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March 20, 2007


Sponsored by: Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)

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Banner ad for Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)

Record Retention Requirements for Health & Welfare Plans

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The Hazards Of Improper Removal of State Law Cases To Federal Court
Excerpt: "Step Plan Services, Inc. v. Koresko illustrates the stakes involved in ERISA removal decisions. The successful defendant gains the advantages of ERISA preemption of state law claims and, depending on whether the claims can be cast as ERISA claims or not, perhaps complete victory on a subsequent motion to dismiss or for summary judgment. On the other hand, if a case is improvidently removed, the mistake can be costly." (Health Plan Law blog by Attorney Roy F. Harmon III)

FDA Warning on ESA Drugs Prompts Some Health Plans to Restrict Coverage
Excerpt: "FDA's decision last week to require the strictest 'black box' warning on widely used anti-anemia biologics prompted several Medicare carriers to stop paying for the erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in certain cancer patients, and other health plans to consider implementing restrictions on the costly products." (Drug Benefit News via AISHealth.com)

Prescription Drug Costs for Consumers Can Be Reduced Through Compromise, Research, Advocates Say
Excerpt: "Patient advocates say that many U.S. residents who have trouble affording prescription drugs can lower their costs by researching their options, making compromises and actively questioning their physicians, the Los Angeles Times reports." (Kaiser Family Foundation)

Massachusetts Officials Recommend Universal Health Insurance Law Revisions
Excerpt: "Massachusetts Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector officials on Thursday recommended revisions to the state's health insurance law, the Boston Globe reports. Under the recommendations, insurance companies would be able to limit lifetime benefits for plans, despite concern from some Connector board members that those limits could restrict access to care." (Kaiser Family Foundation)

Opinion: You Say You Want VA-Style Health Care?
Excerpt: "For some time, advocates of a national health care system have pointed to the Veterans Health Administration as a model for how such a system would work. New York Times columnist Paul Krugman writes endlessly on the idea, calling the VHA 'exhibit A for the advantages of government provision' of medicine, and praising it for holding down costs while providing high-quality care." (Cato Institute)


Newly Posted Events

ERISA Litigation Forum: Recent Notable ERISA Decisions
Nationwide on April 10, 2007
presented by Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP


Newly Posted Press Releases

U.S. Labor Department Obtains Consent Judgment Restoring More Than $102,000 To Maitland, Fla., 401(k) Plan
U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)

The Standard Opens New Retirement Plans Office in New York
Standard Insurance Company

American Consumer Institute Finds Consumers Are Not Helped by Redundant and Costly State Insurance Regulations
American Consumer Institute


Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Post a Help Wanted Ad

Pension Implementation Analyst
for Milliman, Inc.
in TX

Pension Analyst
for Milliman, Inc.
in TX

Client Service Manager
for Princeton Retirement Group, a Merrill Lynch Company
in NC

Retirement Plan Consultant
for Pacific Life
in ANY STATE

Sr. Financial Analyst - Pension & Benefits
for Sempra Energy
in CA

Defined Contribution Assistant
for Standard Insurance Company
in OR

Defined Contribution Analyst II
for Standard Insurance Company
in OR

National Sales Associate
for WESPAC, a BenefitStreet Company
in CA

Senior Disbursement Services Associate
for Administrative Systems, Inc.
in CA




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