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| July 27, 2007 |
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| Thursday, November 8-9, 2007 | Sheraton Crystal City Hotel | Arlington, VA
The 3rd Annual Consumer-Centric Healthcare Congress addresses the convergence of healthcare, financial services and technology, and the rise in healthcare consumerism fueled by the Internet and direct-to-consumer marketing from the perspectives of all the stakeholders. Click above for more information or to register. |
Unions Dismayed by New Jersey Retiree Health Care Shortfall
Excerpt: "Labor officials responded with dismay yesterday to a presentation about New Jersey's huge shortfall in its financing of health care that it has promised to current and future retired public workers." (The New York Times; free registration required)
House Members Unveil Federal Employee Paid Parental Leave Legislation
Excerpt: "The bill (H.R. 3158), sponsored by Reps. Tom Davis, R-Va., Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., would provide all federal employees with eight weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child." (GovExec.com)
Text of Amendment to CMS Regs for Mental Health Parity Reflecting Extension of MHPA Through End of 2007 (PDF)
3 pages. Excerpt: "[The Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006] has not altered MHPA's scope. It continues to apply to a large group health plan (or health insurance coverage offered in connection with a large group health plan) that provides both medical/ surgical benefits and mental health benefits. To assist plan sponsors, health insurance issuers, and covered individuals, the Department is publishing this amendment to the interim final regulations, conforming the regulatory sunset" (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
Single-Payer Health Care Systems: The Roles and Responsibilities of the Public and Private Sectors (PDF)
10 pages. Excerpt: "This article has explored government-provided health care in countries outside the United States, in an attempt to provide context to the debate of how best to pay for health care in this country." (International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists)
Substance Abuse and Addiction Among Most Serious Workplace Issues, According to Survey
Excerpt: "A national survey of human resources professionals conducted by the nonprofit Hazelden Foundation shows that while substance abuse and addiction are recognized as among the most serious problems faced in the workplace, employer policies and practices are not fully addressing the problem." (Health & Medicine Week via NewsRx.com via Human Resource Executive Online; free registration required)
Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide Updated July 24, 2007, for Health and Welfare Plans (PDF)
15 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)
ERISA Subrogation Litigation in Perspective - Another Look at the Mills Decision
Excerpt: "Notwithstanding the outcome in any particular reported subrogation decision, a reasonable approach to negotiation of plan reimbursement provisions still remains the best approach in most cases. The alternative will be more litigation at an earlier stage involving more parties - not a good outcome for plans or their beneficiaries." (Health Plan Law blog by Attorney Roy F. Harmon III)
Employers Underestimate Health Care Costs in Lost Productivity
Excerpt: "[F]rom Spencer's Benefits Reports: U.S. employers may be underestimating the overall costs of poor employee health, while failing to fully assess the diseases and health conditions that drive these costs, according to a study in the July issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (JOEM)." (Wolters Kluwer Law & Business)
Paying Retiree Health Costs: CalPERS Invites Local and State Agencies to Join a Benefit Trust
Excerpt: "In the coming months, cities, schools, public hospitals, colleges and other government agencies could be putting millions more into a fledgling retiree health benefit trust managed by the nation's largest public pension fund. The goal is to generate hefty investment returns to help the state and local agencies pay the burgeoning costs to cover retiree health benefits in the decades ahead." (The Sacramento Bee; free registration required)
Senator Burr Introduces Medical Coverage Bill: Plan Would Tax Employee Benefits
Excerpt: "Advocates for the uninsured say Burr's proposal could jeopardize not only low-income families and chronically ill patients, but also the employment-based health-care system that now covers 65 percent of Americans. Burr's measure would begin taxing the value of health-care plans that many employers now offer workers, a controversial provision sure to face opposition. Such benefits are now tax-free, both for the employer and the worker." (The News & Observer Publishing Company)
Health Plan Cannot Recover Funds to be Placed in Special Needs Trust
Excerpt: "The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has determined that a health insurer cannot challenge a settlement agreement that calls for funds to be placed in a special needs trust on behalf a child injured in a car accident, in order to receive reimbursement for medical expenses paid for the child." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required)
San Francisco Claims Solution to ERISA Preemption of Health Care Law
Excerpt: "Lawyers for the San Francisco City Attorney's Office claim they have found a way to overcome federal pre-emption of the city's new universal health care mandate. A deputy city attorney defending San Francisco's law in federal court says recent laws in Maryland and New York were defeated in court because they required businesses to pay the government without the government directly giving them anything in return . . . ." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Today's Diverse Workforce Leading to Dramatic Change in Employee Benefits Industry
Excerpt: "For the first time in history, America's workforce is composed of four distinct generations - just one of many trends propelling the benefits industry towards consumer choice and driving the growth in voluntary employee benefits, according to a report released . . . by benefits leader Unum UNM in conjunction with LIMRA International. 'HR Trends and Challenges: The Changing U.S. Demographic, Economic and Social Landscape of the Workplace' . . . ." (Business Wire via MSN.Money)
Text of EBSA Call for Nominations for Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans
Excerpt: "The terms of five members of the Council expire on November 14, 2007. The groups or fields they represent are as follows: (1) Employee organizations; (2) employers; (3) insurance; (4) accounting; and (5) the general public (representing those receiving benefits from a retirement plan). The Department of Labor is committed to equal opportunity in the workplace and seeks a broad-based and diverse Advisory Council." (Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor)
Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide for July 24, 2007, on Human Resources & Employment Law (PDF)
12 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
Do Employee Assistance Programs Keep Employees at Work? Teleweb
Nationwide on August 2, 2007
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Intermediate IRA Fall/Winter Seminar Tour Registration Now Open
Nationwide on September 25, 2007
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Newly Posted Press Releases
Affordability Remains a Key Concern in Massachusetts Health Reform
Center for Studying Health System Change
Statement Regarding Rep. Miller's Legislation, The 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2007
ERIC (ERISA Industry Committee)
SHRM Study Highlights FMLA's Challenges
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
New Award Honors Outstanding Apprenticeship Training Program
International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Today's Diverse Workforce Leading to Dramatic Change in Employee Benefits Industry
Unum
Chairman Miller Introduces Legislation to Require Full Disclosure of 401(k) Fees & Provider Conflicts of Interest
U.S. House Education and Labor Committee
Secure Our Future Announces 2008 Presidential Candidates Web Site
Secure Our Future
Covestor Threatens Money Management Industry, As Self-Directed Investors Take On The Pros
Covestor LLC
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
(Post a Job | View All Jobs)
Pension Administrator
for Truog-Ryding Company
in CA
401(k) Administrator Quiz
for The Pension Group, Inc.
in CA
Retirement Sales Wholesaler - Inside Sales
for ExpertPlan, Inc.
in NJ
Employee Benefits Attorney
for Hershner Hunter, LLP
in OR
Retirement Plan Consultant
for Benefits Administration Services, LLC
in AL
Enrollment Specialist
for Alliance Benefit Group of Michigan
in MI
System Manager, Retirement and HR Operations
for Providence Health & Services
in WA
Benefits Operation Manager - DB
for Hewitt Associates
in GA
Benefits Service Manager (Entry)
for Hewitt Associates
in GA
Employee Benefits Associate
for Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP
in CO
Team Leader - Retirement Plans - Regional Svc Teams
for Standard Insurance Company
in OR
Retirement Plan Administrator
for Fringe Benefits Design
in MN
Senior Pension Administrator - Defined Benefits
for Retirement System Group Inc.
in NY
Benefits Analyst
for Commerce Banc Insurance Services
in NJ
Client Service Manager
for Merrill Lynch
in CO, NJ
Handy Links:
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- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research (hypertext article)
- Employee Benefits Library
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