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8/10 - In This Issue
Reform Could Accelerate Shift to High-Deductible Plans
Risk Management Services Newsletter
Lower Your Auto Insurance Costs
Sorting Fact From Fiction on Health Care Reform
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Legislative/Regulatory Issues
 
HHS Issues Regulations on Temporary High Risk Pool

HHS has issued interim final regulations on the high risk pool program, known as the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) program. By way of background, the health care reform law requires HHS to establish (directly or through contracts with States or nonprofit entities) a temporary high risk health insurance program to provide affordable health insurance coverage to uninsured individuals with preexisting conditions until 2014, when the exchanges established under health care reform become available. The regulations address administration of the program, eligibility and enrollment, benefits, oversight, and funding.  Click here to visit healthcare.gov for more information on the new Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.
 
Agencies Provide More Rules on Health Care Reform

Late July saw two more Interim Final Rules on the health care reform law.  On July 19th, the DOL and Departments of Treasury and HHS issued guidance on preventive health services.  Four days later, the same departments issued guidance on internal claims and appeals and external review processes.  Click here to continue.
 
How Will PPACA Affect Small, Medium and Large Businesses?
 
The new health care reform law will have different implications for employers depending upon their size and whether they currently offer health insurance to their workers. No new requirements are imposed on small employers (50 workers or less) but new health insurance alternatives will be available to them. Slightly larger employers may face some new requirements related to their workers' health insurance coverage but will also have access to new insurance options. Larger firms are unlikely to experience significant changes in the coverage they provide but may face higher costs associated with increased take-up of the policies that they offer.  Click here to continue.

Key Notification and Communication Requirements in Health Care Reform

You've likely been focusing mostly on the plan design and administration requirements of health care reform. But, the law has a series of new notification and communication requirements that start this year and extend over the next several years.  Click here to continue.
 
DOL Issues Wider, More Liberal Interpretation of 'Parents' Under FMLA

Employers will need to take a more liberal view of the definition of a 'parent' under the Family and Medical Leave Act in light of a new Labor Department administrative interpretation.  Click here to continue.
 
 
Benefit Trends

Reform Could Accelerate Shift to High-Deductible Plans

High deductible plans, with or without an attached savings account, may provide the best flexibility to meet the coverage limits - both minimum and maximum - inherent in the health reform legislation.  Click here to continue.

Health Care Reform: Open Enrollment Communications

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, includes a series of significant changes that are relevant to employer-provided group health plans. Some of these changes take effect for plan years beginning on and after September 23, 2010. As a result, plan sponsors will need to update enrollment materials and participant communications for the upcoming plan year.  Click here to continue.

Coping with Open Enrollment

HR leaders can help employees make more thoughtful selections and improve health behaviors by crafting communications plans that target workers year-round.  Click here to continue.
 
Obesity Fight Shifts to Prevention

Rodney Brooks jokes he was born a 180-pound baby because he can't remember ever weighing less than that.  Click here to continue.
 
Health FSAs: Growing Stronger, Facing Changes

Health care reform arrived in March 2010, via the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but the effect on Health FSAs will arrive in two future stages:  January 1, 2011, and January 1, 2013. Based on the findings of a recent survey, Health FSAs appear strong enough to endure the changes.  Click here to continue.

Most Employers to Retain Health Care Benefits, Study Shows

While the vast majority of employers are rethinking their health benefits strategies in response to the passage of federal health care reform law, only a fraction are considering dropping benefits entirely, a survey by Fidelity Investments has revealed.  In a survey of 459 employers conducted June 10-30, Boston-based Fidelity's benefits consulting group found that 84 percent of employers are taking a close look at their benefit packages in light of the health care reform law.  Click here to continue.
 
Don't Let Golden Years Be Tarnished

Two recent surveys highlight the need for employees to be better educated about medical costs in retirement.  Click here to continue.
 
Key Ingredients in Dental Benefits Plans That Employees Value

"But we've always done it that way."  While that may be an adequate justification for some decisions, the selection of a group dental plan is not among them.  Sticking with tradition may seem to be the safest or least disruptive course of action, but doing so may not be helpful to improving employees' dental health, not to mention the value delivered by the plan itself.  Click here to continue.
 
Pediatric, Specialty Drugs Drive RX Trends

Employers with prescription drug benefits should take notice that more American children are taking prescription drugs, according to the research by Medco.  In its 2010 Drug Trend Report, Medco researchers found that growth in prescription drug use among children was almost four times higher than the increase seen in the general population.  The use of antipsychotic, diabetes and asthma drugs over the past nine years drove the spike.  Click here to continue.
 
4 Tips for Giving Your Business Retirement Plan a Check-Up - Before the IRS Does!

When you think about retirement plans, you don't tend to think IRS.  But if your business operates a retirement plan for its employees then the IRS, and of course your employees, expect that you keep it in good shape and optimized for the best financial return.  Click here to continue.
 
Risk Management
 
Risk Management Services Newsletter

Click here to read the most recent issue.
 
SEC Pushes Companies for More Risk Information
 
The Securities and Exchange Commission has been prodding companies in recent reviews of regulatory filings to provide more information about the risks they face.  Click here to continue.

Crisis-Shaken Executives Sharpen Focus on Risk

Corporate leaders are focusing more attention on risk management after excessive risk-taking during the boom times helped bring about the global financial crisis, according to a survey of senior executives by Korn/Ferry International, the world's largest recruiting firm.  Click here to continue.
 
EPA Tightens the Reins on Protection from Lead

A new EPA rule removes a provision from existing regulations that allowed owner-occupants of pre-1978 homes to "opt-out" of having their contractors follow lead-safe work practices if there were no children under six years of age in the home.  The EPA has eliminated the opt-out provision because improper renovations in older homes can create lead hazards resulting in harmful health effects for residents and visitors in these homes, regardless of age.  Click here to continue.
 
Work Zone: Best Practices When Driving

The majority of road work takes place on existing roads already carrying traffic.  Click here to read more on best practices when driving through work zones.
 
Tips to Avoid Se.xual Harassment Problems

Hewlett-Packard said Mark Hurd did not violate the company's sexual-harassment policy, but the unfolding drama raises questions: What does constitute sexual harassment, and how should firms address the issue?  Click here to continue.
 
Copiers: How Great are the Risks?
 
Digital copiers pose security risks that companies may not appreciate, especially smaller firms without dedicated information-security staff. But what the greatest threat is, and how high the relative risk levels are, are matters of current debate.  Click here to continue.


Personal Lines Update

Lower Your Auto Insurance Costs

Automobile insurance premiums often take a big bite out of a family's budget. You may, however, be paying too much for this coverage. The following are several approaches you can use to reduce your auto insurance costs.  Click here to continue.

Of Interest

Sorting Fact from Fiction on Health Care Reform

While much of the health care overhaul won't take effect for years, small business owners have concerns about the new rules.  Here are four of their biggest issues.  Click here to continue.

Aetna Global Benefits: Healthcare News

Click here to read a report on healthcare issues around the world.

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