Part Time On Call Retirement Planning Consultant
for Diversified in AR, CA, DC, GA, HI, MI, NC, OH, UT

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Those MLR Rebate Checks: What To Do - Live FutureOffice Network Smartcast
Nationwide on September 18, 2012 presented by FutureOffice Network

CFDD

 

Overtreatment Is Taking a Harmful Toll
"[A]n epidemic of overtreatment—too many scans, too many blood tests, too many procedures—is costing the nation's health care system at least $210 bil.lion a year, according to the Institute of Medicine[.]" (The New York Times; free registration required)

[Advert.]

Executive Forum on Creating A Culture of Health - October 8-9, Chicago

Shifting organizational norms and behaviors to embody a true Culture of Health results in an exponential rise in employee health, engagement and performance. Gain perspectives to restructure resources and chart next steps in transforming your workforce.

Amicus Brief of Secretary of Labor Concerning Proper Application of the Standard of Review for a Denial of Benefits
"Based on a selective review and faulty understanding of the relevant medical facts, the third-party administrator of a health care plan governed by [ERISA] concluded that continued hospitalization was no longer medically necessary for an 83-pound anorexic and suicidal woman suffering from serious medical complications. The question addressed in the Secretary of Labor's brief is whether ... the district court erred in upholding the administrator's determination by giving undue weight to facts which, considered in isolation, could be viewed as supporting this determination, rather than deciding the reasonableness of the denial of benefits based on the entire record." [Pacific Shores Hospital V. United Behavioral Health and Wells Fargo & Company Health Plan (Case no. 12-55210, 9th Cir.)] (U.S. Department of Labor)

Seven Reasons to Take Advantage of Employee Health Care Benefits
"Here are seven reasons why job-sponsored health coverage is so crucial for employees and why they should make the most of it: It reduces absenteeism.... It saves money.... It heightens job satisfaction.... It boosts employee engagement.... It helps employers retain their best employees.... It's convenient.... It sets a good example." (U.S. News & World Report)

[Corrected Source and Link] The Evolution of Retiree Health Care Strategy Post-Health Care Reform
"[The 2012 Retiree Health Care Survey] shows the continued trend toward reducing or eliminating retiree health care coverage, which generally began with the introduction of retiree welfare accounting standards in the early 1990s for private employers.... [A]bout half of plan sponsors surveyed have stand-alone retiree health care plans and can avoid the new group insur.ance market reforms for their retiree populations. Going forward, more plan sponsors may choose to split their legal plans in order to exempt retiree-only plans from any new group insur.ance market requirements that may be introduced in the future." (Aon Hewitt)

Health Care Costs Projected to Increase 5.3% in 2013; Employers Remain Committed to Health Care Plan Sponsorship
"[R]oughly two-thirds of companies say the Supreme Court's decision has affected their overall health strategy. However, one-third are waiting for the upcoming elections or the opening of insur.ance exchanges before making any significant changes to their health care strategy. In fact, nearly three-quarters (72%) state they lack confidence that the exchanges will provide a viable alternative for active employees by 2015.... Nearly six out of 10 of companies with a program are somewhat to very likely to discontinue retiree medical plan sponsorship for post-65 retirees, with 64% considering the same for pre-65 retirees." (Towers Watson)

[Corrected Case Citation] Sixth Circuit Finds No Stop-Loss Coverage Where Employer Extended Health Plan Coverage for Ineligible Employee
"If a plan sponsor wishes to offer coverage beyond what is required by COBRA, it must be sure that the plan document reflects that decision, and that the stop-loss insurer has signed off on any plan amendments needed to accomplish this result. Otherwise, the employer, as here, may find itself without stop-loss coverage even though the plan has paid the employee's claims." [Clarcor, Inc. v. Madison Nat'l Life Ins. Co., 2012 WL 3089339 (6th Cir. 2012)] (Thomson Reuters / EBIA)

[Opinion]

Deloitte Health Care Reform Memo for August 27, 2012
"Among the most perplexing findings in our consumer surveys is the disappointing perception of the U.S. health system's performance relative to ratings in other countries by their respective constituencies. Why would individuals in France or Switzerland believe their system's outperforms ours? And given that the U.S. system spends at least 30 percent more per capita than any of these countries, how do investments in a country's health system relate to the value seen by its citizenry?" (Deloitte)

[Opinion]

Comments by Employer Organizations to IRS Urging Elimination of FSA 'Use It or Lose It' Rule (PDF)
"The 'use it or lose it' rule is counterproductive to all parties (the participant, the plan sponsor, and even the Treasury). It requires participants who have not utilized all of their plan contributions into their FSA to do a year-end dance of finding eligible items on which to spend the amounts that would otherwise be forfeitable. We even now see providers directly appealing to FSA participants to spend their soon-to-be-unused dollars with them (e.g. two or three pairs of prescription sunglasses, contact lenses, and additional prescription drugs, among many others). This goes against any public policy or plan sponsor attempt to try to link health care spending with better consumerism." (SHRM, SBCA, Small Business Association of Michigan, and Kushner & Company)

ERISA Advisory Council to Hold Teleconference Meeting on September 25, 2012 (PDF)
"The purpose of the open meeting is to discuss reports/recommendations for the Secretary of Labor on the issues of (1) Managing Disability Risks in an Environment of Individual Responsibility; (2) Current Challenges and Best Practices Concerning Beneficiary Designations in Retirement and Life Insur.ance Plans; and (3) Examining Income Replacement During Retirement Years in a Defined Contribution Plan System." (Employee Benefits Security Administration)

'After' Math: The Impact and Influence of Incentives on Benefit Policy (PDF)
Summary of EBRI's 70th biannual forum on benefits issues, which examined implications of budgetary, deficit and tax reform pressures on employer-provided health and retirement benefits. Article includes link to individual presentations and webcast of the entire forum. (Employee Benefits Research Institute)

Long-Term Incentives for CEOs Increased in 2011
"[L]ong-term incentives, including restricted stock, stock options and performance awards (cash or equity) increased from 59% of total direct compensation in 2010 to 62% in 2011. Among S&P 100 companies -- which often are leading indicators of trends in the marketplace -- the proportion increased from 60% to 63%, respectively. Moreover, long-term incentives increased in value, from a median $5.42 mil.lion in 2010 to $6.19 mil.lion in 2011." (Mercer)

Seattle Paid Sick/Safe Time: Ten Tips and Traps
"Employer Location Is Irrelevant ... Employer Size Is Highly Relevant ... Any Employee Who Works in Seattle at All Is Potentially Covered ... PSST Accrues Differently Than Paid Leave Accrues Under Some Employer Policies ... There Are Rules About Using PSST ... There Are Rules About Pay During PSST ... Attendance Policies Do Not Apply to PSST ... Most Reasonable Notice Requirements Are Permissible ... Some Reasonable Documentation Requirements Are Not Permissible ... Tier Three Employers Must Evaluate Potential PTO Policies" (Perkins Coie LLP)

Burnham Benefits Welcomes New Vice President, Scott Aston
Burnham Benefits Insurance Services Inc.