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September 28, 2001 - 6,325 subscribers
Today's sponsor: Glasser LegalWorks
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
(Help BenefitsLink to provide this newsletter at no charge to you -- our sponsors pay our way. Remember to visit them periodically; we try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
Mental Health Parity Bill Stalls in Senate
Excerpt: "A bipartisan plan to expand coverage of mental illnesses treatment stalled on Thursday after key Senate Republicans objected to taking up the bill, aides said.... Democrats held out hope of negotiating a compromise that would clear the way for the Senate to vote early next month." (Reuters Health via Excite News)
Same-sex Benefits to be Provided for County Employees in Wichita, Kansas
Excerpt: "[T]he employees will have to prove their partnership. They will be required to sign an affidavit swearing that they are sole domestic partners and intend to remain so indefinitely. They also must be at the statutory age of consent and be recognized as a common law husband and wife as defined by the state or in a same-gender committed relationship." (KSNW via MSNBC.com)
Are Attack Victims' Families Entitled to Year-end Bonuses?
Excerpt: "To pay or not to pay? That's the question some companies affected by the recent terrorist attacks are grappling with. Many companies with offices in the World Trade Center, especially financial-services concerns, haven't yet decided whether to pay victims' families the hefty bonuses that can make up a large part of employee pay. That's partly because companies sometimes don't pay bonuses to employees who aren't on their payrolls when bonuses are apportioned ..." (CareerJournal.com)
HIPAA and Its Impact on Human Resources
Excerpt: "Health plans include, among other things, group health plans, health insurers, HMO's ... Health plans are covered only if they have 50 or more participants or are administered by an entity other than the employer who established and maintains the plan." (Davis Wright Tremaine LLP)
Agency Publishes 1999 Data for Health Plan Premiums
Excerpt: "The MEPS IC includes a sample of businesses and governments throughout the United States each year beginning in 1996. From these data, national, regional, and state-level estimates can be made of the amount, types, and costs of health insurance available to Americans through their workplace.... More 1999 information on private-sector employers, as well as information on public-sector employers, is available in tabular form on the Web." (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
Analysis: Employer Health Plans Given Extra Time To Comply With Claims Procedures Rules
Excerpt: "The rules were scheduled to affect all ERISA plans for claims filed on or after Jan. 1, 2002. However, under a DOL amendment issued in the July 9, 2001, Federal Register (66 FR 35886), the earliest that the rules will apply to group health claims is as of the first day of the plan year beginning on or after July 1, 2002, but no later than Jan. 1, 2003. Essentially, this means that calendar year group health plans must comply beginning with claims filed on or after Jan. 1, 2003." (Thompson Publishing Group)
Democrats Hold the Key to Patients' Rights Bill's Future, Employer Groups Say
Excerpt: "'The Senate Democrats have been saying all along that the House bill doesn't go far enough, [but] it may end up being that a lot of it was just rhetoric to set the bargaining positions ... The Democrats will likely throw up a roadblock if they think they didn't get what they want. But the reality is that the Republicans are in a better [bargaining] position because they've passed a bill that the president said he would sign.'" (Thompson Publishing Group)
Patients Bill of Rights in "Grave Danger," Congressman Says
Excerpt: "Pressure from the HMO industry, which wants to preserve its immunity from patient lawsuits, and counterpressure from trial lawyers, who want an unlimited right to sue, may quash the congressional effort, says U.S. Rep. John Shadegg, a Phoenix Republican. The same interests derailed a similar efforts last year." (Arizona Daily Star via IFEBP)
Law Mandates Easier, Expanded Long Term Care Insurance In California
Excerpt: "California seniors will soon have more options in the types of care paid for by their long term care insurance policies, and will find it easier to access those benefits. A new law mandates the additional options for all long term care insurance policies sold in California on or after Oct. 1, 2001." (insure.com)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings ( Post Yours! )
Newly Posted Conferences ( Post Yours! )
Newly Posted Press Releases
Copyright 2001 BenefitsLink.com, Inc., but you may freely distribute this email newsletter in whole. This newsletter is edited by David Rhett Baker, J.D.
Jobs | Today's Messages | Topical News | Q&A Columns | Services & Products | Search | Reference
The BenefitsLink Newsletter -
Welfare Plans Edition
Welfare Plans Edition
September 28, 2001 - 6,325 subscribers
Today's sponsor: Glasser LegalWorks
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
This timely "how to" program focuses on how to run an effective, efficient employee benefits plan while minimizing litigation exposure. Whether you are an ERISA fiduciary, investment advisor, or the in-house counsel, it is not too late to sign up to learn the latest practices and techniques. Register now!
(Help BenefitsLink to provide this newsletter at no charge to you -- our sponsors pay our way. Remember to visit them periodically; we try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
Mental Health Parity Bill Stalls in Senate
Excerpt: "A bipartisan plan to expand coverage of mental illnesses treatment stalled on Thursday after key Senate Republicans objected to taking up the bill, aides said.... Democrats held out hope of negotiating a compromise that would clear the way for the Senate to vote early next month." (Reuters Health via Excite News)
Same-sex Benefits to be Provided for County Employees in Wichita, Kansas
Excerpt: "[T]he employees will have to prove their partnership. They will be required to sign an affidavit swearing that they are sole domestic partners and intend to remain so indefinitely. They also must be at the statutory age of consent and be recognized as a common law husband and wife as defined by the state or in a same-gender committed relationship." (KSNW via MSNBC.com)
Are Attack Victims' Families Entitled to Year-end Bonuses?
Excerpt: "To pay or not to pay? That's the question some companies affected by the recent terrorist attacks are grappling with. Many companies with offices in the World Trade Center, especially financial-services concerns, haven't yet decided whether to pay victims' families the hefty bonuses that can make up a large part of employee pay. That's partly because companies sometimes don't pay bonuses to employees who aren't on their payrolls when bonuses are apportioned ..." (CareerJournal.com)
HIPAA and Its Impact on Human Resources
Excerpt: "Health plans include, among other things, group health plans, health insurers, HMO's ... Health plans are covered only if they have 50 or more participants or are administered by an entity other than the employer who established and maintains the plan." (Davis Wright Tremaine LLP)
Agency Publishes 1999 Data for Health Plan Premiums
Excerpt: "The MEPS IC includes a sample of businesses and governments throughout the United States each year beginning in 1996. From these data, national, regional, and state-level estimates can be made of the amount, types, and costs of health insurance available to Americans through their workplace.... More 1999 information on private-sector employers, as well as information on public-sector employers, is available in tabular form on the Web." (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
Analysis: Employer Health Plans Given Extra Time To Comply With Claims Procedures Rules
Excerpt: "The rules were scheduled to affect all ERISA plans for claims filed on or after Jan. 1, 2002. However, under a DOL amendment issued in the July 9, 2001, Federal Register (66 FR 35886), the earliest that the rules will apply to group health claims is as of the first day of the plan year beginning on or after July 1, 2002, but no later than Jan. 1, 2003. Essentially, this means that calendar year group health plans must comply beginning with claims filed on or after Jan. 1, 2003." (Thompson Publishing Group)
Democrats Hold the Key to Patients' Rights Bill's Future, Employer Groups Say
Excerpt: "'The Senate Democrats have been saying all along that the House bill doesn't go far enough, [but] it may end up being that a lot of it was just rhetoric to set the bargaining positions ... The Democrats will likely throw up a roadblock if they think they didn't get what they want. But the reality is that the Republicans are in a better [bargaining] position because they've passed a bill that the president said he would sign.'" (Thompson Publishing Group)
Patients Bill of Rights in "Grave Danger," Congressman Says
Excerpt: "Pressure from the HMO industry, which wants to preserve its immunity from patient lawsuits, and counterpressure from trial lawyers, who want an unlimited right to sue, may quash the congressional effort, says U.S. Rep. John Shadegg, a Phoenix Republican. The same interests derailed a similar efforts last year." (Arizona Daily Star via IFEBP)
Law Mandates Easier, Expanded Long Term Care Insurance In California
Excerpt: "California seniors will soon have more options in the types of care paid for by their long term care insurance policies, and will find it easier to access those benefits. A new law mandates the additional options for all long term care insurance policies sold in California on or after Oct. 1, 2001." (insure.com)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings ( Post Yours! )
for WESPAC Plan Services, Inc.
in CA
in CA
for The Paragon Alliance Group, LLC
in PA
in PA
for SunTrust Banks, Inc.
in GA
in GA
for Snap-on Incorporated
in WI
in WI
Newly Posted Conferences ( Post Yours! )
in MA
on October 24, 2001
presented by Financial Research Associates, LLC
presented by Financial Research Associates, LLC
in NY
on October 10, 2001
presented by New York Metropolitan Area Chapter - ISCEBS
presented by New York Metropolitan Area Chapter - ISCEBS
Newly Posted Press Releases
Victory Capital Management to Partner with Milliman USA for One-Stop Pension Services
(Victory Capital Management)
MyBenefitSource Receives $9 Million Over Past Fourteen Months
(MyBenefitSource)
Subscribe to the Retirement Plans Edition, too (click)
Copyright 2001 BenefitsLink.com, Inc., but you may freely distribute this email newsletter in whole. This newsletter is edited by David Rhett Baker, J.D.
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