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District Court in Michigan Enjoins Enforcement of Mandatory Cost-Free Contraception Coverage
"A judge has blocked the government from taking any action against a Detroit-area company that opposes the contraception mandate in the new federal health law. Federal Judge Robert Cleland says the government could eventually win the lawsuit, but he ordered a preliminary injunction Wednesday in favor of Weingartz Supply Co., which ... says the contraception mandate violates the free speech rights of company owners who are Roman Catholic."
(FoxDetroit.com)
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Small Employers May Not Understand ACA Requirements (PDF)
"Only two [of 439] employers in the survey had more than 50 employees ... [O]ne-third (34%) incorrectly believed that they were required to buy insurance for employees and about one-third (35%) did not know if they would be required to do so in 2014. Slightly less than one-third (31%) knew that they were not required to provide health insurance to their employees."
(eHealth)
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Assessing the Impact of Health Care Reform on New Businesses In Massachusetts
"Robert Nakosteen, a professor at the Isenberg School of Management of the University of Massachusetts Amherst said 'It's absolutely certain, to a 100-percent degree of probability, that the health care law in Massachusetts has created an environment where individuals can quit their jobs to take the risk to start new companies.' There is also, however, no way to verify this with a look at data."
(The New York Times; free registration required)
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Health Coverage Shrinks for Young Retirees
"[O]nly 17.7% of employees in 2010 worked for a private-sector business that offered health coverage to early retirees.... down from almost 29% in 1997.... 15.9% of employees in 2010 worked for a business that offered health coverage to Medicare-eligible retirees, down from 25.4% in 1997. The few companies that still offer retiree health benefits are raising premiums, tightening eligibility or reducing coverage."
(MarketWatch.com)
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Can Sustainable Hospitals Help Bend the Health Care Cost Curve?
"This study examines data from selected hospitals that have implemented programs to reduce energy use and waste and achieve operating room supply efficiencies.... [S]avings achievable through these interventions could exceed $5.4 billion over five years and $15 billion over 10 years."
(The Commonwealth Fund)
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Benefits in General; Executive Compensation
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Insurer is Proper Party in ERISA Benefits Claim Lawsuit, Seventh Circuit Rules
"The court noted that while lawsuits of this nature generally must be filed against the plan, there is an exception to this rule.... [A] participant seeking to recover ERISA-covered benefits may file a lawsuit against a party other than the ERISA plan where: (i) that party is 'closely intertwined' with the plan; and (ii) the party determines eligibility for benefits and makes benefit payments." [Ayotte v. Prudential Insurance Co. of America, 7th Cir.]
(HighRoads)
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Agenda of Upcoming Meeting of ERISA Advisory Council (PDF)
"[T]he Council members will receive an update from the Assistant Secretary of Labor for [EBSA] and present their recommendations ... on the following issues: (1) Current Challenges and Best Practices Concerning Beneficiary Designations in Retirement and Life Insurance Plans; (2) Examining Income Replacement During Retirement Years in a Defined Contribution Plan System; and (3) Managing Disability Risks in an Environment of Individual Responsibility.... Organizations or members of the public wishing to submit a written statement may do so by submitting 30 copies on or before November 19, 2012[.]"
(Employee Benefits Security Administration)
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Press Releases
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