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| May 24, 2007 |
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Opinion: Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Is a Model for Health Coverage
Excerpt: "The idea of giving American people access to the same health plan as members of Congress is politically solvent. If the FEHBP is opened up to the general public, though, it could change the demographics, which could influence premiums and make managing the program costlier." (GovExec.com)
Bill Would Create Infrastructure for EHR Systems
Excerpt: "Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), chair of the House Committee on Science and Technology, has introduced a bill (HR 2406) that would establish a federal health care IT systems infrastructure and would address the need for a research program that anticipates the next generation of health care technology, Government Technology reports." (California HealthCare Foundation; free registration may be required)
High-Deductible Health Plans Prompt Providers to Adopt New Collection Strategies
Excerpt: "Health care providers say they are adopting new business practices to address the special collection challenges caused by high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). But they also want health insurers to help them identify HDHP enrollees and to get more involved in the collection of members' out-of-pocket costs." (INSIDE CONSUMER-DIRECTED CARE via AISHealth.com)
Managed Care State Laws and Regulations, Including Consumer and Provider Protections, May 2007
Excerpt: "The details and the extent of these state laws vary considerably, but they remain in force as a mechanism for regulating HMOs and other forms of managed care organizations. The actual extent of these laws vary and is not detailed in this report." (National Conference of State Legislatures)
Health Insurance & Managed Care - Overview Updated May 23, 2007
Excerpt: "For most Americans, market-based health insurance remains the predominant form of health coverage." (National Conference of State Legislatures)
Canadian Trends and Directions in Health Care Costs – 2006 (PDF)
16 pages. Excerpt: "Towers Perrin's second annual Canadian Health Care Cost Survey focuses on the cost of employer sponsored health care plans. The survey findings will provide insight for organizations seeking to benchmark their medical and dental plan costs." (Towers Perrin)
Consumer-Directed Plans Don't Diminish Rx Compliance
Excerpt: "With proper incentives and education, members of CDH plans offered by Aetna, Inc. have maintained high levels of Rx compliance, said Tracy Shobert, vice president of business development at Aetna Pharmacy Management." (Drug Benefit News via AISHealth.com)
Outpatient Spending on Prescription Drugs Increased to $191B in 2004, AHRQ Finds
Excerpt: "Outpatient prescription drug spending increased from $72 billion in 1997 to $191 billion in 2004, according to a report recently released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, CQ HealthBeat reports. The report, which included data on individuals who live in the community and not institutions such as nursing homes, indicated that average annual prescription drug spending for individuals ages 65 and older increased by 130% to $1,914 in 2004 from $819 in 1997." (Kaiser Family Foundation)
Working Paper Abstract: Incentives in Obesity and Health Insurance
Excerpt: "The percentage of those uninsured in the U.S. has risen in recent years, although out-of-pocket expenditures have declined. At the same time, the obesity rate has significantly risen. We look at obesity in the context of a model in which the status of health insurance might play a role in influencing body weights." (National Bureau of Economic Research; paid subscription or individual purchase required to retrieve full text)
Employees Unhappy with Consumer-Driven Health Plans, According to Survey
Excerpt: "Employee dissatisfaction with consumer-driven health plans is pronounced enough that it could threaten the long-term prospects for such plans, according to a Towers Perrin survey of 1,000 employees." (Workforce Management; free registration required)
Hearing Witnesses Call for Relaxing ERISA Uniformity
Excerpt: "The chairman of a House subcommittee says Congress should consider permitting states to apply some laws and regulations to self-funded employer health plans." (The National Underwriter Company; free registration or paid subscription required)
Speech on the Long-Term Financial and Health Security for All Generations in the U.S.
Excerpt: "In the United States, the combination of an aging population and global competition is putting pressure on employers to shift more of the cost of long-term financial and health security onto individuals. That's making retirement more complicated for many people than it used to be." (AARP)
Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide Updated May 22, 2007, for Health and Welfare Plans (PDF)
20 pages. This Federal Legislation Quick Guide provides short updates on federal legislation that is currently under active consideration by Congress or has recently been enacted into law regarding health and welfare benefit plans. (Hewitt Associates)
The Illinois Covered Proposal Will Expand Coverage Through Both Public Programs and Private Plans (PDF)
6 pages. Excerpt: "The state will expand coverage to certain groups of low-income adults, including childless adults and some immigrants. For these groups, Illinois will pay for coverage that is similar to Medicaid. Some of these beneficiaries will be required to pay the premiums associated with this coverage. However, adults with incomes up to 400 percent of poverty ($82,600 a year for a family of four in 2007) will receive some assistance in paying these premiums." (Families USA)
New Jersey's Path Toward Universal Coverage (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt: "Over the past few months, New Jersey lawmakers and policy makers have been drafting a proposal to provide health insurance to all of the state's uninsured. This blueprint for coverage . . . will likely be introduced some time during the spring of 2007. If implemented, the proposal is expected to provide health insurance for up to 1.4 million people through a combination of public and private reforms." (Families USA)
HELPS Retirees Act Will Include Self-Insurance
Excerpt: "The U.S. Department of the Treasury has reversed itself . . . and announced that self-insurance health plans will be eligible to participate in the Healthcare Enhancement for Local Public Safety (HELPS) Retirees Act." (Cypen & Cypen)
Groups Want Universal Health Care in '08
Excerpt: "Five groups dedicated to caring for senior citizens and people with chronic diseases vowed Tuesday to press the presidential candidates to offer plans for accessible and quality universal health care. The 'Are You Covered' campaign joins the AARP with the national groups battling cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's Disease and diabetes in a public awareness campaign." (The Telegraph)
Sixth Circuit Permits Claims Under Tolle Rule But Finds Wrong Without Remedy
Excerpt: "The case presents another treatment of benefit accrual of ERISA Section 510 claims as well as the Sixth Circuit's view on the application of the 'instatement' remedy . . . . The case arises in the context of a plant closure by Bosch after which a group of plaintiffs sued, claiming, among other things, that Bosch calculated the plant closure date so as to deprive them of plant closure benefits." (Health Plan Law blog by Attorney Roy F. Harmon III)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
U.S. Executive Compensation Practices Are Taking on a European Look
Excerpt: "U.S. executive pay practices are moving in the direction of the kind of long-term incentives used extensively in Europe, according to a new Hay Group executive comp study." (Treasury and Risk)
FWC Response to Rep. Waxman Inquiry Regarding Compensation Consultant Independence (PDF)
6 pages. Excerpt: "Your letter references recent articles in the business press and debate among investor groups implying that revenues received by executive compensation consultants from other services could compromise the independence of their advice on executive compensation. The members of our firm appreciate your Committee's concern and believe the issue is worthy of further attention." (Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc.)
New Benefits Bills Introduced Between April 9 and May 8 in Congress
Excerpt: "Included are House and Senate comprehensive health reform bills (H.R. 2034, S. 1218, S. 1221, S. 1169) and a bill to remove the 18 or 36 month limitation on the period of COBRA continuation coverage (H.R.2047)." (Wolters Kluwer Law & Business)
Spending Entitlements and Tax Entitlements (PDF)
18 pages. Excerpt: "American social policy is largely the product of two types of federal programs, one type that operates directly through the federal budget, and another type that operates more indirectly through the tax code. This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper compares the former (entitlement benefits) with the latter (tax benefits)." (AARP)
Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide for May 22, 2007, on Human Resources & Employment Law (PDF)
13 pages. This Federal Legislation Quick Guide provides short updates on federal legislation that is currently under active consideration by Congress or has recently been enacted into law regarding human resources and employment law. (Hewitt Associates)
Newly Posted Events
Fiduciary Training & Tools For Retirement Advisors Offered in Three Free Sessions
in Arizona on September 30, 2007
presented by Financial Service Standards, LLC.
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
(Post a Job | View All Jobs)
Pension Administrator
for Benefit Strategies, Inc.
in CA
Director of Retirement Plans for DC Law Firm
for Global Excellence, LLC
in DC
Retirement Plan Specialist
for Diversified Investment Advisors, Inc.
in AZ, MI
Compliance Consultant
for Hartford Life
in CT
Business Analyst III
for 32BJ Benefit Funds
in NY
Manager of Quality Assurance (Six Sigma)
for United Health Group
in WI
Actuary/Senior Manager
for Pentegra Retirement Services
in NY
Client Services - Account Manager
for ExpertPlan, Inc.
in NJ
Client Relationship Coordinator - Retirement Plans Division
for Bryson Financial Group
in CA
Operations Manager (Insurance/TPA)
for Zenith Administrators
in NV
Retirement Consultant
for Wachovia
in MD
WRS Relationship Manager II
for Wachovia
in NC
Account Manager, Retirement
for Cammack LaRhette Consulting
in NY
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