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July 13, 2007
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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.

Intriguing Solution Proposed for Automakers' Spiraling Legacy Costs
Excerpt: "What's being talked about is something like this: the automakers will contribute some portion - most likely 50 percent to 70 percent - of their current health-care pension obligations. That money would be put into a fund that would be designed to be used only for the health-care obligations of retirees. The union would take over control of the fund. It would be responsible for investing the fund, and for determining what benefit level retirees would get." (The Toledo Blade)

Express Scripts Study Links Use of Generic Drugs to Generic-Brand Copay Differentials
Excerpt: "In the first study of its kind, pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts' researchers have established a link between encouraging the use of more generic drugs and the copay differential between generics and brand drugs." (BusinessWire)

First-Time Generic Approvals: Paxil CR, Lamisil, Parlodel
Excerpt: "The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved first-time generic formulations for . . . ." (Medscape)

Plaintiffs Prevail in Pharma.ceutical Industry Average Wholesale Price Litigation
Excerpt: "This recent case provides both historical insight and critical assessment of 'average whole sale' ('AWP') price manipulation by the pharma.ceutical industry." (Health Plan Law blog by Attorney Roy F. Harmon III)

Vermont Launches Web Site That Compares Drug Prices
Excerpt: "Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell (D) . . . unveiled a Web site that will allow state residents to compare prices offered by Vermont pharmacies for prescription medications, the AP/Boston Globe reports." (Kaiser Family Foundation)

RI Governor Vetoes Domestic Partner Benefits Bill
Excerpt: "Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri vetoed a measure this month that would grant the domestic partners of state and municipal employees the same retirement benefits now offered to spouses of employees, EDGE Boston reported." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required)

Preparing the Way -- Disaster Readiness Planning for Health Insurance Plans
Excerpt: "[The Board . . . of AHIP] formed the Readiness Task Force to discuss how the health insurance industry could mobilize and prepare for [catastrophic] events . . . . One of the recommendations of the Readiness Task Force was to assemble some of the best practices and procedures employed by health insurance plans in emergency preparedness and contingency planning. This report is a result of that directive and it draws on expertise and experience from a wide range of AHIP's member plans." (America's Health Insurance Plans)

Editorial: Scrap the National IT Plan
Excerpt: "Why is it that nobody in government recognizes that the sharing of any data should be for medical and research purposes only? Until government absorbs this lesson, we shouldn't have a national IT system." (Modern Healthcare; free registration required)

Shift in Health-Cost Focus Is Said to Show Promise
Excerpt: "By coordinating care and keeping their patients out of the hospital, doctors can help reduce overall health care spending, Medicare officials said yesterday in announcing the results of an experiment that allowed doctors to share in the cost savings." (Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association)

Report on Denver Health: A High-Performance Public Health Care System
Excerpt: "Denver Health, a comprehensive and integrated medical system that is Colorado's largest health care safety-net provider, has a national reputation as a high-performance organization. Members of The Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System observed Denver Health during a site visit in March 2006, to assess its operation and determine whether it might serve as a model for other public and private health care systems around the country." (The Commonwealth Fund)

New House Legislation Would Create Health Care IT Trusts
Excerpt: "Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.) . . . introduced a bill in the House that would establish a nationwide health IT network of independent trusts, Healthcare IT News reports." (California HealthCare Foundation; free registration may be required)

Analysis of Wisconsin's 2007 Health Care Proposal: BadgerCare Plus (PDF)
12 pages. Excerpt: "[The report] is a thorough examination of the BadgerCare Plus proposal to expand health coverage. The report discusses who would be eligible, how much enrollees would pay, what benefits enrollees would receive, and how the expansion would be financed." (Families USA)


Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General

South Carolina Report Suggests Benefits Changes
Excerpt: "Among the suggested changes: Raise the time of service for new employees to receive full benefits to 30 years from 28 years, and require them to enroll in a 401(k)-style retirement program instead of a traditional pension; Provide incentives to state employees to reduce health care costs, such as allowing mail-order prescriptions and broadening coverage of generic drugs." (The State)

Multiemployer Benefit Plans - Q&A Web Site
Excerpt: "The purpose of this page is to describe multiemployer plans and explain their structure and use." (International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans)

Generational Gaps Continue in the Workforce
Excerpt: "Employers are finding it's increasingly difficult to gauge which benefits to prioritize, particularly as the workforce diversifies and multiple generations mix together on an increasing basis, experts say." (Employee Benefit News; free registration required)


Newly Posted Press Releases

PBGC Protects Coudert Brothers Pension Plan
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)

According to MetLife Study, Many Employers Looking to Expand Benefits Offerings That Extend into Retirement
MetLife

Free Web Site Clarifies Structure and Purpose of Multiemployer Benefit Plans
International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans

Workplace Options Partners with EAP Expert To Provide New Enterprise Software Solution
Workplace Options

Major Employer Coalition, Incentives and Technology Provider Announce Partnership to Encourage Healthy Employee Behavior
Midwest Business Group on Health

Cammack LaRhette Consulting's Second Article in 403(b) Learning Series
Cammack LaRhette Consulting

Five New Member Companies Join CIKR to Represent Independent 401(k) Recordkeepers
Council of Independent 401(k) Recordkeepers (CIKR)

Health Fitness Corporation: Healthy Workforce Act Would Pave Way to Build Healthier Workforce, Reduce Health Care Costs
Health Fitness Corporation

UBS Global Asset Management Reports Continued Improvement in US Pension Fund Fitness
UBS Global Asset Management

Valley Residents Can Learn How to Self Direct Retirement Funds Into Real Estate
RealSource Retirement Services


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