[Guidance Overview]
Health Laws -- 8 New Changes to Insurance
Excerpt: "A set of new consumer protections officially went into effect yesterday, Sept. 23, the six-month anniversary of the law. Here's a guide to some of the changes -- and some of the caveats."
(Kaiser Health News)

[Guidance Overview]
Seeking Clarity on Grandfathered Health Plans
Excerpt: "Among benefits beginning this week that don't apply to certain grandfathered plans: . . . ."
(USA TODAY)

[Guidance Overview]
IRS Issues Guidance on Over-the-Counter Medicines And Drugs
Excerpt: "The IRS guidance, which includes Notice 2010-59, Revenue Ruling 2010-23, and questions and answers on the IRS website, establishes a rule concerning what it means for an over-the-counter medicine or drug to be 'prescribed,' sets forth new rules concerning the use of debit cards for over-the-counter medicines and drugs after the effective date of the rule, provides a transition rule for any needed cafeteria plan amendments, and discusses when these new rules are effective."
(Groom Law Group)

[Guidance Overview]
State Health Care Reform Update
Excerpt: "For the last few years, states have been leading the way toward providing more comprehensive health care coverage to ensure that more people have or can obtain health insurance. With the passage of federal health care reform, states will have increasing responsibilities in regard to employer-provided health insurance benefits."
(Wolters Kluwer)

[Guidance Overview]
Ohio to Propose Fix for Insurers Fleeing Child Coverage
Excerpt: "The Ohio Department of Insurance plans in the next few days to issue an emergency rule that officials hope will entice health insurers to reverse decisions to stop offering child-only policies on the individual market to avoid federal health reform requirements . . . ."
(Business Courier of Cincinnati)

[Guidance Overview]
Health Care Reform: Summary of Key Changes in Coverage for Adult Children
Excerpt: "[Q:] What about state law? [A:] Some states, such as New York and New Jersey, have additional requirements for coverage of dependent children. These requirements apply only to fully insured plans issued in the applicable state, but not to self-funded plans."
(Jackson Lewis LLP)

[Guidance Overview]
Court Finds Employer Failed in Helping Employee Obtain Plan Documents
Excerpt: "An employer breached its fiduciary duty to an employee by not taking additional steps to help her obtain copies of two resource tools used in denying her son health plan benefits although it did not have them in its possession, a court has ruled."
(PLANSPONSOR.com)

Blue Cross, HealthPartners Suspend Some Health Plan Sales in Minnesota
Excerpt: "Two of Minnesota's biggest health plans said Thursday they have temporarily suspended sales of individual health insurance policies because of uncertainty related to the new federal health reform law."
(Minneapolis - St. Paul Star Tribune)

Even Well Children Cant Get Health Insurance in South Carolina
Excerpt: "As national health care reform takes effect, health insurance carriers in South Carolina have halted access to new individual policies for children -- a move that could leave families unable to find insurance for their healthy children, advocates said."
(TheSunNews.com)

Industry Insiders Answer Key Questions About Health Insurance Exchanges
Excerpt: "four industry observers offered their perspectives on how the insurance exchanges will impact the small-group and individual markets."
(AISHealth.com)

Businesses Prepare for Healthcare Changes
Excerpt: "[S]ome business owners say they're holding back on creating new jobs because they're unsure if the newly added provisions will increase their health premiums or those of their customers."
(The Wall Street Journal)

Catholic Bishops Ask HHS Not to Require Coverage of Birth Control
Excerpt: "They noted that at least one drug already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for 'emergency contraception' can actually cause early abortions, so a mandate of prescription contraception coverage as a preventive service would 'be in direct tension with [PPACA's] statutory prohibition on mandating any abortion service.'"
(PLANSPONSOR.com)

Hearing on Protecting and Preserving Social Security for Generations - Watch Hearing Live
in District of Columbia on September 30, 2010
presented by U.S. House Ways and Means Committee

HIPAA Privacy Rules Refresher
Nationwide on October 7, 2010
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans

Post your webcast or conference

McDonald's Corporation Named Plan Sponsor of the Year
Profit Sharing/401(k) Council of America (PSCA)

The Profit Sharing/401k Council of America Initiates Plan Sponsor Recognition Program
Profit Sharing/401(k) Council of America (PSCA)

ACLI Lauds House For Passing Partial Annuitization Proposal
American Council of Life Insurers

Morningstar Introduces Report Studio for Customized Investment Report Communications
Morningstar, Inc.

Partial Annuitization Provision on Way to President for Signature
Americans for Secure Retirement (ASR)

Investor Education In The Recession: Investor Protection Trust Updates Materials To Reflect Economic Downturn
Investor Protection Trust (IPT)

Oregon Employers Launch Value-Based Benefits Program to Improve Health
Oregon Coalition of Health Care Purchasers

Post your press release

Part Time On Call Participant Counselor
for Transamerica Retirement Services
in CA, MI, UT, WA

Pension Plan Administrator
for M. S. Fox & Associates, Inc.
in CA

Compliance Manager, Compliance Testing and Analysis
for Vanguard
in PA

VP, Key Account Sales
for Prudential
in CT

Education Consultant
for AXA Equitable
in NJ

Retirement Plan Administrator
for RSM McGladrey, Inc.
in MD

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