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| January 22, 2009 |
| Here are the Web's best new links about compliance and cost aspects of plan operation, design and policy. |
Today's sponsor is Health Benefits Conference & Expo (HBCE)
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
| Nat'l Health Benefits Conference & Expo (HBCE), Feb. 3-4, Tampa, FL |
| Sessions by: Intel, Corning, Toyota, TECO Energy, Broward County Schools, Burger King, SAS, Gulf Power/Southern Company, Pepco Holdings, Inc. (PHI), Univ. of Pittsburgh Medical Center, U.S. Xpress, PSEG, Mayo Clinic, University of Rochester, Pinellas County, CEO Roundtable on Cancer, City of Clearwater, C-Change, Manatee County...and more. Satisfaction guaranteed...or your registration refunded. Best Value in Health Benefits Continuing Education (HBCE) - highest quality and registration only $295 - $345. SHRM credits. www.HBCE.com |
More Nonelderly Americans Face Problems Affording Prescription Drugs
Excerpt: "More children and working-age Americans are going without prescription drugs because of cost concerns, according to a new national study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC). In 2007, one in seven Americans under age 65 reported not filling a prescription in the previous year because they couldn't afford the medication, up from one in 10 in 2003. . . . The number of Americans who cannot afford prescription medications is likely to grow as the economy continues to decline and the ranks of the uninsured grow." (Center for Studying Health System Change)
Payers Increasingly Demand Health Care Plans Focus on Quality and Appropriate Use of Care
Excerpt: "Payers increasingly are requiring health care plans to focus on the quality of care delivered to insureds and ensuring appropriate use of services, the National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH) reported on Dec. 19, 2008, based on its 2008 findings for the eValue8 RFI (request for information) tool. The eValue8 is a major standardized RFI tool used by employers and coalitions to gather health care data from nearly 200 health care plans to compare their quality and efficiency." (Wolters Kluwer)
PBMs Tout Transparency, but Model Doesn't Always Lower Drug Costs for Clients
Excerpt: "The pharmacy benefit management (PBM) industry claims to embrace the concept of 'transparency.' In today's business environment, few, if any, PBMs would dare prohibit clients from examining at least a good measure of their contract arrangements. But as more and more PBMs tout their commitment to financial disclosure, some acknowledge that transparency alone doesn't always lower Rx payers' costs. And at least one consultant claims the industry still has a long way to go on demonstrating 'real' transparency." (AISHealth.com)
Two Blues Plans Build Obesity Disease Management Programs for Youth and Adults
Excerpt: "Two Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans this fall launched obesity disease management (DM) programs in an effort to intervene early with patients at risk of comorbidities stemming from being overweight. Health Care Service Corp., Inc. (HCSC) this fall launched a novel early disease intervention program focusing on metabolic syndrome. And BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina's HMO unit introduced a DM program targeting overweight and obese children." (AISHealth.com)
Workers with Migraines Can Hurt Productivity
Excerpt: "Virtually all large employers participating in a new survey said they recognized workers afflicted with migraines were not as productive, but few keep track of the problem. The Midwest Business Group on Health (MBGH) polled 34 big companies and found that 91% knew their workers couldn't get as much done if their heads were pounding from a headache, according to a news release." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required)
[Opinion]
Mapping the Way to a Transformed U.S. Health System
Excerpt: "Ours is the only industrialized nation that fails to ensure that all its citizens have access to affordable health care. We are slipping further behind what other countries achieve with their more modest investment in health care: the U.S. now ranks 19th out of a group of 19 major industrialized countries on an important measure of health system performance: mortality amenable to medical care. If we did as well as the best-performing countries, we would have 100,000 fewer deaths each year." (The Commonwealth Fund)
[Opinion]
The First Six Months of the New Congress and Administration in Health Care Policy: A Discussion
Excerpt: "Businesses need to become part of this debate as soon as possible. While 'macro' healthcare reforms may take several years to enact, much of the legislation Congress enacts over the next several months will have far-reaching effects and will influence the shape of a larger health care reform plan." (K&L Gates LLP)
WorldatWork (Sponsor)
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
| WorldatWork publications in the BenefitsLink Bookstore |
| WorldatWork, a not-for-profit professional association, is a leading publisher of compensation, benefits and total rewards information. With a portfolio of books, reports, survey briefs, booklets and online learning programs, WorldatWork creates, markets and distributes publications that are critical to improved organizational performance. WorldatWork has contributed to the education and development of business professionals worldwide since 1955. |
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
[Official Guidance]
DOL Advisory Opinion 2009-01A on Use of Certain Bank Collective Investment Funds
Excerpt: "This is in response to your request for an advisory opinion on behalf of AmeriServ Trust and Financial Services Company (ATFSC) concerning the application of section 408(b)(4) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), and the parallel provisions under section 4975(d)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code),(1) to the use of deposit accounts of its banking affiliate for investment of cash of certain bank collective investment funds for which it serves as trustee, under the circumstances as described herein." (U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)
[Guidance Overview]
Second Circuit Reinstates Age Discrimination Case
Excerpt: "This is an important age discrimination case for the times we are in: Carras v. MGS 782 Lex, Inc. The Second Circuit Civil Rights Blog writes about it here. In [a previous post], I have written about how targeting for layoff those employees who are costing the company more when it comes to health care costs or pension costs is unlawful under ERISA Section 510. The Carras case, however, involved targeting for layoff an older employee who was costing the company more when it came to his salary. (Benefits were not discussed.) Unfortunately, the case involves what is probably a likely scenario in our day: an older highly-paid worker being replaced by a younger less-experienced worker for 'cost-cutting' reasons." (Attorney B. Janell Grenier via Benefitsblog.com)
Treasury Requires CEOs of Banks in TARP to Certify Executive Compensation Curbs
Excerpt: "In one of its final acts under Secretary Henry Paulson, the Treasury Department required the chief executives of banks getting aid under the $700 billion bailout to certify that they are complying with the executive compensation limits of the program. Only the banks' compensation committees have been required to put their names on the line in asserting institutions' compliance with curbs on senior executives' severance pay and other incentives." (Workforce Management; free registration required)
Employee Benefits Developments, January 2009
Excerpt: "A brief look at developments in Employee Benefits law from December [2008] and January 2009, including cases, rulings, and opinions." (Hodgson Russ LLP)
Center for State and Local Government Excellence 2008 Research Highlights on Pensions and Retiree Health Benefits (PDF)
7 pages. Excerpt: "The Center's five research priorities are: Retirement plans and savings; Retiree health care; Financial education for employees; Talent strategies and innovative employment practices; Workforce development." (Center for State and Local Government Excellence)
Newly Posted Events
Understanding and Addressing your 401(k) Fiduciary Duties
Nationwide on January 29, 2009
presented by AFS Financial Group
Newly Posted Press Releases
Great-West Retirement Services® Appoints Regional Sales Directors To Focus On Advisers, Consultants And TPAs
Great-West Retirement Services
Actuaries Laud New President’s Medicare and Social Security Message, Call for Bipartisan Solution
American Academy of Actuaries
Retirement Plan Advisory Group Announces Comprehensive Brand Initiative
Retirement Plan Advisory Group
NewRiver Rolls Out Summary Prospectus Delivery Solution
NewRiver, Inc.
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
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OmniPlus Consultants
for Chesapeake Benefit Partners
in ANY STATE
Plan Consultant Opportunity
for Weaver Partners, Inc.
in ANY STATE
Defined Benefit Consultant / Administrator
for Boyce & Associates, Inc.
in AZ
Defined Contribution/401(k) Administrator
for Boyce & Associates, Inc.
in AZ
Senior Consultant / Client Services Manager
for Boyce & Associates, Inc.
in AZ
Director Client Service
for Ascensus
in PA
Chairman of Administration Services for TPA Firm
for Dana Consulting Group, Ltd.
in IL
Handy Links:
- View Today's Active Message Threads
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research (hypertext article)
- Employee Benefits Library
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