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March 3, 2011 Retirement Plans Newsletter  |  Advertise  |  Unsubscribe  |  Past Issues

[Guidance Overview]
Health Care Reform: Looking Ahead to 2014-Employer Mandate: Pay or Play and Free Rider Penalties
"Synthesizing the government subsidies with the employer penalties, employers will need to offer coverage that is both affordable and high-value to avoid the employer penalties altogether." (Faegre & Benson LLP)


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Report on Implementation and Operation of the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program During Calendar Year 2010 (PDF)
"As of December 31, 2010, over 5,000 plan sponsors were approved for participation in ERRP. The number of approved sponsors varied significantly by State; in several States, more than 100 sponsors were approved." (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services via American Benefits Council)

Results from Sibson's 'Healthy Enterprise Study' (PDF)
"Based on the study data on program offerings and reported effectiveness, Sibson created a Healthy Enterprise Index to compare organizations to one another. Sibson found that a higher index was associated with lower health care costs, health cost increases and turnover." (The Segal Group, Inc.)

Majority of Early Retiree Health Money Going to Public Entities, According to HHS Report
"Of the $535 mil.lion, just more than $298 mil.lion, or nearly 56%, went to governmental entities. Nonprofit organizations, which in some cases include multiemployer union plans, received nearly $129 mil.lion . . . ." (Business Insurance)

Success Factors in Five High-Quality, Low-Cost Health Plans
"In this report, the authors conducted case studies of five health plans that received high scores on quality and resource utilization, using data collected by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. The focus of this study was to understand how health plans with delivery systems that include a significant network of independent, community physicians achieve high performance." (The Commonwealth Fund)


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PPACA Heightens Need to Benchmark Benefit Programs
"[S]ome experts believe that health care reform not only has created greater employer interest in benchmarking benefits programs, but also will slightly alter what employers want to measure." (Employee Benefit News; free registration required)

Synergies at Work: Realizing the Full Value of Health Investments
"Employers should focus more on value, improved health and increased work productivity than just the expense of insurance premiums, U.S. researchers say." (National Pharma.ceutical Council)

Workplace Flexibility Gets a Little Blue Around the Collar
"'Low-wage workers face rigid work schedules that are difficult to change -- unpredictable schedules that require working particular dates or at particular times with little advance notice, and unstable schedules with hours that fluctuate from week to week or month to month.'" (Smiley Pete Publishing)

[Opinion]
Top Five Health Care Reform Issues Employers Should Focus on Today
"If health care reform withstands the legislative, judicial, and political challenges it currently faces, then the landscape will be substantially different by 2014." (Faegre & Benson LLP)

Benefits in General; Executive Compensation

[Guidance Overview]
Proposed Rules on Incentive Compensation from the SEC
"Like the rules proposed for 'covered financial institutions' by the SEC and six other agencies last month . . . the proposed rules have three main sections . . . ." (Michael S. Melbinger via Winston & Strawn LLP)

Wisconsin One of 41 States Where Public Workers Earn More
"Still, the compensation of Wisconsin's government workers ranks below the national average for non-federal public employees and has increased only slightly since 2000." (USA TODAY)

ERISA Bonding Requirements (PDF)
"[ERISA] bonding requirements are quite voluminous and complex, so it is important that all plan sponsors and fiduciaries understand the requirement in order to make sure their current fidelity bond is in compliance with the current rules and regulations." (WithumSmith+Brown, PC)

Insurance and Pension Costs Hit by European Court of Justice Gender Ruling
"Insurers cannot charge different premiums to men and women because of their gender, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled." (BBC)

[Opinion]
What Public Employees Really Cost
"If we seize upon this crisis to make basic changes -- to start rewarding public employees in part on the basis of how effective they are, for example -- we could do more than just stabilize our budgets; we could raise our entire economy." (Time Inc.)

Press Releases

Joseph LoCicero Elected to Board of Trustees
(The Segal Company)

Report: Affordable Care Act Controls Costs for Early Retiree Coverage
(U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)

New Database Gives Quick Access to State and Local Pension Data
(Center for State and Local Government Excellence)

Colonial Life Survey Shows Personal Benefits Counseling Rates High With Employees
(Colonial Life)

Teamsters Joint Council 32 Representing Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota Supports Fight for Workers' Rights
(Teamsters Joint Council 32)

Vanderbilt University CMO to Speak on Fixing Failing Wellness Programs at Spring Managed Care Forum
(National Association of Managed Care Physicians (NAMCP))

National TPA Incorporates VIIAD Technology
(HealthFirst TPA)

Shape Up The Nation’s Social Networking Wellness Platform Achieves Record Employee Engagement at Health Insurer
(Shape Up The Nation)

Alere Previews Findings from Key Research Study on Medication Adherence at Integrated Benefits Institute Conference
(Alere Health)


Employee Benefits Jobs

Pension Administrators in NJ for Northern NJ Mid-Size Pension Consulting Firm

Defined Contribution Practice Leader in NY for Segal Advisors, Inc.

Retirement Planning Specialist in CA for e3 Financial

Marketing Manager, Participant Experience in CT for Prudential

Post Your Job on EmployeeBenefitsJobs.com

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Webcasts and Conferences

Cafeteria Plans and Flexible Spending Accounts: Navigating the Complex Maze of Rules and Guidance
Nationwide on April 6, 2011 presented by Thompson Interactive

Complex RMD Issues
Nationwide on March 17, 2011 presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.

Form 5500 and EFAST2 -- Applying Lessons Learned to This Year’s Filing Season
Nationwide on March 9, 2011 presented by Thompson Interactive

Health Reform in 2011: Dealing With Present Challenges, Planning for Future Changes
Nationwide on March 22, 2011 presented by Thompson Interactive

Healthy, Wealthy And (Un)Wise - Using Behavioral Economics Processes, Tools And Techniques To Improve Workers’ Benefits Decision Making
in California on March 31, 2011 presented by No. Calif. Chapter of Certified Employee Benefits Specialists (ISCEBS)

Wellness on a Budget: No-Cost & Low-Cost Ways to Improve Employee Health
Nationwide on March 29, 2011 presented by Thompson Interactive


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