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February 14, 2007
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U.S. Senators Seek New Push on Health Care Reform
Excerpt: "A bipartisan group of senators [yesterday] signaled a willingness to work with President George W. Bush on an effort to improve the U.S. health care system, saying it was crucial to rein in costs and expand coverage to the uninsured." (Reuters via The New York Times; free registration required)
Denial Management Industry Grows Amid Debate Between Health Insurers, Physicians Over Claims
Excerpt: "'[T]ension' between insurers and physicians over claims payments 'has spawned a booming industry of intermediaries' known as denial management, the Wall Street Journal reports." (Kaiser Family Foundation)
The Purchaser Guide to Value-Driven Health Care
Excerpt: "The Purchaser Guide helps organizations that purchase health care meet US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Michael Leavitt's call last November for employers to implement 'four cornerstones of value-driven health care': utilize health information technology, measure and publish quality information, measure and publish price information, and create positive incentives for high quality, efficient health care." (The Leapfrog Group)
Adapting Value-Based Insurance to Cost Control, Consumer-Driven Health
Excerpt: "from Spencer's Benefits Reports: Value-based insurance design (VBID) suggests that copayment rates should be set based on the value of clinical services (benefits and costs) -- not exclusively on the costs. Two recent studies reported in the journal Health Affairs investigated how VBID can be used for cost control and in consumer-driven health plans." (Wolters Kluwer Law & Business)
Rep. Norwood Reintroduces Patients' Bill of Rights Legislation
Excerpt: "Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-Ga.) reintroduced the original version of legislation (HR 979) to create a 'patients' bill of rights' . . . . The legislation -- originally authored in 1998 by Norwood, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Rep. Greg Ganske (R-Iowa) -- would allow patients to file lawsuits against health maintenance organizations for improper medical decisions." (Kaiser Family Foundation)
Opinion: Adding Up the Reasons for Expensive Health Care
Excerpt: "It's hardly an original point, but now that health-care reform is back on the political agenda, it's worth emphasizing: The reason the system has been so resistant to change is that lots of powerful interests do very nicely with things just the way they are." (The Washington Post; free registration required)
How Pitney Bowes Is Turning Its Innovative Health Care Practices into a New Business
Excerpt: "While the health care industry might seem like an unlikely business opportunity for a company known for selling postage meters, Pitney Bowes' approach highlights how an innovative health benefits team can take a problem and turn it into a solution that not only reduces costs but offers a potential revenue source." (Workforce Management; free registration required)
Individuals with Genetic Conditions Twice as Likely to Report Denial of Health Insurance
Excerpt: "Should genetic information ever be used to deny an otherwise healthy person health care coverage? Should actual genetic disease ever be used to deny a person health care coverage? Is there any reason at all to separate genetic information from medical information in making decisions about health care coverage?" (Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics and American Medical News via Physicians for a National Health Program)
Opinion: Socialized Medicine Anyone?
Excerpt: "Problems with our health-care system are leading some to fall prey to proposals calling for a nationalized single-payer health care system like Can.ada's or Britain's. There are a few things we might consider before falling for these proposals." (The Washington Times)
Overview of President Bush's Proposal of Significant Health Care Changes (PDF)
4 pages. Excerpt: "The President's proposal consists of two parts: A new standard health coverage federal tax deduction; and Supporting more affordable choices at the state level through existing federal funding." (Hewitt Associates)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Overview: Stock Option Backdating: New Disclosure Guidance (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt: "New guidance from the SEC staff should facilitate resolving option backdating errors. On January 16, 2007, Carol A. Stacey, Chief Accountant Division of Corporation Finance, posted a sample letter to CFOs providing guidance to companies on disclosing and filing such errors. The letter builds on the accounting guidance given by the SEC's Office of Chief Accountant in its September 19, 2006 release." (Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP)
A Review of Same-Sex Benefits for University Employees
Excerpt: "Since the spread of state amendments to bar g.ay marriage, a concern of many g.ay and les.bian college employees had been that the measures would be used to limit their employee benefits, and the Michigan ruling may be the most dramatic evidence yet that those fears reflect a real danger." (Inside Higher Ed)
Overview: IRS Revised Form 990 Instructions Regarding Compensation Paid by 'Related Organizations' (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt: "Line 75c of Form 990 requires exempt organizations to report compensation paid to their directors, officers, highest-compensated employees and highest-compensated independent contractors (for ease of reference, 'Covered Individuals') by 'related organizations.'" (Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP)
Blame-the-Lawyer Stratagem Fails in ERISA Suit Against Fund Trustees
Excerpt: "A New Jersey federal judge's dismissal of legal malpractice and breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims against counsel in an ERISA case shows that trustees sued for misfeasance can't easily pass the buck to their lawyers." (New Jersey Law Journal via Law.com)
2006 Washington State Employee Benefits Survey (PDF)
27 pages. Excerpt: "Each year the Labor Market and Economic Analysis branch of the Employment Security Department surveys a large number of Washington employers about fringe benefits offered to employees. In the survey, employers are asked several detailed questions about medical insurance, retirement plans, and paid leave. The desired end result is to then provide job seekers, employers, and policy makers with reliable estimates for decision making." (Washington State Employment Security Department)
Ex-Pats Get Tax Guidance from IRS
Excerpt: "The Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Treasury have released guidance on the estimated tax penalty for citizens or residents of the United States living and working abroad." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required)
Employee Benefit Offerings Can Improve Business Success
Excerpt: "Employers realize strong benefits can attract great talent and retain key employees, thus reducing turnover cost. Some even understand that benefits done right can improve the company's bottom line." (BenefitNews Connect)
Overview: Employment Tax Ramifications of Participating in IRS's Backdated Stock Options Initiative
Excerpt: "On February 8, 2007, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced a new initiative . . . which permits employers to pay the 20% additional tax and interest on behalf of their employees in connection with the grant of certain backdated or discounted stock options (or other stock rights) which were exercised in 2006." (Littler Mendelson, P.C.)
Newly Posted Events
Employers' Key to Wellness Forum
in Michigan on February 22, 2007
presented by Detroit Regional Chamber
Participant Forms and Notices - 6 Cities Added
Nationwide on February 21, 2007
presented by SunGard Relius
Providing Investment Advice After the Pension Protection Act
in Pennsylvania on February 28, 2007
presented by ASPPA Benefits Council of Delaware Valley
Newly Posted Press Releases
Great-West Retirement Services® to Pilot RolloverSystems to Support Benefit Distribution Processing, Automated Rollovers
Great-West Retirement Services
New “International Pensions” Section Debuts On Pension Rights Center’s Web Site
Pension Rights Center
Workplace Options Reminds Employers of the Importance of Providing Support to Nursing Mothers
Workplace Options
CalSTRS Seeks Third Party Administrator for New Deferred Compensation Plan Services
California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS)
Executive Cash Compensation Rises 29% According to New ERI Economic Research Institute/CareerJournal.com Study
ERI Economic Research Institute
Employers' Key to Wellness Forum Feb. 22
Detroit Regional Chamber
Small Business Health Care Debate Moves Beyond AHPs; Kerry Leads Discussion of Comprehensive Health Care Reform to Ease Costs for Small Businesses
U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Four Enemies to a Secure Retirement
Weiss Research, Inc.
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Benefit Calculation Developer
for Vanguard
in PA
Plan Consultant
for Diversified Investment Advisors
in NY
Defined Contribution Client Account Manager
for New York Life Investment Management - Retirement Plans Services
in MA
401(K) Professional
for Pentegra Retirement Services
in NY
Benefit Plan Administrator
for M Benefit Solutions
in OR
Inside Sales Consultant
for T Rowe Price
in MD
Shared Services Manager
for Regional Bank Holding Company
in KS, OK, TX
Sales Executive (Retirement Plans)
for BenefitStreet
in CA, KS
Plan Manager
for The Hartford
in CT
DC Implementation Business Analyst
for CitiStreet
in MA
Benefits Analyst
for Equity Risk Partners
in CA
Senior Defined Contributions Analyst
for Affiliated Computer Services/HRO Division
in MA
Health and Welfare Analyst
for Affiliated Computer Services/HRO Division
in NJ
Defined Contributions Specialist
for Affiliated Computer Services/HRO Division
in MA
Defined Contributions Analyst
for Affiliated Computer Services/HRO Division
in MA
Compliance Consultant
for MassMutual Financial Group
in MA
Pension Administrator
for Jim Hallinan Pension Consulting, LLC
in CT
Handy Links:
- View Today's Active Message Threads
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research (hypertext article)
- Employee Benefits Library
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