October 24, 2003 - 8,609 subscribers

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Today's sponsor: Thompson Publishing Group, Inc.

(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)

  ?How to Conduct Successful Workplace Investigations? 
 
A 90-Minute Interactive Audio Conference ? Monday, November 10, 2003 *
2:00 p.m. Eastern Time (PLEASE NOTE NEW DATE ? it was previously
scheduled for Nov. 11)

During this 90-minute interactive presentation, specialists in the
field of workplace investigations will cover such important topics
as: the proper role of the investigators in conducting internal
investigations and the standards applicable to internal investigations,
confidentiality, appropriate investigative procedures and more.
Register today!

(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)

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Medicare Proposal Outlined by Conference Committee
Excerpt: "A powerful congressman heading House-Senate negotiations over Medicare has drawn up the outlines of a legislative plan embracing several polarizing changes that House conservatives want. The most contentious proposal eventually would force Medicare to compete for patients directly against private health plans." (Washington Post)

Democrats Assail Medicare Proposals
Excerpt: "The most vehement protests centered on an aspect of the House bill that eventually would require the traditional version of the program to compete with private health plans based on price. Proponents of that competitive arrangement, known as premium support, say that it would encourage people to join private health plans and drive down costs; critics predict it would end up costing more for patients who remain in the traditional fee-for-service program ..." (Washington Post)

Health Insurer Wary of Emerging Medicare Bill
Excerpt: "Population changes alone will likely drive private health plans to get more involved with the federal Medicare program for the elderly and disabled, the head of one of the nation's largest health insurers said Wednesday." (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

Kroger Makes Contingency Plan
Excerpt: "While Kroger clerks vote on a contract offer, the grocer is advertising in Indianapolis for temporary help in case of a strike. Employees at Kroger stores throughout Indiana began voting Thursday on a contract providing more limited health care benefits than previous labor agreements." (IndyStar.com)

Opinion: a Watershed Strike
Excerpt: "If Vons, Ralphs and Albertsons succeed at mimicking the Wal-Mart approach, it will pull down America's middle-class standard of living and signal other companies, whether unionized or not, that it's time to go to war against working families." (Kelly Candaele & Peter Dreier in The Nation)

Municipal Workers Feeling Insurance Pinch
Excerpt: "Rhode Island and many other states struggling with expanding deficits and rising health care expenses are asking their employees to help pay for their medical insurance or assume a larger share of the burden." (AP via Yahoo! News)

Cost-Sharing Grows More Prevalent In Prescription Market
Excerpt: "The report, conducted by the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute, states co-payments have increased in both mail and retail segments. Average mail co-payments for first-tier drugs rose 16% from 2001 to 2002, second-tier witnessed a 20% increase and third-tier a 10% jolt. In the retail category, co-payments rose by approximately 10% overall." (BenefitNews.com)

FDA Eases Stance on Importing Medicines by Cities, States
Excerpt: "[A] senior Food and Drug Administration official said yesterday that the agency won't sue cities and states that set up plans to bring in the unapproved drugs." (Boston Globe)

Washington Post Series of Articles Examines Problems with Illegal Prescription Drug Distribution
Excerpt: "Part 1: A Vast, Unregulated Shadow Market; Part 2: How the Internet Became a Pipeline for Deadly Drugs; Part 3: Dangerous Doctors Online; Part 4 : The Shadow Market & Counterfeit Drugs; Part 5: Our Porous Borders With Mexico and Canada" (Washington Post)

Millions of Americans Look Outside U.S. for Drugs
Excerpt: "Although U.S. law bans nearly all imports of foreign medications, Americans are bringing in those drugs in record numbers. Mexico, Canada and other countries have become the discount pharmacies for many Americans, those looking simply to save money as well as the uninsured struggling to pay for their medications." (Washington Post)

Drugstore.com To Launch Campaign To Educate Consumers About Online Pharmacies
Excerpt: "Officials at Drugstore.com, the largest online pharmacy in the United States, on Thursday announced plans to launch a new public education campaign, called 'Safe Shopper,' to warn consumers about 'rogue' Web sites that 'specialize in selling painkillers and other dangerous drugs' and help them to identify legitimate online pharmacies, the Washington Post reports." (KaiserNetwork.org)

Overview: Electronically Substantiated Expenses Are Excludible
Excerpt: "The guidance does not forbid applying the ruling to lodging expenses, but it also does not mention them in the same manner as it does travel and entertainment expenses. David Fuller, a partner at the Washington, D.C. office of McDermott, Will & Emery ... cautions that the ruling appears to require that receipts for most hotel stays be on paper and not electronic." (Thompson Publishing Group)

Are Group Health Plans Required to Allow Mid-Year Enrollment?
Excerpt: "Answer: Yes. Regardless of whether annual open enrollment is offered under your plan, there are special enrollment rules under HIPAA that generally apply (with some exceptions) to group health plans like your insured major medical plan. These rules require group health plans to permit mid-year enrollment of employees and their dependents in certain circumstances." (EBIA (Question of the Week))

Prevention and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity: a Roadmap for Advocacy and Action (PDF)
12 pages. Excerpt: "On August 14 and 15, 2003, 47 public and private sector professionals convened for the roundtable discussion entitled 'Prevention and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity: Toward a Roadmap for Advocacy and Action.' The roundtable was jointly sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Association of Health Plans, HealthPartners, and the Washington Business Group on Health." (Kaiser Permanente Institute for Health Policy)

Group of Democratic Senators Calls for 'Immediate Vote' on Mental Health Parity Bill
Excerpt: "A group of Democratic senators on Thursday called for an 'immediate vote' on a mental health parity bill (S 486) supported by the late Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.), who died last October in a plane crash, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports ..." (KaiserNetwork.org)

Executive Summary: Women Business Leaders' Outlook On Health Care 2003
Excerpt: "[I]n reforming the health care system, about 4 in 10 respondents say that 'making health care more affordable' should be the top priority, followed by 'providing basic health insurance coverage to all Americans' (34%)." (The United States Chamber of Commerce)

AARP Calls for Government Policy To Address Costs of Long-Term Care
Excerpt: "The United States needs a policy to address the 'anticipated heavy costs' of providing long-term care to a growing population of older individuals and people with disabilities, AARP officials said Wednesday during an international forum on long-term care sponsored by AARP, CongressDaily/AM reports." (KaiserNetwork.org)

Presidential Candidate Sen. Edwards Announces 10-Year, $3.5 Billion Long-Term Care Proposal
Excerpt: "Presidential candidate Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) on Thursday announced a 10-year, $3.5 billion proposal to improve long-term care for seniors, the AP/Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports." (KaiserNetwork.org)

Office Napping Retreats to the Corporate Closet
Excerpt: "After a brief 'power napping' craze in the late 1990s, workplace napping has retreated to the corporate closet." (CareerJournal.com)

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Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General

Business-Owned Life Insurance: Preliminary Observations on Uses
18 pages; summary at http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d04191thigh.pdf - Excerpt: "To address concerns that businesses were abusing their ability to deduct interest expenses on loans taken against the value of their policies, Congress passed legislation to limit this practice, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Justice pursued litigation against some businesses. But concerns have remained regarding employers' ability to benefit from insuring their employees' lives." (U.S. General Accounting Office)

Study Shows Spouse's Death Can Lead To Financial Devastation
Excerpt: "MetLife ... bolsters the case for life insurance with a recent study analyzing the long-term financial impact for surviving spouses after a mate's premature death." (BenefitNews.com)

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Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings


Pension Sales Design Specialist
for American National Insurance Company
in TX

Senior Pension Account Representative
for Minnesota Life Insurance Company
in PA

Defined Contribution Plan Administrator
for Estate & Pension Advisory Board, Inc.
in PA

Health Benefits Analyst
for The Segal Company is an employee benefits, human resources consulting firm
in CA

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Newly Posted Webcasts
( Post Yours! )

Health Care as a Campaign Issue: A Winner in 2004?
on October 20, 2003
presented by KaiserNetwork.org

Executive Benefits A Survey of Current Trends 2003 Results
on November 6, 2003
presented by Clark Consulting

FDA Protecting and Advancing America's Health: A Vision for the Future
on October 20, 2003
presented by KaiserNetwork.org

The Impact of Medicare Reform on Retirees
on October 28, 2003
presented by Employers' Coalition on Medicare / washingtonpost.com

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Newly Posted Conferences
( Post Yours! )

B3: Health Care and Insurance Plans - Design and Management
in MA
March 22, 2004
WorldatWork

B3: Health Care and Insurance Plans - Design and Management
in NY
April 26, 2004
WorldatWork

B3: Health Care and Insurance Plans - Design and Management
in GA
May 18, 2004
WorldatWork

B3: Health Care and Insurance Plans - Design and Management
in
August 2, 2004
WorldatWork

B3: Health Care and Insurance Plans - Design and Management
in CA
November 8, 2004
WorldatWork

B3: Health Care and Insurance Plans - Design and Management
in
November 30, 2004
WorldatWork

B3A: Health Care and Insurance Plans - Financial Management
in NY
June 2, 2004
WorldatWork

B3A: Health Care and Insurance Plans - Financial Management
in
November 18, 2004
WorldatWork

B4: Strategic Benefits Planning
in IL
July 14, 2004
WorldatWork

B4: Strategic Benefits Planning
in TX
November 3, 2004
WorldatWork

B5: Managing Flexible and Work/Life Benefits
in IL
April 19, 2004
WorldatWork

B5: Managing Flexible and Work/Life Benefits
in TX
July 26, 2004
WorldatWork

B9: International Benefits
in IL
March 15, 2004
WorldatWork

B9: International Benefits
in CA
June 23, 2004
WorldatWork

B9: International Benefits
in NY
July 12, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in NY
January 21, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in DC
February 2, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in MA
February 23, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in MN
March 22, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in NY
March 29, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in FL
April 12, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in IL
April 19, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in CA
April 26, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in NY
May 12, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in GA
May 18, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in DC
June 7, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in MA
June 23, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in CA
June 23, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in IL
July 14, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in TX
July 26, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in CA
August 2, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in GA
August 16, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in MA
August 23, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in DC
October 6, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in CA
October 18, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in IL
October 20, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in TX
November 3, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in NY
November 8, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in CA
November 8, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in GA
November 15, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in AZ
November 30, 2004
WorldatWork

T1: Total Rewards Management
in IL
December 6, 2004
WorldatWork

T6: Mergers and Acquisitions: Benefits, Compensation and Other HR Issues
in CA
March 8, 2004
WorldatWork

T6: Mergers and Acquisitions: Benefits, Compensation and Other HR Issues
in MA
April 26, 2004
WorldatWork

T6: Mergers and Acquisitions: Benefits, Compensation and Other HR Issues
in NY
June 2, 2004
WorldatWork

T6: Mergers and Acquisitions: Benefits, Compensation and Other HR Issues
in IL
June 28, 2004
WorldatWork

T6: Mergers and Acquisitions: Benefits, Compensation and Other HR Issues
in DC
October 6, 2004
WorldatWork

T6: Mergers and Acquisitions: Benefits, Compensation and Other HR Issues
in GA
October 19, 2004
WorldatWork

T6: Mergers and Acquisitions: Benefits, Compensation and Other HR Issues
in TX
November 3, 2004
WorldatWork

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Newly Posted Press Releases
( Post Yours! )

Alexander Hamilton Institute Releases Results Of National Survey Of Paid Time Off Practices
(Alexander Hamilton Institute)

Joint Statement from Albertsons, Ralphs and Vons Regarding Labor Negotiations
(Albertsons, Ralphs, Vons)

Labor Department Proposes Amendment To Exemption on Securities Lending
(U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration)

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