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February 14, 2011 Retirement Plans Newsletter  |  Advertise  |  Unsubscribe  |  Past Issues

[Guidance Overview]
Guidance on Non-Grandfathered Plans' Claims and Appeals Procedure Required by Affordable Care Act (PDF)
"[This article] concludes with lists of action steps, including what non-grandfathered group health plan must do to comply with the new internal claims and appeals procedures and what they must do to implement the new external review appeal rules." (The Segal Group, Inc.)


DATAIR Cafeteria Plan Software (advert.)

Sponsored by DATAIR Employee Benefit Systems, Inc.

PC-based systems for proposals, plan documents and administration of Flex Plans: FSA, DCAP, HRA, HSA and 132(f). DATAIR’s systems with the "Benny" Benefits Debit Card for automated processing and Internet inquiry makes this a profitable TPA service.


[Guidance Overview]
IRS Qualifies Breast Pumps and Lactation Supplies as Medical Care Expenses
"Health FSA and HRA administrators will want to take note of this new guidance, which is a change from previous statements by IRS and Treasury officials about breast pumps and related equipment . . . ." (Thomson Reuters/EBIA)

[Guidance Overview]
A Step-By-Step Guide to Complying with Health Care Reform in 2011
"The [PPACA] can be overwhelming to employers trying to provide health coverage to their employees. However, by focusing only on the requirements for 2011 and reducing compliance for 2011 to five steps, reform becomes more manageable." (Haynes and Boone, LLP)

Employers Move to Decision Support Tools for Enrollment
"However, dissatisfaction with these tools increased, most notably for total out-of-pocket expenses for various plans using claim data as a predictor for 2011 and for estimated life insurance needs." (Wolters Kluwer)

Health Care Reform and Taxes: A Pause Before Impact
"Beginning in 2013, that threshold for taking medical deductions rises to 10 percent of adjusted gross income, from 7.5 percent. In 2014, a new $2,500 limit kicks in for flexible spending accounts, which can be used for health costs." (The New York Times; one-time registration required)

Governors and Mayors Set Sights on Soaring Expense of Health Benefits for Retired State and Local Workers
"The nation's governors face a daunting $555 bil.lion in unfunded liabilities to finance retiree health coverage." (The New York Times; one-time registration required)

Newly Introduced Bill Would Repeal Limits on FSAs, HSAs
"The measure repeals the cap on $2,500 cap on [FSA] contributions, and repeals the provision that requires patients using [HSAs] or FSAs to have a prescription from their doctor before they purchase over-the-counter medication." (PLANSPONSOR.COM)

Video: Droids Discuss Individual Mandate
"The individual mandate has been much discussed in recent weeks. This video offers an accessible explanation of what it is and how it's supposed to work." (Healthcare Town Hall via Milliman, Inc.)

Witness Testimonies at House Education and the Workforce Committee Hearing on ACA
"[The hearing was held] to investigate reports that the Affordable Care Act, the legislative package that includes the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act . . ., is already affecting the economy." (National Underwriter Life & Health.)

Vermont Administration Presents Lawmakers Bill to Provide Medical Coverage to All Vermonters
"The bill would move the state through three stages in four years to reach the target of a single-payer system." (The Burlington Free Press)

Healthpartners Pharmacy Integration Study: Demonstrating the Value of Medical and Pharmacy Benefit Integration (PDF)
"It is estimated that integrating medical and pharmacy benefits can save a group with 9,000 continuously enrolled members more than $1 mil.lion per year." (HealthPartners via CIGNA)

CIGNA Pharmacy Management + CIGNA Medical Produce Lower Costs, According to Study (PDF)
"Individuals covered by CIGNA Medical and Pharmacy benefits took more actions to improve their health than those in a CIGNA Medical plan with a stand-alone PBM." (CIGNA)


Complete Benefits Law Guidance from Law Journal Press (advert.)

Sponsored by ALM

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.


Benefits in General; Executive Compensation

[Guidance Overview]
SEC's Proposed Rules on Executive Compensation Shareholder Votes Under Dodd-Frank (PDF)
"Set forth in this White Paper are several important features of the proposed rules that are worthy of immediate consideration in preparing for the 2011 proxy season." (McDermott Will & Emery)

Employee Benefits Developments, January/ February 2011
A brief look at developments in Employee Benefits law from January and February, including cases, rulings, and opinions. (Hodgson Russ LLP)

Wisconsin May Take an Ax to State Workers' Benefits and Their Unions
"Among key provisions of Mr. Walker's plan: limiting collective bargaining for most state and local government employees to the issue of wages (instead of an array of issues, like health coverage or vacations); requiring government workers to contribute 5.8 percent of their pay to their pensions, much more than now; and requiring state employees to pay at least 12.6 percent of health care premiums (most pay about 6 percent now)." (The New York Times; one-time registration required)

Press Releases

PBGC Director Welcomes Cheryl Alston and Daralyn Peifer to Advisory Committee
(Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC))

Multiple Employer Plans and the Role of the Advisor
(American Pension Services, Inc.)

US Department of Labor Announces Intention to Extend Applicability Date of Section 408(b)(2) Fee Disclosure Regulation
(U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA))

Aetna to Offer Unique and Affordable Benefits Package to Chamber of Commerce Members
(Aetna)

Better Together: Coordinated Medical and Pharmacy Benefits Reduce Costs, Improve Health
(CIGNA Corporation)

HSA Bank, Trotter Wellness Partner to Form Integrated HSA and Wellness Solution
(HSA Bank)

CalSTRS Advances Current Work On Risk Based Asset Allocation
(California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS))

CDHP, FSA, HSA, HRA? Unum Offers a Clear Guide to the Acronym Soup of Consumer-directed Health Plans
(Unum)

MapMyFITNESS Teams With Humana To Create “Humana Fit” – A New Social Network To Help People Lead Healthier Lives
(Humana)

McGraw Wentworth Welcomes Chris Bouschet As Account Director
(McGraw Wentworth)

Six in Ten Employers Hope Health Care Reform Will Be Repealed
(Market Strategies International)

Corporate Health Programs Could Improve if People Exercised Manners, Says Austin Etiquette Expert Sharon Schweitzer
(Protocol & Etiquette Worldwide)

Legacy Retirement Solutions - Reliable, Affordable TPA Services
(Legacy Retirement Solutions, LLC)


Employee Benefits Jobs


Webcasts and Conferences

401(k) Rekon Advisor Symposium- Salt Lake City
in Utah on March 15, 2011 presented by 401(k) Rekon

Executive Compensation: Strategy, Design, and Implementation
in New York on June 16, 2011 presented by ALI-ABA (American Law Institute-American Bar Association)

Retirement, Deferred Compensation, and Welfare Plans of Tax-Exempt and Governmental Employers
in District of Columbia on September 15, 2011 presented by ALI-ABA (American Law Institute-American Bar Association)


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