Deceleration in U.S. Healthcare Costs Continues
"Data released [on June 16] . . . indicate that the average per capita cost of healthcare services . . . increased by 5.39% over the 12 months ending April 2011. Since May 2010, annual rates of growth of healthcare costs have been largely decelerating." (Healthcare Town Hall)

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Baucus Demands Methodology Behind Healthcare Reform Study
"Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) demanded answers ahead of a meeting with the consulting firm. The study, released earlier this month, estimated that 30 percent or more of surveyed businesses would drop their employer-sponsored coverage because of the Democrats' law." (The Hill)

We All Win With Wellness in Workplace
"Statistics show the rewards for employers make wellness programs well worthwhile. The Minnesota Department of Health reports that, on average, employers that adopt wellness programs enjoy a 25 percent reduction in sick leave, health plan costs, workers compensation and disability costs." (Minneapolis - St. Paul Star Tribune)

Average Long-term Health Care Claim $159,000 This Year: Analysis
"The average annual claim cost per bed, which has hovered around $1,400 for the past five years, is projected to increase to $1,430 this year." (Business Insurance)

Cambridge, Mass., Equalizes Cost of Health Insurance for G.ay Workers
"Unlike married couples, employees who use domestic partner health coverage for their partners must pay taxes on the value of that coverage (unless the partner is considered a dependent). . . . So after Cambridge officials were made aware of the issue through a city employee who had to pay the extra taxes, they decided to reimburse employees for the extra costs." (New York Times; free registration required)

The Funding Status of Retiree Health Plans in the Public Sector
"This paper reviews what is currently known about [retiree health insurance] in the public sector, while highlighting many important unanswered questions. . . . We consider the extent of the unfunded liabilities states face and explore what factors may explain the variation in liabilities across states." (Journal of Pension Economics and Finance)

What Are 'Essential' Health Benefits for Health Reform Requirements?
"Mercer conducted a survey of 779 employers 'to help employers make informed decisions and reasonable interpretations of the scope of benefits offered in a 'typical' employer plan.'" (Wolters Kluwer Law & Business)

2011 Deadlines Loom for Plan Amendments for Health FSA Over-the-Counter Medication and Other Health Care Reform Requirements
"Account-based health programs that previously provided for reimbursement of over-the-counter medications must be amended to conform to the new over-the-counter medicine and drug requirements." (Littler)

Investor Say on Pay Is a Bust
"[T]hrough June 14, shareholders by a majority vote objected to executive comp at just 32 of the 1,998 companies that have convened annual meetings this year. 'Say-on-pay is at best a diversion and at worst a deception,' says Robert A.G. Monks, the veteran corporate governance activist . . . ." (BusinessWeek)

Google 'Les Paul' Doodle Costs $268 Mil.lion
"Running the math — 740 mil.lion times 26 seconds over two days — brings the total to nearly 10.7 mil.lion hours spent playing [according to a report on ExtremeTech.com]." (PLANSPONSOR.com)

Healthcare Sways Retirement Decisions
"Most non-retired U.S. investors -- people with $10,000 or more to invest -- say healthcare cost is a major determinant of when to retire, a survey says." (United Press International)

The Temp/Contract Conundrum
"They're often cheaper. They give companies the flexibility to hire for specific projects without taking on full-timers. Companies can seek out specialized skills, avoid payroll taxes and bring retirees back into the mix. . . . And, oftentimes, companies don't have to pay them benefits or overtime." (Human Resource Executive Online)

Philadelphia City Council Approves Mandatory Sick Leave Pay Bill But Enactment Uncertain
"[W]orkers at companies with more than 10 employees would earn an hour of sick time for every 40 hours worked, up to seven paid days a year. . . . [Philadelphia Mayor Michael A.] Nutter is expected to veto it, an action that would require 12 Council votes to overturn." (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

New Jersey State Workers Swarm Trenton to Oppose Increases in Health and Pension Employee Contributions
"For a typical worker making $65,000 a year, the cost of full-family coverage would rise to about $3,600 a year, from about $1,000. Employees' pension contributions would rise immediately from 5.5 percent of their salary to 6.5 percent, and then, in stages, to 7.5 percent. On a $65,000 salary, the increase would come to $1,300 a year. (New York Times)

The Economics of State and Local Pensions and Retiree Health Plans
"We summarize issues related to the optimality of pre-funding, portfolio allocation, the discounting of liabilities, as well as how plans operate in practice." (Journal of Pension Economics and Finance)

The Hidden Cost of Letting Workers Telecommute
"[C]ompanies have been found liable for state corporate tax 'when the only connection to that state was that they had an employee telecommuting in that state.'" (The Wall Street Journal)

David S. Blitzstein Joins PBGC Advisory Committee
(Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC))

More Employers Using Third Party Managers to Save on Drug Programs Costs: Buck Consultants Survey
(Buck Consultants)

Schwab Finds Majority of Older Americans Confident in Retirement Preparedness
(Charles Schwab Corporation)

PayFlex Receives IRS Approval as a Non-Bank Custodian for its HSA Solution
(PayFlex Systems USA, Inc.)

Jude Anne Carluccio Joins Krieg DeVault's Employee Benefits and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Practices; Will Establish Firm's Legal Presence in Minneapolis
(Krieg DeVault LLP)

World Congress

Contract - Business Analyst, Trust
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Qualified Defined Contribution Plan Administrator
for Nationwide in OH

Defined Contribution Plan Administrator
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Manager, Plan Technical Services
for Prudential in IA

Dedicated Retirement Counselor
for Prudential in AL

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ERISA Bubbles: The Sequel - Cases & Issues Ready to Pop Webinar
Nationwide on June 21, 2011 presented by BNA, Inc.

Just for ERPAs Workshop
in Illinois on September 6, 2011 presented by SunGard Relius

Participant Loans
Nationwide on June 21, 2011 presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.

Qualified Default Investment Alternative
Nationwide on June 28, 2011 presented by McKay Hochman Co., Inc.

TRI-AD Web Seminar: Designing the Perfect Retirement Plan
Nationwide on July 21, 2011 presented by TRI-AD