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| November 29, 2007 |
| Here are the Web's best new links about compliance and cost aspects of plan operation, design and policy. |
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(a) New Guidance Documents
(None today.)
(b) News
Good News: U.S. Obesity Rates Seem to Have Leveled; Bad News: 34% of Americans Are Obese
Excerpt: "Obesity rates in U.S. women seem to be staying level, and the rate in men may be hitting a plateau now, too, according to a new government report released Wednesday. With more than 72 million Americans counted as obese, adult obesity rates for both sexes seem to be holding steady at about 34 percent, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported." (AP via Yahoo!)
(c) Summaries of Guidance; Filed Comments
Cafeteria Plan Rules Hold Risks, Opportunities, Benefits Attorney Says
On the target page, click on the link under the heading 'Attachments." (Miller Chevalier)
ERISA Toolkit Updated; Outline of Principal ERISA Rules, Emphasizing Welfare Benefit Plans
An excellent overview, especially for persons administering group health, disability or life plans. Excerpt: "The ERISA TOOLKIT page has been updated to reflect additional practice pointers for the plan fiduciary." (Health Plan Law (blog) by Attorney Roy F. Harmon III)
(d) Trends, Surveys, Research
State of the TPA Industry & Forecast for 2008
Excerpt: "We are already in the first stages of the biggest evolution in healthcare and its payment in the past 65 years. No matter what direction things might take politically, the TPAs & Stop-Loss who will survive and thrive are those who stay alert to the changes & opportunities . . . . Some TPAs are thinking that the traditional TPA core service of claims processing is getting to be more and more trouble [and yet they] find an ever-growing array of services & programs employers or individuals want. These include such things as a wide range of wellness offerings, investment and other assistance for the growing HSA market . . . ." (Society of Professional Benefit Administrators)
More Employers Are Linking Better Employee Health To Better Business: Mercer
Excerpt: "Four-fifths of respondents agreed that 'improving employee health is a core business value' -- 39% 'strongly agreed' and another 41% 'agreed.'" (CCH Benefits)
Most New Prescription Drugs Approved by FDA Said to Offer Little or No Added Value Over Existing Therapies
Excerpt: "Nearly 70% of all prescription drugs approved by the FDA from January 2006 to July 2007 provided no additional value over existing products, according to experts in evidence-based medicine." (AISHealth.com)
HRAs Replace Traditional Retiree Health Benefits as Employers Scramble to Reduce Costs
Excerpt: "The number of employers that offer health benefits to retirees has been declining steadily since the early 1990s. While many employers have eliminated those benefits completely, others see retiree health coverage as a way to recruit and retain employees . . . . The cost of maintaining traditional retiree benefits, however, has become prohibitive." (AISHealth.com)
New FMLA Regulations Probably Not Yet on the Horizon
Excerpt: "The U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) regulatory agenda for 2007 included plans to review the FMLA regulations in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2002 decision in Ragsdale v Wolverine Worldwide Inc. . . . among other things. However, it seems that, at least for now, no major overhaul, or even a minor one, of the regulations will be forthcoming." (CCH Labor & Employment Law)
(e) Policy, Opinion, Advocacy
Americans See Benefits of Electronic Health Records as Outweighing Privacy Risks
Excerpt: "The survey of 2,153 U.S. adults, conducted Nov. 12-14, shows three-quarters of respondents agree that patients could receive better care if doctors and researchers were able to share information more easily via electronic systems . . . " (Wall Street Journal)
The Benefits, and Potential Side Effects, of Sharing Medical Records Online
Excerpt: "Anita Allen, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania and an expert on privacy law, says no matter what entity endorses personal online medical records, privacy issues will loom large." (Knowledge@Wharton)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Specified Employee Status Under Code Section 409A
Excerpt: "This article examines the six-month delayed payment rule for 'specified employees' under Section 409A. It is extremely important that specified employees be properly identified, and this article -- together with the attached Specified Employees Checklist -- provides practical guidance to help you comply with this rule." (Faegre & Benson)
Separation Pay Options Under Code Section 409A
Excerpt: "This article examines methods for providing separation pay consistent with Section 409A, including use of the short-term deferral and safe harbor exceptions, 'stacking,' and integrating a release of claims. The attached chart provides analysis and options under various sets of circumstances related to separation pay under Section 409A." (Faegre & Benson)
Modified Work Arrangements for Employees Under Code Section 409A
Excerpt: "This article examines the application of Section 409A to modified work arrangements -- on-call or reduced time work arrangements, consulting arrangements, leaves of absence, rehire situations and other employment-related changes." (Faegre & Benson)
The Impact of Disability on Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Under Code Section 409A
Excerpt: "This article examines the interrelationship between disability and the rules of Section 409A and discusses potential pitfalls that may be avoided with proper examination and drafting of a plan's disability definitions and procedures." (Faegre & Benson)
Newly Posted Events
1099-R from Soup to Nuts Web Seminar
Nationwide on December 19, 2007
presented by SunGard Relius
Newly Posted Press Releases
Investments in Private Equity Still Worth Considering for Institutional Investors
Watson Wyatt
Patricia Kelly Named Chief Financial Officer At The PBGC
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)
New Schwab Data Indicates Use of Advice and Professionally-Managed Portfolios Results in Higher Rate of Return for 401(k) Participants; Younger Participants Have the Most to Gain
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Defined Contribution Plan Fee Disclosure Rules Must Follow Key Principles To Reduce Costs, Confusion
American Benefits Council
Employers' Goal: A Transparent 401(k) System That Provides Meaningful Benefits At A Fair Price
American Benefits Council
National Coalition on Business Launched To Preserve ERISA Standard For Health, Retirement Benefit Plans
American Benefits Council
Prudential Financial Expands Its Retirement Business
Prudential Financial, Inc.
Wachovia Retirement Services Earns Top Ranking in Client Loyalty
Wachovia Corporation
Council of Institutional Investors Deplores SEC Move to Curb Investor Rights
Council of Institutional Investors
Groundbreaking Study Reveals How Consumers Shop For Health Care Research Finds People Want Information On Cost And Quality
Regence
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
(Post a Job | View All Jobs |
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Manager Quality Control testing & 5500
for Retirement Alliance, Inc.
in NH
Pension Administrator
for Retirement Alliance, Inc.
in NH
Sr compliance, testing and design specialist
for Retirement Alliance, Inc.
in NH
Retirement Plan Specialist
for Diversified Investment Advisors
in NJ
Retirement Plan Manager
for Merrill Lynch
in WA
Client Services Representative
for Midsouth Pension Consultants or Midsouth Consulting Group
in TN
Qualified Plan Administrator
for Small TPA Firm
in CO
Participant Communication Consultant
for Vanguard
in PA
Corporate Benefits Analyst
for Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation
in NJ
Defined Benefit Actuary I
for Standard Retirement Services
in OR
Retirement Plan Consultant
for Plante & Moran, PLLC
in MI
Senior ERISA Consultant
for Tofias PC
in MA
401(k) Plan Administrator
for Tofias PC
in MA
Investment Analyst/Investment Consultant
for Alerus Investment Advisors
in MN
ARS Call Center
for Alerus Retirement Solutions
in MN
Handy Links:
- View Today's Active Message Threads
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research (hypertext article)
- Employee Benefits Library
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