| BenefitsLink Welfare Plans Newsletter |   |
May 4, 2005
Today's sponsor: World Congress
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| The World Congress 1st Annual Human Capital Management Congress |
| The World Congress is proud to present the 1st Annual Human Capital Management Congress taking place this January 23 – 25, 2006 at the Ritz-Carlton Georgetown in Washington, DC. The HCMC will bring together the most innovative and knowledgeable industry experts addressing the most pertinent issues relating to health and human capital management. The event is uniquely designed to discuss the impact of benefits on employee productivity, healthcare costs and overall company competitiveness. |
| (Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor) |
Erie County Hearing Prompts Bipartisan Pledge to Help Fix the Problem
Excerpt: "[The Week of April 29, 2005], the House Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations, chaired by Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX), held a hearing on the impact of the 2000 Erie County ruling on retiree health programs." (HR Policy Association)
Bill Would Require Employers to Provide Seven Days of Sick Leave Annually
Excerpt: "[The week of April 29, 2005], Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) reintroduced legislation requiring employers with 15 or more employees to provide at least seven days of sick leave to most employees annually. Under the Healthy Families Act (S. 932/H.R. 1902), employees-including some part-timers-could use the leave for their own illnesses or medical appointments or to care for sick family members." (HR Policy Association)
OPM Encourages Federal Health Carriers to Follow Presidential Leadership on Health Info Technology
Excerpt: "The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) said in its annual Call Letter that the agency wants companies that provide health coverage for federal employees to convert to electronic health records, and they want insurers to submit their IT plans by May 31." (AISHealth.com)
Uninsured Americans with Chronic Health Conditions: Findings from National Health Interview Survey (PDF)
24 pages. Excerpt: "Using the most recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics' National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the researchers quantified the number of uninsured adults with chronic conditions, overall and by race and ethnicity, and examined whether they experience gaps in their access to care. Researchers further examined access problems faced by uninsured adults with different chronic health problems. The results are startling." (CoverTheUninsuredWeek.org)
Behavioral Firms Build Disease Management Capacity to Address Medical/Psych Interaction
Excerpt: "In the past few years, behavioral health companies have begun taking a seat at the table in the management of some of the most expensive and prevalent chronic conditions. These firms are developing more disease management capabilities, aiming to provide expertise to vendors, employers and insurers on how to identify and treat behavioral issues within the context of programs to manage diabetes, congestive heart failure and a host of other conditions." (MANAGED CARE WEEK via AISHealth.com)
Text: Trends in Employer-Provided Mental Health and Substance Abuse Benefits (PDF)
11 pages. Excerpt: "Traditionally, employer-provided coverage for mental disorders and substance abuse treatment has been more restrictive than for other medical care benefits; recent data from the BLS National Compensation Survey show substantive changes in narrowing some of those differences, primarily as a result of State and federally-mandated benefits." (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Mercer Survey Shows 7.5% Employer Health Benefit Cost Increase Lowest Since 1999
Excerpt: "The cost of health care benefits, up an average of 7.5 percent per employee, saw the lowest increase in five years even as it continued to outpace inflation, according to the 2004 National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans, which Mercer Human Resource Consulting released in April." (Society for Human Resource Management)
Officials Say Businesses Should Have Option to Offer 'Freedom' Plans -- A High-Deductible Choice
Excerpt: "Mandates constitute about 12 percent of the annual cost of a health-insurance premium, said Rob Robinson, president and chief executive officer of the Otsego County Chamber. It's that 12 percent -- or $1,066 for a yearly family policy -- that prevents many small-business owners from offering health insurance, Robinson said." (The Daily Star Online)
Companies Are Passing More of Their Health Care Costs on to Employees
Excerpt: "The cost shifting signals that insured consumers probably will see more co-payment plans, in which patients pay a set price for doctor and hospital visits, change to plans in which patients pay a percentage of the total cost of the visit, said David Guilmette, a managing director at Towers Perrin." (The Washington Times)
CBO Report: High-Cost Medicare Beneficiaries
Excerpt: "In response to ... financial pressures, policymakers have considered a number of strategies for slowing the growth of Medicare spending, including increasing the share of spending paid by beneficiaries and enhancing competition in the provision of services. This Congressional Budget Office (CBO) paper, ..., explores an additional approach: focusing on the small group of beneficiaries that accounts for a large share of the program's spending." (Congressional Budget Office)
Slide Presentation on Health Insurance: Can Californians Afford It?
Excerpt: "The series of slides ... compares health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses to hourly wages and household spending across California and within six local areas. The results show the significant financial pressure that health care costs are putting on insured Californians. The report focuses on the small business and individual insurance markets, where the greatest number of uninsured Californians would get their insurance if they thought they could afford it." (California HealthCare Foundation)
Overview: Testimony on Similarity of Health Care Challenges Facing Military and Private Employers
Excerpt: "The Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee recently held a hearing on DOD's struggle to maintain the rich health care benefits for active-duty service members, retirees, and their families. Health related costs are projected to total $33 billion in fiscal year 2006, and reach $50 billion in 2010." (HR Policy Association)
ERISA Does Not Preempt Certain State Actions to Recoup Medicaid Payments from Health Plans
Excerpt: "Although an advisory opinion may be relied upon only by the recipient, this guidance is important for a couple of reasons. First, it paints a detailed picture of the DOL's position regarding reimbursement of Medicaid payments (including its disagreement with a 1994 court decision indicating that ERISA gives states no greater rights with respect to recoupment of Medicaid payments than a participant has with respect to claims for reimbursement from the plan)." (Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc.)
CDH Plan Online Comparison Tools Gaining Popularity, Lumenos, Humana Say
Excerpt: "Tools that help consumers compare drug costs and estimate likely out-of-pocket expenses for medical and surgical procedures are two of the most popular online devices used by CDH enrollees, according to Humana Inc. and Lumenos." (INSIDE CONSUMER-DIRECTED CARE via AISHealth.com)
Federal Government Will Offer a New Package of Optional Dental Health Benefits to Its Employees
Excerpt: "The one dim spot in the otherwise bright federal health insurance plan has been dental coverage. Federal and postal workers prosper under the plan until they develop problems with their teeth." (The Washington Times)
Rite of Passage? Why Young Adults Become Uninsured and How New Policies Can Help (PDF)
12 pages. Excerpt: "Three policy changes could extend coverage to uninsured young adults and prevent others from losing it: extending eligibility for dependents under private coverage through age 23; extending eligibility for Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program to age 23; and ensuring that colleges and universities require full- and part-time students to have insurance, and that they offer coverage to both." (The Commonwealth Fund)
Legislation with Tax Credits & HSAs for Uninsured Could Benefit National Health Access Participants
Excerpt: "On the eve of Cover the Uninsured Week, Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) are introducing legislation to address the problem through the tax code. H.R. 1872 would create a refundable tax credit for low income individuals to purchase health insurance, allow for premiums of high deductible health plans connected with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to be deducted, and create a refundable tax credit for small employers that make contributions to an employee's HSA." (HR Policy Association)
How Many Health Savings Accounts May An Individual Open?
Excerpt: "Can an individual have more than one Health Savings Account (HSA) (i.e. an account at Bank 1 and another at Bank 2)? Answer: HSA rules do not prevent an individual from having more than one HSA. IRC Section 223 addresses an individual's annual aggregate HSA deduction limit. Remember, for any individual, the maximum contribution is the lesser of the maximum amount allowable as a deduction or his/her annual deductible amount under a high deductible health plan (HDHP)." (Bankers Systems, Inc.)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
The Trucker Huss April 2005 Benefits Report Includes Recent Developments in Washington (PDF)
6 pages. This issue of the newsletter reviews Bankrup.tcy Reform; Expansion of Department of Labor Correction Program; Stock Option Accounting Update; and, Revenue Procedure 2005–23 -- Internal Revenue Service Guidance for Implementing Heinz Decision. (Trucker Huss)
Failure to Decide Appeal within ERISA-Mandated Time Limit Allowed Participant to File Suit
Excerpt: "This case was decided under the old ERISA claims procedure rules. .... The current claims procedure rules impose a shorter deadline for deciding disability appeals (a reasonable period not to exceed 45 days, with one 45-day extension for special circumstances after notice is given to the claimant)." (Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc.)
Opinion: Medical, Pension Costs Hurt General Motors
Excerpt: "Who knew? Speculation about which welfare state will be the first to buckle under the strain of the pension and medical costs of aging populations usually focuses on European nations with declining birth rates and aging populations. Who knew the first to buckle would be General Motors, with Ford not far behind?" (George Will via The Joplin Globe)
Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide Updated as of May 3, 2005
Excerpt: "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." (Hewitt Associates)
How to Get a Better Severance Package
Excerpt: "If you got a pink slip and you're over 40, you may have more leverage than you think to negotiate severance. Here are some pointers on how to haggle for a sweeter deal." (Fortune)
Newly Posted Press Releases
Make-A-Wish Foundation of America Joins with Gilsbar, Inc. to Control Health Plan Costs
(Gilsbar, Inc.)
MetLife Works with Millennium Trust to Launch Automatic Ira Rollover Program for Small- and Medium-Sized Firms; Results: Lowered Administration Costs and Time Savings for Plan Sponsors
(MetLife)
Beneficial Financial Group Selects Assist America for Global Emergency Services
(Assist America, Inc.)
Health Insurance: Can Californians Afford It?; Rising Health Insurance Costs Hit Chronically Ill and Low-Wage Workers Hardest
(California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF))
MyFinancialAdvice, Inc. to Provide Live Advice to Decimal’s “The Online 401(k)™ Solution”
(Decimal, Inc.)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Business Analyst II - Retirement Plans
for Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc.
in MD
Account Executive - Client Services
for Diversified Investment Advisors
in NY
Sr Account Executive
for AXA Financial
in NJ
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