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=========================================================== BenefitsLink Welfare Plans Newsletter (Plain Text Format) September 7, 2004 =========================================================== We thank and invite your attention to today's sponsor: Alexander Hamilton Institute =========================================================== Live Audio Conference. Get your HSA questions answered by our benefits expert. (Advert.) <URL:http://benefitslink.com/cgi/a_d.cgi?a_d=2004_09_07_welfare> http://benefitslink.com/cgi/a_d.cgi?a_d=2004_09_07_welfare (Click on above address, or copy and paste it into your web browser, to learn more.) HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS: ARE THEY RIGHT FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION? September 15, 2004 1:00-2:30 PM Eastern Time REGISTER TODAY Learn all about Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), how they work, and whether they can reduce your organization's health care costs. Visit our website to read the course outline, register, or to order a conference recording if you are unable to participate in the live event. (Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor) ---------------------------------------------------------- Rebounding Economy Renews Employer Interest in Lifestyle Benefits for Employees <URL:http://www.benefitnews.com/work/detail.cfm?id=6380> http://www.benefitnews.com/work/detail.cfm?id=6380 Excerpt: "Actually, it's all about keeping workers happy and bringing new employees in. As the market begins to rebound, employers want to attract and retain the best labor available. A survey from the Minneapolis-based Gantz Wiley Research provides good reason: It found that the number of workers planning to stay on in their current position fell to 59% this year from 62% in 2003." (Employee Benefit News) ---------------------------------------------------------- Employer Health Plans Combat Rising Diagnostic Imaging Costs <URL:http://www.benefitnews.com/health/detail.cfm?id=6412> http://www.benefitnews.com/health/detail.cfm?id=6412 Excerpt: "Employers long ago carved out pharmacy, vision and dental benefits from their health plans. But now another service may be ripe for removal: diagnostic imaging." (Employee Benefit News) ---------------------------------------------------------- Employees Face More Benefit Choices During Open Enrollment Season at Work <URL:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61355-2004Sep4.html> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61355-2004Sep4.html Excerpt: "Within the next few weeks, workers are likely to find a little something extra in their paychecks. No, sorry ... it's not money. Those fat envelopes will be stuffed with the paperwork that goes with new benefit plans." (Reuters via The Washington Post; one-time registration required) ---------------------------------------------------------- Flextime Bids Fond Farewell to the 9-to-5, Monday to Friday, Work Day <URL:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61098-2004Sep4.html> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61098-2004Sep4.html Excerpt: "Flextime -- which can include coming in and leaving the office early, a compressed workweek in which an employee has all or part of Friday off, a reduced work schedule or even telecommuting -- gained in popularity during the Internet boom of the late 1990s? As employers were trying to attract talent in heavy demand, they began offering this benefit, among others, to potential employees." (Washington Post; one-time registration required) ---------------------------------------------------------- What Good is an Electronic Medical Record without Personal Health Record and Proactive Health Plan? <URL:http://www.healthleaders.com/news/feature58047.html> http://www.healthleaders.com/news/feature58047.html Excerpt: "Lifelong electronic medical records (EMRs) that could contain all essential medical information about consumers, cradle to grave, have long been a favorite speculation or dream of people in healthcare. If only a complete record of all patient genetic abnormalities, test results, medications taken, allergies and bad reactions, acute and chronic condition history, etc. could be created and maintained over each lifetime?" (Scott MacStravic for HealthLeaders News) ---------------------------------------------------------- The Cruel Legacy of Taft-Hartley: a Labor Day Call for Rights for Working People <URL:http://www.counterpunch.org/nader09062004.html> http://www.counterpunch.org/nader09062004.html Excerpt: "The general rule of law for employees is employment at will--this means an employee can be fired for any reason, no reason or a bad reason without recourse. .... .A Worker's Bill of Rights is needed because the rights of worker's have been on the decline. It is time to reverse that trend and begin to give workers--the backbone of the US economy--the rights they deserve." (Ralph Nader on CounterPunch) ---------------------------------------------------------- Working Long Hours? Take a Massage Break, Courtesy of Your Boss <URL:http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/07/health/07yoga.html?ex=1252296000&en=d1e04d45201688a4&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland> http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/07/health/07yoga.html?ex=1252296000&en=d1e04d45201688a4&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland Excerpt: "The company, Armani Exchange, offers this yoga and meditation class free to help employees relax, reduce stress and recharge during the middle of the week. Similar classes are now familiar in workplaces across the country, from old-line firms like AT&T to New Economy outfits like Yahoo." (The New York Times; one-time registration required) ---------------------------------------------------------- The Eroding Stature of Workers Reflected in the Decline in Wages and Fringe Benefits <URL:http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/09/06/EDGIJ7P1FQ1.DTL> http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/09/06/EDGIJ7P1FQ1.DTL Excerpt: "One irony of Labor Day 2004 is that so much political oratory speaks of values and morality when the dignity of human labor is under relentless assault. The overriding manifestation of this -- affecting all levels of full-time workers, not just the working poor -- is the decline in wages, as shown by studies from both the U.S. Department of Labor and Internal Revenue Service documenting an increase in poverty during the first three years of the Bush administration." (San Francisco Chronicle via SFGate.com) ---------------------------------------------------------- Anthem Will Offer HSAs: Insurer's Health Coverage Will Include Special Savings Accounts <URL:http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031777713450&path=%21business&s=1045855934855> http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031777713450&path=%21business&s=1045855934855 Excerpt: "The state's biggest health insurer is ready to introduce coverage that includes health savings accounts." (Richmond Times-Dispatch) ---------------------------------------------------------- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida to Launch Doctor Recognition Program <URL:http://www.bizjournals.com/industries/health_care/physician_practices/2004/09/06/tampabay_focus2.html> http://www.bizjournals.com/industries/health_care/physician_practices/2004/09/06/tampabay_focus2.html Excerpt: "Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida will roll out a program this fall that recognizes and rewards doctors who provide quality services." (Tampa Bay Business Journal via bizjournals.com) ---------------------------------------------------------- Health Insurers: Complications Limit Coverage on Gastric Bypass Surgery <URL:http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/9573873.htm> http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/9573873.htm Excerpt: "South Carolina government is not the only large employer telling workers their health insurance will no longer cover an increasingly popular and expensive surgery to help extremely obese people lose weight. BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, the Columbia-based insurer and the state's largest private-sector employer, recently decided to stop covering the procedure for its own work force, 13,000 people nationwide and 10,000 in the Palmetto State." (AP via TheState.com) ---------------------------------------------------------- CEO Helps Upgrade Aetna's Condition: Rowe Sees Focus on Solving Nation's Health Care Issues <URL:http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20040907/insana07.art.htm> http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20040907/insana07.art.htm Excerpt: "During the past year, investors have been saying, 'Aetna, we're glad we met ya.' The shares have outperformed the broader market by a factor of six the past year after Aetna CEO Jack Rowe did major surgery on what once was the USA's largest health insurer. Following a serious downsizing and new product introductions, Aetna is returning to its former glory as a pre-eminent player in the insurance industry." (USA TODAY) ---------------------------------------------------------- Retail Health Clinics Promise Savings, Convenience <URL:http://www.workforce.com/section/02/article/23/82/35.html> http://www.workforce.com/section/02/article/23/82/35.html Excerpt: "Having nurses handle common colds, ear infections and the flu can save employers money and can be a 'dream come true' for employees, according to Blue Cross. Some doctors are skeptical." (Workforce Management; one-time registration required) ---------------------------------------------------------- Overview: Defined Contribution Health Plans -- a Green Light for Health Reimbursement Arrangements (PDF) <URL:http://www.kilpatrickstockton.com/publications/downloads/Winter2003MarkStember.pdf> http://www.kilpatrickstockton.com/publications/downloads/Winter2003MarkStember.pdf 5 pages. Excerpt: "...the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) gave a bright green light to innovative health plan designs that use employer-funded defined contribution accounts to pay employee and dependent health care expenses. Termed a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) by the Treasury/IRS guidance, an HRA account may be used to pay both out-of-pocket health care expenses and health coverage premium costs." (Mark L. Stember in Journal of Pension Benefits via Kilpatrick Stockton LLP) ---------------------------------------------------------- HSA Website Helps Individuals and Employers Find Insurers Offering Health Savings Account Policies <URL:http://www.hsainsider.com/> http://www.hsainsider.com/ Excerpt: "Which insurers offer a Health Savings Account policy? Select a state and get a list of companies' offerings in that state." (The HSA Insider) ---------------------------------------------------------- Beyond Bankable Dollars: Establishing a Business Case for Improving Health Care <URL:http://www.cmwf.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=237489> http://www.cmwf.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=237489 Excerpt: "To address widespread deficiencies in the quality of health care, the authors argue that health care organizations need to be able to make a 'business case' for improving quality--a compelling rationale for financial investment in quality improvement programs." (The Commonwealth Fund) ---------------------------------------------------------- Buying Individual Health Insurance Can Prove a Headache <URL:http://www.cahi.org/cahi_contents/newsroom/article.asp?id=404> http://www.cahi.org/cahi_contents/newsroom/article.asp?id=404 Excerpt: "The U.S. Census Bureau report last month showing a rise in the number of people without health insurance also showed that a good portion of those people could afford coverage. That wouldn't surprise Joan Stolbach of Reston, Va. Three years ago, when her husband went on Medicare, their HMO informed Ms. Stolbach, 57, that she'd have to get an individual policy. Two policies, two brokers and many frustrating moments later, the hunt is an experience she wouldn't recommend." (Wall Street Journal Online via Council for Affordable Health Insurance) ---------------------------------------------------------- SB 2 Mandated Health Insurance Cost Estimator for Affected California Employers <URL:http://www.chcf.org/topics/view.cfm?itemid=21710> http://www.chcf.org/topics/view.cfm?itemid=21710 Excerpt: "The California Health Insurance Act of 2003...known as SB 2, ...would require some employers to provide health insurance coverage to workers. Implementation of SB 2 is on hold pending a voter referendum on the November 2004 statewide ballot. The California HealthCare Foundation has developed an online tool to help interested parties--primarily employers, but also the media, unions, individuals, and others--understand the potential financial effects of the new legislation's requirements." (California HealthCare Foundation) ---------------------------------------------------------- Opinion: Latest Census Figures on Uninsured Inaccurate, Wall Street Journal Says <URL:http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=25485> http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=25485 Excerpt: "Media coverage of the Census Bureau report does not take into account 'that there are more Americans with various problems in part because there are more Americans,' a Wall Street Journal editorial states, adding that although the number of U.S. residents who are uninsured increased to 45 million in 2003, the percentage of U.S. residents who are uninsured remained largely unchanged at 15.6%." (KaiserNetwork.org) ---------------------------------------------------------- Fact Sheet: President Bush's Plan to Make Health Care More Affordable <URL:http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/09/20040902.html> http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/09/20040902.html Released September 2, 2004, the fact sheet outlines the President's plan to reduce the cost of health care, provide more coverage options, and keep health decisions with patients and doctors. (The White House) ---------------------------------------------------------- Citing Higher Costs, U.S. Plans Rise in Medicare Premium <URL:http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/04/politics/04health.html?ex=1251950400&en=e9c3f3e85aefcaa9&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland> http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/04/politics/04health.html?ex=1251950400&en=e9c3f3e85aefcaa9&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland Excerpt: "A day after President Bush heralded his efforts to help the elderly cope with increased medical expenses, federal officials announced the largest premium increase in dollars in the Medicare program's history, raising the monthly expense by $11.60 to $78.20." (The New York Times; one-time registration required) ========================================================== Links To Items on Executive Comp, Benefits In General ---------------------------------------------------------- Department of Labor's FairPay Overtime Initiative Provides FairPay Resources on Web Site <URL:http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/whd/fairpay/main.htm> http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/whd/fairpay/main.htm Excerpt: "� the FairPay Web site. It's designed to help you understand the Department's new FairPay rules that strengthen overtime protections. Under the new FairPay rules, workers earning less than $23,660 per year -- or $455 per week -- are guaranteed overtime protection. This will strengthen overtime rights for 6.7 million American workers, including 1.3 million low-wage workers who were denied overtime under the old rules." (Department of Labor) ---------------------------------------------------------- Opinion: Corporate Middle Managers Position in the Economic Class War <URL:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62545-2004Sep4.html> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62545-2004Sep4.html Excerpt: "Politicians who complain about 'corporate bosses' gaining at the expense of 'American workers' are often accused of engaging in class warfare, which clashes with America's proud self-image as a classless society." (Paul Osterman in The Washington Post; one-time registration required) ---------------------------------------------------------- FASB Makes Progress on Stock Compensation Redeliberations: Delay May Not Be Necessary (PDF) <URL:http://www.fwcook.com/alert_letters/9-3-04%20FASB%20Makes%20Progress%20On%20Stock%20Compensation%20Redeliber..pdf> http://www.fwcook.com/alert_letters/9-3-04%20FASB%20Makes%20Progress%20On%20Stock%20Compensation%20Redeliber..pdf 3 pages. Excerpt: "� the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) earlier this year released an Exposure Draft (ED) that would require companies to expense stock options beginning in 2005 (2006 for nonpublic companies). Credible sources have speculated that the 2005 effective date may be delayed." (Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc.) ---------------------------------------------------------- Labor and Benefits Expenses in Supermarkets <URL:http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/23/62/39/236244.php> http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/23/62/39/236244.php Excerpt: "Charts showing how much money is spent on labor and benefits in grocery stores, broken down by store size." (Food Marketing Institute via Workforce Management; one-time registration required) ========================================================== Newly Posted Events Fraud Prevention Institute in California on November 17, 2004 presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans <URL:http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=38687> http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=38687 Health Care Management Conference in California on November 15, 2004 presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans <URL:http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=38686> http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=38686 Trustees Training Program-Part II Nationwide on November 8, 2004 presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans <URL:http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=38685> http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=38685 Post yours! http://benefitslink.com/events/eventmaint.php ========================================================== Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings Health & Welfare Associate for Towers Perrin in IL, MA, NJ, NY, TX http://benefitslink.com/modperl/show_a_job.cgi?database_id=H36872 Defined Benefit Client Account Manager for New York Life Investment Management LLC in MA http://benefitslink.com/modperl/show_a_job.cgi?database_id=H39188 Pension Administrator for San Luis Pension Consultants, Inc. in CA http://benefitslink.com/modperl/show_a_job.cgi?database_id=H39622 Account Manager for Motivano in FL http://benefitslink.com/modperl/show_a_job.cgi?database_id=H40438 Benefits Analyst for R. 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Polk & Co. in MI http://benefitslink.com/modperl/show_a_job.cgi?database_id=H40441 Sr. Associate, Benefits Technical Support for NRECA in VA http://benefitslink.com/modperl/show_a_job.cgi?database_id=H40442 Employee Benefits Attorney for Entergy in LA http://benefitslink.com/modperl/show_a_job.cgi?database_id=H40443 Defined Benefit Administrator for Gucciardi Benefit Resources in WI http://benefitslink.com/modperl/show_a_job.cgi?database_id=H40444 Manager, Compliance Testing for Diversified Investment Advisors in NY http://benefitslink.com/modperl/show_a_job.cgi?database_id=H40451 Post yours! http://benefitslink.com/jobs/post_help_wanted.html =========================================================== Subscribe to the BenefitsLink Retirement Plans Newsletter, Too Sign-up form is at: <URL:http://benefitslink.com/newsletter/> http://benefitslink.com/newsletter =========================================================== Copyright 2004 BenefitsLink.com, Inc.; except that you can forward this email in full (if you also include this boilerplate part) or otherwise reprint this email in full (if you include this boilerplate part) without obtaining our permission. 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