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November 17, 2005
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Complete Benefits Law Guidance from Law Journal Press

The nation's workforce and health care system are constantly evolving and so are the legal issues. Law Journal Press helps you handle any benefits law question with up-to-date, authoritative books on all aspects of the field. Get legal and practical advice from leading experts on everything from COBRA to ERISA, "contingent" employees to family and medical leave, and more. Browse our product listings for detailed information and special offers.

(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)

White House and Treasury Officials Meet Privately with Bankers to Promote HSAs
Excerpt: "Unlike for health flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), there are no adjudication or substantiation requirements for HSAs. Some attendees expressed concern that the addition of such rules could make HSA administration more difficult. Attendees also expressed concern about whether HSAs might be subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)." (INSIDE CONSUMER-DIRECTED CARE via AISHealth.com)

Overview of Health and Welfare Benefits Enrollment for New Hires
Excerpt: "This Update reviews the steps that US employers must take for a new hire, from determining benefit eligibility through distributing enrollment materials, properly handling returned documentation, providing follow-up employee communications, and ...." (Mercer Human Resource Consulting LLC and Mercer Investment Consulting, Inc.; one-time registration required)

Massachusetts Is Poised to Implement Sweeping Health Insurance Legislation
Excerpt: "Both the House of Representatives and the Senate assert that ERISA does not pre-empt these bills." (Littler Mendelson)

Pres.cription Drug Cost Increase is Down Says Aon Survey
Excerpt: "Aon Consulting has found that the projected pres.cription drug cost increase is down more than a percentage point from last year's projection. In its news release, Aon said its survey found that pres.cription drug costs are projected to increase by 11.8% during the next twelve months compared to last year's increase of 13.1%." (PLANSPONSOR.com: one-time registration required)

Wal-Mart Girds for Battle on Maryland Bill: Benefits Measure Spurs Lobbying Force
Excerpt: "Preparing for a showdown with organized labor in the Maryland legislature, Wal-Mart has deployed at least a dozen Annapolis lobbyists and is making strong overtures to black lawmakers, including a $10,000 donation to help them pay for a recent conference. The retail giant hopes to derail legislation that would effectively force the company to boost spending on employee health benefits." (The Washington Post; one-time registration required)


Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General

Domestic Partners Denied Benefits: New Jersey Freeholders' Ruling Anti-G.ay, Critics Say
Excerpt: "The freeholders announced through the county administrator that they would not grant pension or health benefits to unmarried county employees under the Domestic Partnership Act." (Asbury Park Press)

The Basics: Deferred Compensation and Deferred Compensation Plans -- Definitions
Excerpt: "The definitions of 'deferred compensation' and 'deferred compensation plan' are not intuitively obvious. But they make sense when viewed in light of the purpose of the Act, which is to prevent employees from postponing taxation on compensation that was 'deferred' while retaining broad discretion respecting the form or timing of payments. While the structure that the regulators have adopted toward this end appears well-suited to this task, it will take some getting used to." (Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo P.C.)

Text: National Compensation Survey: Employee Benefits in Private Industry in the United States, 2003 (PDF)
98 pages. Excerpt: "The survey provides data on detailed provisions of healthcare and retirement plans in private industry.' (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Seventh Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey: Worker and Employer Attitudes (PDF)
71 pages. Excerpt: "In August 2005 The Center commissioned Zogby International to conduct the Seventh Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey. The survey sample includes 603 employers and 1,387 workers in companies across America." (Transamerica Retirement Services)


Newly Posted Events

16th Annual Employee Benefits Conference
in Florida on December 1, 2005
presented by Greenberg Traurig, PA

Cafeteria and HSA Update Workshop
in Florida on February 21, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel

Distributions and Taxation Workshop
in California on December 14, 2005
presented by SunGard Corbel

Distributions and Taxation Workshop
in Massachusetts on December 14, 2005
presented by SunGard Corbel

Distributions and Taxation Workshop
in Florida on December 14, 2005
presented by SunGard Corbel

Distributions and Taxation Workshop
in Florida on December 15, 2005
presented by SunGard Corbel

Distributions and Taxation Workshop
in Pennsylvania on December 15, 2005
presented by SunGard Corbel

Distributions and Taxation Workshop
in California on December 15, 2005
presented by SunGard Corbel

Distributions and Taxation Workshop
in Washington on December 15, 2005
presented by SunGard Corbel

Distributions and Taxation Workshop
in New York on December 16, 2005
presented by SunGard Corbel

Outsourcing Benefits Administration--A Roadmap for Employers and TPAs
Nationwide on December 8, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)

Ready for Roth?
in New York on December 16, 2005
presented by SunGard Corbel


Newly Posted Press Releases

Ceridian Introduces Interactive Medicare Tool To Help Employee Caregivers and Mature Workers Make Important Medicare Decisions
(Ceridian)

Men, Women and Retirement Plan Participation
(Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI))

Ruth M. Pence Joins BPA as a Senior Claims Evaluator
(Benefit Plan Audit Services, LLC)

Council Urges Changes To Pension Reform Bill Before Reaching President's Desk
(American Benefits Council)

Results of 2005 Grant Thornton/Plan Sponsor Advisors Plan Sponsor Survey
(Plan Sponsor Advisors, LLC)


Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Post a Help Wanted Ad

Sr. Business Analyst
for The Todd Organization
in MO

Pension Administrator (Defined Benefit and/or Defined Contribution)
for Loren D. Stark Company, Inc. (LDSCO)
in TX

Retirement Plan Administrator
for Benefit Administration Company, LLC
in WA

Benefits Plans Compliance Manager
for Allied Capital
in DC

Manager Pension Services
for PotashCorp
in IL

Benefits Manager
for Baptist Health
in FL

Compliance and/or Trust Administrator
for Associated Pension Consultants
in CA

Benefit Supervisor
for e-VentExe
in CA




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