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June 24, 2005
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Vermont Governor Vetoes Health Bill for Uninsured
Excerpt: "Republican Gov. Jim Douglas has vetoed legislation that would have used payroll and personal income taxes to establish a state-run program to provide health insurance for the uninsured. The legislation, H. 524, called for launching a program that would have provided some coverage to all uninsured Vermonters by July 2006, gradually adding preventive and primary care for all residents the following year, hospital care for all in 2008 and comprehensive benefits for all residents by ...." (Business Insurance)

GASB Issues New Standards for Public Post-Retirement Benefits Other than Pensions
Excerpt: "Government employers are soon to be held to a new accounting standard relating to the funding of post-retirement benefits. The new Government Accounting Standards Board Statement 45 will require large governments to apply the same accounting standards used for pension liabilities to payments and services provided for retirees other than pensions, beginning in 2008, according to a Fitch press release." (PLANSPONSOR.com; one-time registration required)

Not So Fast! DOJ Speaks on HIPAA Criminal Liability (PDF)
3 pages. Excerpt: "On June 1, 2005, the United States Department of Justice ... unofficially published a memorandum ... addressing the scope of criminal enforcement under [HIPAA] .... Shortly after the memorandum became known, several health law publications and commentators appeared to summarize the memorandum as stating that individuals no longer need fear prosecution under HIPAA; that, in fact, criminal liability for violation of HIPAA's provisions is limited to HIPAA-defined 'covered ....'" (Powell Goldstein LLP)

New In-Store Clinics Offer Medical Care in a Jiffy
Excerpt: "MinuteClinic, based in Minneapolis, is on the leading edge of a new kind of clinic that offers swift treatment for simple illnesses. MinuteClinic operates in 22 locations in the Twin Cities and Baltimore, most of them in Target Corp., the nation's second-largest discount department store chain; Cub Foods, operated by grocery retailer Supervalu Inc.; and CVS Corp. stores." (The Washington Post; one-time registration required)

AON Survey Shows Wellness Programs Gaining Favor
Excerpt: "A recent survey of HR executives conducted by AON Consulting showed that 43% of those surveyed have adopted a formalized disease management or health and wellness strategy for their workforce." (PLANSPONSOR.com; one-time registration required)

National Business Group on Health Presents First Annual Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles Awards
Excerpt: "The First Annual Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles Awards acknowledge and reward those organizations that apply creative solutions to improving the health of employees. The Award program also serves as a channel for sharing and comparing successful interventions, programs and services." (National Business Group on Health)

States Should Require Managed Care Plans to Keep Updated Provider Networks, AMA Says
Excerpt: "State attorneys general should require that lists of in-network providers provided to members of managed care plans are accurate and up-to-date, American Medical Association delegates said at the organization's annual meeting in Chicago on Wednesday, the Chicago Tribune reports." (Kaiser Family Foundation)

More States Try to Shame Companies into Improving the Health Care Benefits They Offer
Excerpt: "A growing number of states are trying to pressure employers into improving health benefits by publicizing the names of companies that have the most employees in public health programs. But the hall-of-shame approach is rankling some state chambers of commerce and large employers such as Wal-Mart, which has been lobbying against the bills." (USA TODAY)

Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General

A Summary of Military Leave Developments
Excerpt: "A cover story in the upcoming Benefits & Compensation Digest is entitled 'Employees on the Front Lines: A Summary of Military Leave Developments.'" (Cypen & Cypen)

Newly Posted Events

DOL Speaks: 2006 Employee Benefits Conference
in District of Columbia on April 24, 2006
presented by ASPPA (American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries)

DOL Speaks: 2006 Employee Benefits Conference
in District of Columbia on April 24, 2006
presented by ASPPA & DOL

Newly Posted Press Releases

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

Do The Math On Drug Ads, Urges Health Organization
(Americans for Free Choice in Medicine (AFCM))

Great-West Healthcare Redesigns Member Web Site for Greater Ease of Use
(Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company)

CitiStreet Reports Increasing Interest in Target Retirement Funds; Age-Based Funds Provide One-Stop Shopping for Retirement Plan Participants
(CitiStreet)

Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Post a Help Wanted Ad

Client Service Officer
for AmSouth Bank
in FL

Sr. Employee Benefit Specialist
for The Principal Financial Group
in CA

Defined Contribution Administrator
for Pensions Plus, Inc.
in CT

Account Representative
for Great-West Retirement Services
in FL

National Account Manager
for UnumProvident Corporation
in TX

Communications Specialist
for Lockton Dunning Benefit Company
in TX

Associate, Business Development
for Employee Benefit Solutions, Inc.
in TX

Institutional Trust Communication Specialist
for BB&T
in NC



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