
HM Design Consultant Entry
for Hewitt Associates
in IL
Senior Benefit Consultant
for Independent Benefit Services
in MD
Employee Benefits Paralegal
for Trucker Huss
in CA
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Copyright 2005 BenefitsLink.com, Inc.; except that you may reprint this newsletter in full (including this sentence) without obtaining our permission.
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