[Official Guidance]
Affordable Care Act Implementation Implementation FAQs: Part VI
Six additional questions and answers pertaining to grandfathered health plans. (U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)

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Happy National Employee Benefits Day from the International Foundation! Visit www.ifebp.org/benefitsday for more information including a free podcast, helpful resources, special offers and free e-cards so you can share the Benefits Day cheer!

[Official Guidance]
Progress Report on the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, March 31, 2011 (PDF)
The report includes two appendixes: ERRP Payments by State Designated on Application, through March 17, 2011, and ERRP Payments to Approved Sponsors through March 17, 2011. (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services via American Benefits Council)

[Official Guidance]
Text of CMS Notice Regarding ERRP Application Deadline: 30-Day Clock to Start Ticking (PDF)
"This notice announces that CMS is exercising its authority under section 1102(f) of the Affordable Care Act to stop accepting applications for the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, due to the availability of funds, as of [30 days from the date this notice is published in the Federal Register, scheduled for tomorrow, April 5]." (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services via American Benefits Council)

[Guidance Overview]
Transition Guidance Issued on Form W-2 Reporting for Health Care Costs (PDF)
"This guidance shall apply until further guidance is issued, and any additional guidance shall be prospective in nature (with at least 6 month lead time for system changes). This is an important first step in providing guidance in this area, and the IRS has left the door open for additional relief following comments on this Notice." (Groom Law Group)

[Guidance Overview]
An FMLA Lineup That Keeps You in the Pennant Race
The writer outlines nine FMLA All Stars to increase your confidence in administering FMLA. (Franczek Radelet P.C.)

[Guidance Overview]
IRS Guidance on Mandatory Form W-2 Informational Reporting of Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage (PDF)
"Employers are likely to receive many questions from employees regarding the implications of the additional amounts being reported on their 2012 Form W-2s. Employers may consider providing specific notice to employees of the new reporting requirements either in advance of, or in conjunction with, the issuance of 2012 Form W-2s." (Crowell & Moring LLP via American Benefits Council)

CMS to Stop Accepting Early Retiree Reimbursement Applications
"As of March 17, CMS had approved applications submitted by nearly 5,400 plan sponsors and paid about $1.8 bil.lion in reimbursements to about 1,300 plan sponsors." (Business Insurance)

State Health Care Reform Update, April 4, 2011
"For the last few years, states have been leading the way toward more comprehensive health care coverage to ensure that more people have or can obtain health insurance." (Wolters Kluwer Law & Business)

Senate Sets Vote on House-Passed Form 1099 Repeal Bill
"The underlying bill would kill the rules requiring businesses and landlords to issue a Form 1099 for payments to corporations for goods and services that exceed $600 per year to each vendor and pay for its nearly $25 bil.lion cost by making an adjustment to the premium assistance tax credits enacted in the 2010 health care law . . . ." (Tax Management Inc.)

Defining Essential Health Care Benefits: How Much Is Too Much?
"HHS' final decisions based on . . . advice will affect options for tens of millions of people who would obtain their individual or small-group coverage through private plans in the state exchanges." (American Medical Association)

A Shift Toward Smaller Health Insurance Networks
"Thousands of employers in California and nationwide are opting for 'narrow network' HMOs, which offer notable savings on insurance premiums but also offer fewer medical providers." (Los Angeles Times)

GOP Budget Plan Would Transform Medicare
"The plan would essentially end Medicare, which now pays most of the health-care bills for 48 mil.lion elderly and disabled Americans, as a program that directly pays those bills." (The Wall Street Journal)

Poor, Pregnant, and Fired: Caregiver Discrimination Against Low-Wage Workers (PDF)
"This report provides a survey of family responsibilities discrimination . . . lawsuits that low-wage workers brought against their employers when they were unfairly penalized at work because of their caregiving responsibilities at home." (Center for WorkLife Law)

[Opinion]
Employers Would Be Smart to Examine the Costs of Eldercare
"It has been proven that employees dealing with eldercare issues cost a business an additional 8%-11% in annual healthcare costs. Some examples of conditions brought on by caring for an ill parent or spouse are hypertension, depression, stress, obesity, immune suppression, etc." (WGA InsureBlog)

Academic Study Dispels Foolish Notions on Compensation
"Contrary to previous studies, which attempt to relate certain executive compensation practices to the creation of shareholder value, this work demonstrates beyond reproach the true elements of shareholder value creation." (Michael S. Melbinger via Winston & Strawn LLP)

Celebrate Financial Literacy Month
"April marks the beginning of Financial Literacy Month, a time during the year when we can all take a few minutes to brush up on our financial knowledge to make the most of our money." (WISER)

Alliance Benefit Group Adds Ingham Retirement Group in Southeast U.S. (Alliance Benefit Group)

How Many Workers Are Postponing Retirement? Why? (Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI))

ING Chosen as a New Service Provider for Howard University Retirement Savings Program (ING Retirement Services)

Do Employees Recognize the Value of the Benefits You Provide? (Colonial Life)

Business and Psychology Come Together at Psychologically Healthy Workplace Conference (American Psychological Association)

Account Manager in TX for Nova 401(k) Associates

Marketing Annuity Communications Specialist in MA for Boston Financial Data Services

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2011 Psychologically Healthy Workplace Conference in Illinois on April 8, 2011 presented by American Psychological Association

Checking the Pulse on Health Savings Accounts Nationwide on April 21, 2011 presented by TRI-AD

Raise the Impact of Your 401(k) Through Effective Communications Nationwide on May 19, 2011 presented by TRI-AD