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=========================================================== BenefitsLink Welfare Plans Newsletter (Plain Text Format) December 10, 2004 =========================================================== We thank and invite your attention to today's sponsor: World Congress =========================================================== World Congress Leadership Summit on Disease Management and Chronic Care (Advert.) <URL:http://benefitslink.com/cgi/a_d.cgi?a_d=2004_12_10_welfare> http://benefitslink.com/cgi/a_d.cgi?a_d=2004_12_10_welfare (Click on above address, or copy and paste it into your web browser, to learn more.) The 1st Annual World Congress Leadership Summit on Disease Management and Chronic Care presents the nation's best practices and thought leaders in implementing successful disease management programs that produce positive clinical and financial outcomes. The conference agenda is designed to address the market demands from employers and public purchasers as well as the leading edge programs offered by health care insurers and providers. (Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor) ---------------------------------------------------------- Overview: Congress Tinkers with Definition of 'Dependent'; IRS Fixes Technical Glitch <URL:http://www.dwt.com/practc/empservices/bulletins/12-04_DependentDefinition.htm> http://www.dwt.com/practc/empservices/bulletins/12-04_DependentDefinition.htm Excerpt: "The IRS Notice will allow some domestic partners and other non-children to continue to qualify as dependents for purposes of tax-free health plan coverage." (Davis Wright Tremaine LLP) ---------------------------------------------------------- Medical Cost Reference Guide (PDF) <URL:http://www.bcbsa.com/mcrg/mcrg_full.pdf> http://www.bcbsa.com/mcrg/mcrg_full.pdf October 2004 revision. Excerpt: "A comprehensive collection of healthcare cost data addressing the critically important national issue -- access to affordable healthcare.... [W]e are happy to be releasing our third annual Medical Cost Reference Guide, which brings together some of the best secondary research available on the key drivers of healthcare costs." (Blue Cross Blue Shield Association) ---------------------------------------------------------- Link to Consumer Reports Site: 'Best Buy Drugs' <URL:http://www.crbestbuydrugs.org/> http://www.crbestbuydrugs.org/ Excerpt: "Reports and information to guide consumers and doctors in making more cost-effective pres.cription drug choices." (Consumer Reports) ---------------------------------------------------------- Opinion: Obesity Problem Shrinks <URL:http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20041208-094250-2569r.htm> http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20041208-094250-2569r.htm Excerpt: "The obesity scare needed to take off a few pounds, and sure enough, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention obliged.... It turns out that mathematical errors padded the death toll. The CDC isn't sure what the actual number was." (William Murchison in the Washington Times) ========================================================== Links To Items on Executive Comp, Benefits In General ---------------------------------------------------------- AARP Surveys Virginia Businesses About Plans for Older Workers <URL:http://research.aarp.org/econ/va_workers.html> http://research.aarp.org/econ/va_workers.html Excerpt: "Given their desire to keep skilled workers and their positive evaluation of older workers' solid experience in the job or industry, Virginia businesses should be considering strategies to retain older workers. Yet, this AARP survey of 1,056 businesses in the Old Dominion found that ..." (AARP Research) ---------------------------------------------------------- Recommended Action Steps for Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans of Tax-Exempt Employers <URL:http://www.hansonbridgett.com/newsletters/EmployeeBenefitsUpdate/EBenefitsNov04_b.html> http://www.hansonbridgett.com/newsletters/EmployeeBenefitsUpdate/EBenefitsNov04_b.html Excerpt: "Below are a few examples of the effects of the Act on nonqualified deferred compensation plans (NQDCPs) maintained by tax-exempt organizations: ..." (Hanson Bridgett) ---------------------------------------------------------- Overview: Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans for Tax-Exempt Employers <URL:http://www.hansonbridgett.com/newsletters/EmployeeBenefitsUpdate/EBenefitsNov04_a.html> http://www.hansonbridgett.com/newsletters/EmployeeBenefitsUpdate/EBenefitsNov04_a.html Excerpt: "This Act, which is effective January 1, 2005, will adversely affect many executives of tax-exempt organizations. Every participant in a NQDCP could suffer severe tax penalties if the new rules are not met." (Hanson Bridgett) ---------------------------------------------------------- USERRA Did Not Afford Military Reservists 'Escalator' Protection <URL:http://www.cypen.com/pubs/12-04/2004dec09.htm#4> http://www.cypen.com/pubs/12-04/2004dec09.htm#4 Excerpt: "Fifteen employees of the San Antonio Fire Department who are members of either the United States military reserves or the National Guard ... asserted that the City's collective bargaining agreement and policies regarding military leave of absence deprived them of straight and overtime pay, opportunities to earn extra vacation leave and vacation scheduling flexibility and opportunities to secure unscheduled overtime work and job upgrades." (Cypen & Cypen) ---------------------------------------------------------- Overview: New IRS Rulings Include Signing Bonuses and Cancellation of Contract Payments as 'Wages' (PDF) <URL:http://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/New%20IRS%20Rulings%20for%20Bonuses%20and%20Contract%20payments%20_review_….pdf> http://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/New%20IRS%20Rulings%20for%20Bonuses%20and%20Contract%20payments%20_review_….pdf 3 pages. Excerpt: "On November 23, the IRS released Revenue Rulings 2004 109 and 2004-110, in which it expanded the definition of 'wages' for employment tax purposes (Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), Federal Unemployment Tax Act, and Federal income tax withholding)." (Morgan Lewis) ========================================================== Newly Posted Events Advanced IRAs 2005 in North Dakota on January 19, 2005 presented by BISYS Retirement Services <URL:http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39006> http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39006 Advanced IRAs 2005 in Minnesota on January 19, 2005 presented by BISYS Retirement Services <URL:http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39001> http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39001 Advanced IRAs 2005 in North Dakota on January 21, 2005 presented by BISYS Retirement Services <URL:http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39009> http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39009 Advanced IRAs 2005 in Minnesota on January 21, 2005 presented by BISYS Retirement Services <URL:http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39003> http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39003 Annual Benefits Fair And Trade Show in Massachusetts on May 25, 2005 presented by New England Employee Benefits Council <URL:http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39004> http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39004 Basic IRAs 2005 in Minnesota on January 18, 2005 presented by BISYS Retirement Services <URL:http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39000> http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39000 Basic IRAs 2005 in North Dakota on January 18, 2005 presented by BISYS Retirement Services <URL:http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39005> http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39005 Basic IRAs 2005 in North Dakota on January 20, 2005 presented by BISYS Retirement Services <URL:http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39008> http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39008 Basic IRAs 2005 in Minnesota on January 20, 2005 presented by BISYS Retirement Services <URL:http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39002> http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39002 IRA Online Institute Nationwide on January 17, 2005 presented by BISYS Retirement Services <URL:http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=38999> http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=38999 Mercer's HIPAA Security Rule Web Briefing Recording Nationwide on December 10, 2004 presented by Mercer Human Resource Consulting <URL:http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39010> http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39010 Plan Structure Nationwide on January 25, 2005 presented by NAGCDA (National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators, Inc.) <URL:http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39011> http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39011 Seventh Annual "Best Practices" Conference in Massachusetts on December 8, 2005 presented by New England Employee Benefits Council <URL:http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39007> http://benefitslink.com/events/detail.php?id=39007 Post yours! http://benefitslink.com/events/eventmaint.php ========================================================== Newly Posted Press Releases Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement Convenes National Symposium (Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER)) http://benefitslink.com/pr/detail.php?id=38503 Consumer Reports Launches Public Education Campaign to Help Consumers Save on Medicines (Consumers Union) http://benefitslink.com/pr/detail.php?id=38505 Prudential Retirement Introduces Fiduciary Protection Program; Comprehensive New Program of Tools and Services Helps Plan Sponsors Manage the `New Realities' of Fiduciary Risk (Prudential Financial, Inc.) http://benefitslink.com/pr/detail.php?id=38507 Comptroller General To Appoint Members of New Citizens' Health Care Working Group (U.S. Government Accountability Office) http://benefitslink.com/pr/detail.php?id=38504 After A Quarter Century Trial, The Results Are In: Chile's Private Pension System Has Failed (Center for Alternative National Development (CENDA) http://benefitslink.com/pr/detail.php?id=38506 Post yours! http://benefitslink.com/pr/maint.php ========================================================== Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings Retirement Plan Wholesaler for Retirement Marketing Specialists in DC, DE, MD, PA, VA http://benefitslink.com/modperl/show_a_job.cgi?database_id=H41203 Recordkeeper/401(k) Administrator for ATR, Inc. in PA http://benefitslink.com/modperl/show_a_job.cgi?database_id=H41206 Third Party Pension Administrator for Schiller's Pension Consulting in CA http://benefitslink.com/modperl/show_a_job.cgi?database_id=H41208 Senior Employee Benefits Analyst - Retirement for Automobile Club of Southern California in CA http://benefitslink.com/modperl/show_a_job.cgi?database_id=H40714 Post yours! http://benefitslink.com/jobs/post_help_wanted.html =========================================================== Subscribe to the BenefitsLink Retirement Plans Newsletter, Too Sign-up form is at: <URL:http://benefitslink.com/newsletter/> http://benefitslink.com/newsletter =========================================================== Copyright 2004 BenefitsLink.com, Inc.; except that you can forward this email in full (if you also include this boilerplate part) or otherwise reprint this email in full (if you include this boilerplate part) without obtaining our permission. 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