HHS Imposes First HIPAA Civil Money Penalty of $4.3 mil.lion
"Although [HHS] has entered into financial settlements before, this marks the first time it has issued a civil money penalty under HIPAA, and the penalty is significantly higher than previous financial settlements." (Warner Norcross & Judd LLP)

The 8th Annual World Health Care Congress (WHCC). April 4-6, 2011 (advert.)

The 8th Annual World Health Care Congress (WHCC) is World Congress' flagship event in which over 1,800 health care, government and corporate leaders formulate solutions to the challenges of health care cost, quality and delivery.

Lawmakers Vote to Eliminate Salaries for Some Federal Workers
"Though lawmakers failed to advance proposals to freeze federal employees' step increases and bonuses, the House-passed bill funding agencies for the rest of fiscal 2011 would eliminate salaries for workers involved in health care reform and for some political appointees." (Government Executive)

$241 Mil.lion to Seven States to Boost Information Technology in Health Reform
"On February 16, the Department of Health and Human Services announced the award of seven cooperative agreements to help a group of 'Early Innovator' states design and implement the information technology infrastructure needed to operate Health Insurance Exchanges." (Wolters Kluwer)

A Reprieve for a Private Insurance Medicare Option Democrats Despise
"Last Friday, Health and Human Services released its annual 'call letter,' which introduces the formula that will set Medicare rates for 2012. Out of nowhere, per capita Medicare Advantage payments will increase by 1.6% on average." (The Wall Street Journal)

Shared Medical Decision Making: A Briefing
"The relationship between patients and doctors has been changing from the traditional model in which a doctor decides on a treatment course without significant patient input. . . . One way to facilitate shared decision making is through the use of decision support tools, which offer the patient high quality medical information in an easily understandable format. [The full webcast and podcast for this briefing, as well as videos of individual speakers' presentations, are provided.]" (Alliance for Health Reform)

Outsource benefits tasks by selecting a vendor from our online directory (advert.)

Advertise your service or product in our online Vendor Directory -- a basic listing is FREE! Click to add a basic listing. Or purchase a premium listing to display your logo and a generous text description.

Telecommuting Now Atlanta Area's Main Alternative to Driving Solo
"For the first time, state data shows teleworking has surpassed all alternatives to solo driving here as a main commute, including carpooling and mass transit." (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Memorial Service for Nell Hennessy Tomorrow (Sat. Feb. 26) in D.C.
"Nell Hennessy, Chief Executive Officer of Fiduciary Counselors Inc., died at her home in Washington, DC, on February 4, 2011 of metastatic endometrial cancer. . . . A memorial service celebrating Nell's life will be will be on Saturday, February 26, at 11:00am, at St. Joseph's on Capitol Hill Catholic Church [313 Second St, NE], followed by a reception. There is an UPDATE/CHANGE to the reception location -- The reception will be at the Powerscourt [located at the Phoenix Park Hotel near Union Station, at 520 North Capitol St, NW, 2nd floor of the Dubliner Restaurant]. Condolences to the family may be sent in care of Fiduciary Counselors Inc., 700 12th St. NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005." (FiduciaryCounselors.com)

Washington Post Obituary for Nell Hennessy, Online Guest Book; Link to CUA Donations Site
"Ellen Anne Hennessy (Nell) . . . was a nationally recognized expert on the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and a tireless champion for the rights of plan participants and pension plans. She was a model and mentor to many in the field of employee benefits and worked to educate both lawyers and other benefits professionals in the intricacies of employee benefits law and practice. . . . Donations in her honor may be made to The Nell Hennessy Employee Benefits Scholar Award at the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America, Office of Development and Alumni Relations [which has an online donation form at https://secure.cua.edu/donate/placeOrder.cfm?productType=1&productID=50&submit=Donate+Now ]" (Washington Post (free registration required))

D.C.-Area Plant Society Fondly Remembers Member Nell Hennessy
"This Chapter will never be the same. Nell is gone. . . . She would be the first to admit she wasn't a grower but she was an important part of everything we did. Always friendly, she greeted visitors and made them feel we couldn't go on without them. There was no job too big or small for her to take it on. We want coffee -- she does it. We need to run a convention -- done. Any problem -- she would find the solution. At one show an exhibitor canceled a flower arrangement at the last minute and the niches were already placed. She denied having any talent but put a design together with materials she gleaned from others and won best in show. She didn't do any of this for her own glory, she just did the work to get it done." (Petal Tones (The National Capital Area Chapter of The Gesneriad Society))

SEC Staff Guidance Clarifies Say-on-Pay Rules
"Seven new SEC staff Compliance & Disclosure Interpretations provide guidance on the final say-on-pay rules adopted Jan. 25 under the Dodd-Frank Act." (Mercer LLC)

DOJ Deems DOMA Unconstitutional
"The DOMA defines a legal spouse, for federal law purposes, only as a lawfully married member of the opposite se.x." (E Is for ERISA)

How Can Fringe Benefits Cost Nearly As Much As a Worker's Salary? Answer: Collective Bargaining
"The showdown in Wisconsin over fringe benefits for public employees boils down to one number: 74.2. That's how many cents the public pays Milwaukee public-school teachers and other employees for retirement and health benefits for every dollar they receive in salary. The corresponding rate for employees of private firms is 24.3 cents." (The Wall Street Journal)

ERIC Urges Regulators to Support Policies that Encourage Workplace Wellness Programs (ERIC (ERISA Industry Committee))

Collective Bargaining: What It Is and Its Place in Wisconsin?s History (International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans)

Aetna Launches New International Health Plans to Make Health Care Accessible and Affordable (Aetna)

Aetna Members Now Have Access to Non-Urgent Care Consultations by Phone (Aetna)

Charlie Palmer Restaurant Executive Joins Healthcare Performance Management Institute Board (Healthcare Performance Management Institute)

New Treasury Rule Protects Social Security, VA, Other Federal Benefits (National Consumer Law Center)

Glacial Ridge Health System Improves Community Wellness with Healthland Electronic Health Records Solution (Healthland)

Pension Analyst in TX for Milliman

Defined Contribution Administrator in GA for Qualified Plan Administrators, Inc.

Retirement Plan Administrator in WI for Kolb+Co

Manager of Client Services in OH for Tegrit Group / Summit Retirement Plan Services, Inc.

TPA Regional Manager in CA, CO, IA, KS, MN, MO, NM, NV, OR, WA for Transamerica Retirement Services Corporation

Qualified Plan Sales Consultant in CA for Jordan & Associates Retirement Services

VP, Partner Optimization & Development (Eastern Region) in CT for Prudential

Pension/401(k) Specialist in WI for CUNA Mutual

Qualified Plan Specialist in WI for CUNA Mutual

Senior 401(k) / DC Plan Admin Specialist in WI for CUNA Mutual

Retirement Plan Consultant in NY for Boutique Benefits Consulting Firm

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"403(b) Terminations: What We Know and Want to Know" Web Seminar Nationwide on March 16, 2011 presented by SunGard Relius