| BenefitsLink Welfare Plans Newsletter |   |
March 1, 2006
Today's sponsor: Financial Research Associates
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
| STARS & STRIPES: National Public Employees’ Retirement Funds Summit |
| 5th ANNUAL STARS & STRIPES SUMMIT 2006 April 2rd - 4th, 2006 The Wyndham Casa Marina Resort, Key West, FL Stars & Stripes gives you the information you need to best manage your fund in these challenging times. With the majority of our attendees from the plan sponsor community, you're certain to learn both from the outstanding speaker faculty and your peers! |
| (Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor) |
Blog: Posner on ERISA Fiduciary Status
Excerpt: "Judge Richard Posner of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals authored a recent ERISA opinion concerning whether an insurance carrier involved in handling claims under a disability plan was a fiduciary for purposes of ERISA. The issue came up in a denial of disability benefits case in which the court was exploring whether the arbitrary and capricious standard for denial of plan benefits was the appropriate one in light of the entity handling claims under the plan." (Workplace Prof Blog)
Overview: Final HIPAA Enforcement Regulations Reshapes the Definition of a 'Violation'
Excerpt: "HHS has given its HIPAA enforcers a lot more latitude when it comes to defining the scope of violations and calculating fines, according to the final enforcement rule, published Feb. 16 in the Federal Register." (AISHealth.com)
Ford-UAW Health Care Deal Gets Tentative OK
Excerpt: "A federal judge granted preliminary approval to Ford Motor Co.'s deal with the UAW to cut the automaker's health care costs by instituting deductibles and monthly premiums for hourly retirees." (The Detroit News)
Employers Should Monitor Fair Share Campaign
Excerpt: "Labor groups, including the AFL-CIO and Service Employees International Union, have launched a campaign to mandate the health benefits spending by large employers or have them pay into the states' health insurance programs for the poor." (Employee Benefit News)
Wal-Mart Critics Cite Health Insurance
Excerpt: "One of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s most vociferous critics launched a campaign Tuesday with 17 current and former Wal-Mart workers speaking out against health insurance coverage they claim is too expensive, leaving them uninsured or on taxpayer funded programs." (The New York Times; one-time registration required)
Vigilant Dental Care Reduces Premature Births
Excerpt: "Plan sponsors may want to enhance their dental benefits in light of mounting evidence that pregnant women with poor dental hygiene are more likely to deliver premature and low-birth-weight babies. It costs $5 billion a year to treat such infants, who are 40 times more likely to die than other babies." (BenefitNews Connect)
Illinois Considering Extending Coverage to All State Residents
Excerpt: "The Chicago Tribune on Monday examined a debate in Illinois over whether health care coverage should be extended to all state residents. Last year, the state became the first to promise coverage to all children. According to the Tribune, the Health Care Justice Act, a 'little-known' piece of legislation that passed in 2004, affirms that the state has a policy goal to 'insure that all residents have access to quality health care at costs that are affordable.'" (Kaiser Family Foundation)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Report Calls for Action Against Age Discrimination
Excerpt: "A report from the International Longevity Center-USA (ILC-USA) points to widespread age discrimination in American society." (PLANSPONSOR.com: one-time registration required)
Overview: SEC Proposal of Comprehensive Executive Compensation Disclosures (PDF)
2 pages. (Milliman)
Stock Option Values Reflect Performance in 2005
Excerpt: "CEOs at high-performing companies saw large gains in the value of their unexercised stock options last year, while those at poor-performing companies saw significant decreases, according to a new CEO pay analysis by Watson Wyatt." (PLANSPONSOR.com: one-time registration required)
New edition of Accounting for Equity Compensation
The NCEO presents excerpts from the new edition of its book Accounting for Equity Compensation, a completely new version that covers accounting for stock options and other equity plans under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004) (SFAS No. 123(R)). (National Center for Employee Ownership)
Listing of IRS Published Guidance for January 2006 -- February 2006
The target page links to guidance published by the Service relating to retirement plans: Treasury Regulations; Revenue Rulings; Revenue Procedures; Notices; and, Announcements. (U.S. Internal Revenue Service)
Newly Posted Events
Retirement Income - Are Defined Contribution Plans Enough?
in District of Columbia on March 23, 2006
presented by Capital Chapter ISCEBS
Newly Posted Press Releases
Preparing For Retirement: It’s Not Just About Saving
(American Council of Life Insurers)
CPI Names Manager of Payroll Division
(CPI Qualified Plan Consultants, Inc.)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Call Center Representative
for New York Life Investment Management LLC
in MA, NJ
Assistant Product Manager
for New York Life Investment Management LLC
in MA
Quality Assurance Specialist – Hospital Claims
for 1199SEIU Benefit and Pension Funds
in NY
Pension Administrator
for Premier Recruiters & Associates
in NC
Plan Administrator
for Pinnacle Plan Design, L.L.C.
in AZ
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