| BenefitsLink Welfare Plans Newsletter |   |
September 27, 2005
Today's sponsor: World Congress
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
| 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 October 31 - November 2, 2005 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel 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) |
Giving Part D a Spin
Excerpt: "In simplest terms, Part D is an insurance program that protects enrollees from catastrophically high drug bills. It's also a discount program for the routine pres.criptions that can gradually drain the bank accounts even of people who are neither especially sick nor especially poor." (Washington Post)
Medicare Pres.cription Drug Plan Approvals as of September 23, 2005
State-by-state links to approved Medicare pres.cription drug plan providers, including links to press release describing 10 organizations providing drug coverage nationwide. (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
Here Comes the Medicare Drug Benefit
Excerpt: "Recent opinion polls show that enthusiasm for the new drug benefit is steadily gaining ground among Medicare beneficiaries. But many say they don't understand it and are wary of signing up." (AARP)
Overview: Health Plan Coverage Deadlines Extended for Katrina Victims
Excerpt: "The Agencies have taken steps to minimize the possibility of individuals losing benefits because of a failure to comply with certain pre-established time frames contained in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and the rules for processing health claims." (SunGard Corbel)
Disability Benefits Reinstated Because Termination Notice Did Not Comply With DOL Claims Regs
Excerpt: "The appellate court ... held that the termination notice ... failed to comply with the regulations ... by not providing a copy or summary of the report from the physician who performed the independent medical exam, which was the basis for the decision to terminate benefits." (Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA))
Employers Cope with COBRA Questions After Hurricanes
Excerpt: "Plan sponsors have a fiduciary duty under [ERISA] to look out for the best interests of plan participants, [attorney Paul] Hamburger pointed out. Smart employers in the region will resend COBRA notices, and in addition initiate the notice process in connection with recent qualifying events, as soon as they have new addresses for displaced workers, he said." (SHRM Online)
Overview: HHS Offers HIPAA Guidance for Emergency Situations
Excerpt: "The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) recently issued two bulletins to assist covered entities with the privacy provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) as a result of Hurricane Katrina." (SunGard Corbel)
Community Quality Efforts Expand as Seattle Health Plan Products Evolve
Excerpt: "In March 2005, a team of researchers visited Seattle to study that community's health system, how it is changing and the effects of those changes on consumers." (Center for Studying Health System Change)
CalPERS Seeks Healthcare Allies to Improve Its Bargaining Power
Excerpt: "Once the 800-pound gorilla in the health-care arena, the 1.2-million member California Public Employees' Retirement System has found the fund's financial weight is no longer enough to squeeze concessions out of hospitals and other medical providers." (Sacramento Bee; one-time registration required)
Opinion: Consumer-Directed Health Plans: Research on Implications for Health Care Quality and Cost (PDF)
14 pages; Testimony presented before the California Department of Insurance on September 20, 2005. (The RAND Corporation)
Overview: Additional Guidance on Retiree Drug Subsidy from IRS and CMS
Excerpt: "Employers that have transferred excess pension assets to a special account to fund retiree medical benefits can receive the 28 percent retiree drug subsidy (RDS) and still comply with the IRC § 420(c)(3) minimum cost requirement, according to Revenue Ruling 2005-60. The revenue ruling holds the RDS is not taken into account in computing the applicable employer cost for purposes of the minimum cost requirement." (Deloitte)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Overview: Time Frames Extended Under COBRA, HIPAA, and ERISA Claims Procedures for Katrina Victims
Excerpt: "For affected individuals, the period from August 29, 2005 through January 3, 2006 must be disregarded when determining (1) the COBRA election period of a qualified beneficiary (a minimum of 60 days); (2) whether a qualified beneficiary's COBRA premium payments are timely; or (3) the date by which individuals must notify a plan of a qualifying event or determination of disability." (Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA))
Newly Posted Events
401(k) Plans
in Colorado on November 8, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
401(k) Plans
in Maryland on November 15, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
A Retirement Plan Compliance Assistance Seminar for Small Business
in Ohio on November 2, 2005
presented by U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration
A Retirement Plan Compliance Assistance Seminar for Small Business
in Virginia on December 8, 2005
presented by U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration
AWLP 10th Anniversary Conference & Exhibition
in Texas on March 1, 2006
presented by Alliance for Work-Life Progress
Cafeteria Plans
in Colorado on November 9, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
Cafeteria Plans
in Maryland on November 16, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
Caring For The Elderly: Is There Any Answer to Rising Health Costs?
Nationwide on September 27, 2005
presented by Alliance for Health Reform
COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans
in Colorado on November 11, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
COBRA Compliance for Group Health Plans
in Maryland on November 18, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans
in Colorado on November 10, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
ERISA Compliance for Health & Welfare Plans
in Maryland on November 17, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
HIPAA Portability, Privacy & Security
in Colorado on November 11, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
HIPAA Portability, Privacy & Security
in Maryland on November 18, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
HSAs, HRAs, and Consumer-Driven Health Care
in Colorado on November 10, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
HSAs, HRAs, and Consumer-Driven Health Care
in Maryland on November 17, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
Hurricane Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 Web/Telephone Seminar
Nationwide on October 4, 2005
presented by BISYS Retirement Services
Hurricane Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 Web/Telephone Seminar
Nationwide on October 11, 2005
presented by BISYS Retirement Services
WorldatWork Total Rewards Conference & Exhibition 2006
in California on May 7, 2006
presented by WorldatWork
Newly Posted Press Releases
Segal Announces New CEO
(The Segal Company)
Tax Relief Granted for Hurricane Rita
(Internal Revenue Service (IRS))
The Principal Financial Group Announces 2005 Winners of The Principal 10 Best Companies for Employee Financial Security
(The Principal Financial Group)
Executive Comp after the New 409A Regs: Trick or Treat, Oct. 11, 2005
(Western Pension & Benefits Conference Los Angeles)
New Report From Conference Board Working Group Recommends Best Practices For Executive Compensation Consulting
(Conference Board, The)
Social Security Retirement Benefit Calculator
(PensionBenefits)
Microsoft, Citigroup, Other Top Companies Creating Independent Lead Director Positions to Share Duties with Board Chairman/CEOs, New Survey Finds
(Frederic W. Cook & Co)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Health & Welfare Consultant
for Towers Perrin
in CA, CT, DC, IL, NJ, NY, PA, TX
Pension Administrator/Consultant/Actuary
for Chambers Benefit Group, APC
in NM
Senior Business Analyst - Compliance
for Fidelity Investments
in KY
Human Resources Benefits Associate
for The D. E. Shaw group
in NY
Communications Consultant
for Merrill Lynch
in NJ
Defined Contribution Conversion Specialist
for New York Life Investment Management LLC
in MA
Senior Manager, Retirement Plans
for Allergan
in CA
Retirement Sales Consultant
for New York Life Investment Management LLC
in MA
Pension Administrator
for FBD Consulting, Inc.
in KS
Defined Contribution Plan Administrator
for Niles Lankford Group, Inc
in IN
Senior Conversion Specialist
for BenefitStreet Inc.
in CA
Insurance Markets Financial Analyst
for Great-West Financial Services
in CO
Retirement Plan Administrator
for Qualified Plans, LLC
in GA
Enrollment Specialists
for National Automobile Dealers Association
in VA
Defined Benefit Implementation Analyst
for High Point Consulting & Staffing, LLC.
in MA
Employee Benefits Consulting Champion
for Clifton Gunderson LLP
in WI
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