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June 23, 2005
Today's sponsor: Financial Research Associates

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PHARMACY BENEFIT COST CONTROL STRATEGIES

September 26 - 27, 2005 • Hyatt Dulles • Washington D.C.
To register: 800-280-8440

Advanced Industry Symposium on Drug Utilization & Formulary Design

Immediate Impact Cost Control Strategies for Employers, Health Plans and Pharmacy Benefit Managers


(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
Experts Question Compulsory Health Coverage Plan Proposed by Massachusetts Governor
Excerpt: "A proposal announced on Tuesday by Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) that would make health insurance compulsory 'might cost hundreds of millions of dollars more than state taxpayers currently provide for government health coverage,' according to some health care experts, the Boston Globe reports. Romney on Tuesday said that he would finance the proposal with funds currently used to provide health coverage for uninsured state residents." (Kaiser Family Foundation)

Five Ways to Make Sure Your HIPAA Privacy Compliance Remains Effective
Excerpt: "Here are five areas to focus on to make sure your initial (pre-April 2003) investment in privacy compliance will continue to pay dividends: ...." (REPORT ON PATIENT PRIVACY via AISHealth.com)

Ask the Experts: Health Information Technology Discussion Live Webcast on 6/30/2005
Excerpt: "Jill Braden Balderas, managing editor of kaisernetwork.org, talks to David Brailer, M.D., Ph.D., national coordinator for National Coordinator for Health Information Technology HHS, Winston Price, M.D., FAAP, president, National Medical Association and Dean Rosen, director of health policy, office of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, M.D. (R-Tenn.) about improving the nation's health technology infrastructure. [Submit your questions before and during the webcast.]" (Kaiser Family Foundation)

MEWA Database Offers Detailed State Information
Excerpt: "In a HCFO-funded study, Mila Kofman, J.D., and colleagues at Georgetown University have been examining the dynamics of pooled purchasing arrangements. Data from this study are accessible through a new database which contains information on M-1 Forms filed with the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) in 2003. The purpose of the database is to help state regulators and investigators to identify MEWAs operating in their states." (Health Care Financing & Organization)

Medi-Share: Uninsurance -- Christian Cost-Sharing Health Insurance Gaining Subscribers
Excerpt: "Proponents of Christian cost-sharing ministries say they shouldn't have to support with their premium dollars the destructive conduct of others. Medi-Share president, John Reinhold, said his healthcare program is based on a model of Christian community found in the New Testament." (Physicians for a National Health Program)

Wellness Survey Final Data –- June 18, 2005
The ERISA Industry Committee and Deloitte & Touche USA sponsored the survey. (The ERISA Industry Committee)

Special Solicitation for Proposals Issued on Use of Consumer Information for CDHC
Excerpt: "The Changes in Health Care Financing and Organization (HCFO) initiative is issuing a solicitation for proposals examining the use of consumer information in the consumer-directed health care (CDHC) model. Public and private policymakers need to better understand what kinds of information to provide to meet the new consumer demands that CDHC will generate, and how to provide that information in a way that enables consumers to make appropriate, timely decisions." (AcademyHealth)

Working Paper Abstract: Do Health Care Report Cards Tell Consumers Anything They Don't Already Know?
Excerpt: "The use of government-mandated report cards to diminish uncertainty about the quality of various products and services is widespread. However, report cards will have little effect if they simply confirm consumers' prior beliefs. Moreover, documented 'responses' to report cards may reflect learning about quality that would have occurred in their absence." (National Bureau of Economic Research)

Towers Perrin U.S. Legislative Tracking Charts — Health and Welfare -- Updated June 20, 2005 (PDF)
20 pages. Excerpt: "These charts summarize selected federal legislation that would affect employee benefit programs. The bills included on the charts are based on judgments regarding the prominence of the issue, the likelihood of enactment, and the influence of the sponsors." (Towers Perrin)

New England Democrats Target Wal-Mart with Health Care Bill
Excerpt: "Legislation introduced Wednesday in Congress would require local officials to gather and publicly release the number of employees that companies located in their states have on public health care programs. According to a news release, the Health Care Accountability Act (HCAA) is being sponsored by US Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts), Senator Jon Corzine (D-New Jersey) and US Representative Anthony Weiner (D-New York)." (PLANSPONSOR.com; one-time registration required)

Small Employers Are Ready for HSAs, but Need More Help from Agents and Brokers
Excerpt: "The nation's small-business owners -- ravaged by years of double-digit rate hikes -- could turn to health savings account (HSA)-based plans in droves in 2006. But insurance agents and brokers -- typically the only source of information for small employers -- could hinder adoption rates if they fail to understand the fundamentals of HSA-based plans." (INSIDE CONSUMER-DIRECTED CARE via AISHealth.com)

Number of Brokers Offering Voluntary Benefit Packages Is Growing
Excerpt: "Voluntary employee benefit offerings are becoming an increasingly important part of insurance broker workplace product sales, according to a survey released by the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers. The Washington, D.C.-based association released the results of a survey done by Eastbridge Consulting Group Inc., which found that 94 percent of the association's commercial insurance brokers are offering those products." (National Underwriter Life & Health; free one-time registration or paid subscription required)

Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General

An Employer Update on Same-Sex Marriage and Domestic Partner Benefits
Excerpt: "Massachusetts authorizes same-sex marriages, but judicial challenges to state marriage laws are pending in other states. Connecticut has joined Vermont in extending civil unions to same-sex couples. Other states have enacted domestic partnership laws. These developments continue to raise new questions for employers about their legal obligations. The following is an update for employers on the current status of the law." (Littler Mendelson, P.C.)

Commentary on Two Private Letter Rulings on Domestic Partner Benefits from the IRS
Excerpt: "The IRS has issued companion Private Letter Rulings (Priv. Ltr. Rul. 200524016 & Priv. Ltr. Rul. 200524017), holding that a County's collectively bargained 457(b) plan will not meet the requirements of section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code if the plan provides benefits to same-gender domestic partners. ..." (Attorney B. Janell Grenier via BenefitsBlog.com)

Reminder: June 30th Deadline for Deferral Elections of Certain Performance-Based Bonus Compensation (PDF)
3 pages. Excerpt: "Internal Revenue Code section 409A requires that elections to defer compensation earned in a taxable year be made before the beginning of that year. A special rule applies for performance-based compensation, however. An election to defer performance-based compensation that is based on services performed over a period of at least 12 months must be made at least 6 months before the end of the performance period." (Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP)

Overview: June 30 Deadline for Deferrals under Calendar Year Performance Plans
Excerpt: "New §409A generally requires that elections to defer compensation under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan be made in the year prior to the taxable year in which the underlying services are performed. However, there is an exception to this general rule for elections related to certain performance-based compensation. When performance-based compensation is based on a measuring period of at least 12 months, the deferral election may be made as late as six months prior ...." (Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC via BNA Tax Management)

Towers Perrin U.S. Legislative Tracking Charts — Human Resources -- Updated June 20, 2005 (PDF)
7 pages. Excerpt: "These charts summarize selected federal legislation that would affect employee benefit programs. The bills included on the charts are based on judgments regarding the prominence of the issue, the likelihood of enactment, and the influence of the sponsors." (Towers Perrin)

Chart: Employer Costs Per Hour Worked for Employee Compensation, Private Industry, March 2005
Excerpt: "In March 2005, private industry employer compensation costs averaged $24.17 per hour worked." (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Newly Posted Events

Health Information Technology - Ask the Experts, Live Webcast
Nationwide on June 30, 2005
presented by Kaiser Family Foundation

Population Health Management - How mid-size employers can reduce health care costs by promoting healthy lifestyles for employees
in California on July 12, 2005
presented by ArlenGroup

Population Health Management - How mid-size employers can reduce health care costs by promoting healthy lifestyles for employees
in California on July 14, 2005
presented by ArlenGroup

Newly Posted Press Releases

EDSA Creates Good Money Habits for Companies and Their Employees
(EDSA Group, Inc., The)

Consumer Driven Care Training Kit - Version 4.0 - June 2005 Release
(MCOL)

401kLoans Easing The Grief Of Participant Loan Origination
(Metrics Partners)

Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Post a Help Wanted Ad

Enrolled Actuary for Qualified Retirement Plans
for First Actuarial Corporation
in IL, MI

Benefit & Planning Counselor
for The Principal Financial Group
in NY

Implementation Consulting Analyst - US Outsourcing
for Mercer Human Resource Consulting
in IL

Account Representative
for Great-West Financial Services
in FL

Marketing & Sales Coordinator
for Exit & Retirement Strategies, Inc.
in CA

Human Capital Services Coordinator
for Guaranty Bank
in WI



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