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Welfare Plans
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Welfare Plans
Newsletter
March 4, 2003 - 8,066 subscribers
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(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
Patients Ready for E-Visits, But Doctors Are Wary
Excerpt: "Patients are clamoring for it. Many doctors hate the idea. But the smart money is on the patients to win this one, and it's a biggie: e-mail contact with doctors." (The Baltimore Sun)
Houston Hospital Dives Into New Industry with On-Site Spa
Excerpt: "Jerry Mueck, vice president of wellness and business development for the Memorial Hermann Hospital System, says the spa complements the physical activities and health screenings offered at the wellness center. 'I can see many people taking classes at the center or going through a body scan and then heading to the spa to get a relaxing massage,' Mueck says." (Houston Business Journal via bizjournals.com; one-time registration required)
Overview: IRS Issues Proposed Guidance Relating to Adoption Assistance Programs
Excerpt: "The IRS has issued a proposed revenue procedure that would establish certain safe harbors for determining when the adoption of a foreign-born child is final for purposes of the IRC section 137 income exclusion for employer-paid adoption expenses. Notice 2003-15 (February 10, 2003)." (Deloitte & Touche Human Capital Advisory Services)
New Group Will Tackle Cross-Border Rx Issues
Excerpt: "A new professional organization to promote cross-border access to affordable prescription drugs in North America is in the final stages of development, according to the group's senior officials." (Reuters Health via Yahoo! News)
Opinion: a Free Ride for Bad Doctors
Excerpt: "[I]n all the discussion of tragic cases and dollar amounts, a major cause of the malpractice problem is ignored: the failure of state medical boards to discipline doctors. The fact is, only a small percentage of doctors account for most of the money paid out in malpractice cases." (New York Times; one-time registration required)
ERIC Amicus Brief in Support of Disability Plan in Supreme Court Case on 'Treating Physician' Rule (PDF)
20 pages; The Black & Decker Disability Plan v. Nord, No. 02-469 (2003). Excerpt: "Question Presented: Whether the Ninth Circuit erred in holding that an ERISA disability plan administrator's determination of disability is subject to the 'treating physician rule' and, therefore, the plan administrator is required to accept a treating physician's opinion of disability as controlling unless he rebuts that opinion based upon substantial evidence on the record." (ERISA Industry Committee)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
With Stock Options Tainted, Some Companies Turn to Restricted Stock
Excerpt: "A once-popular corporate giveaway known as restricted stock is making a comeback. Such stock-- restricted in that it can't be sold unless the employee remains at the company for a stated period-- costs a recipient little or nothing and generally isn't tied to future performance. Even if the company's stock price sinks before the shares are fully vested, the individual profits from selling the shares. Best of all, restricted shares aren't stock options ..." (AP via the San Francisco Chronicle)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Employee Benefits Associate Attorney
for Shook, Hardy & Bacon, LLP
in MO
Benefits Supervisor
for GROWMARK, Inc.
in IL
Enrolled Actuary
for San Diego Pension Consultants
in CA
Defined Contribution New Business Consultant
for New York Life Investment Management, LLC
in MA
Investment Sales Consultant
for Meeder Financial
in OH
Newly Posted Conferences
( Post Yours! )
Actuarial Smoothing Methods & Replacement Ratio Studies
in GA
March 20, 2003
WEB Atlanta Chapter
DOL Audit/Enforcement
in CA
March 20, 2003
Western Pension & Benefits Conference - Orange County Chapter
Newly Posted Press Releases
( Post Yours! )
412(i) Company refuses to administer abusive 412i plans.
(The 412i Company)
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- Employee Benefits Library
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