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The McCart Group Newsletter
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Risk Management & Insurance news for the well-informed business leader
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August 2013
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Greetings!
Please take a moment to respond to this month's poll question if you are interested.
What Do You Know?
Last month, we asked:
If you have employees that work in the heat, do you have a plan in place to recognize and address the signs of heat-related illnesses?
40% Yes, we have a full program including awareness training, breaks, & cool water; 40% Yes, supervisors and workers are trained to recognize, report, and treat; 0% No, but we have signs posted about the dangers; 20% No, we are currently working on a heat safety plan.
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Are You Registered for this Important Event on Aug. 20th?
Benefits Survey Results and Healthcare Reform Update
 Many of you already have already registered for the seminar and we look forward to seeing you there! Only a few spaces are left, so register early! Join The McCart Group for our annual presentation of the private sector Benefits Survey Results from Milliman AND a Healthcare Reform Update from Compliance Expert, Bob Radecki.
When: Tuesday, August 20th from 11:00 - 2:00
Where: Villa Christina at Perimeter Summit, 4000 Summit Boulevard, Atlanta 30319
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Employer Services
Group Benefits Consulting
Payroll & Benefits Administration
Health Management & Wellness
Compliance / Health Reform
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Five Things to Know About the Delayed PPACA Mandate
The delay in the employer mandate in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act gives companies an additional year before they must offer medical coverage to their workers or pay a fine.
What does the delay mean for benefits managers? If you're at the head of an HR department, what should you be doing and thinking about?
- LifeHealthPro
Related Article:
As additional details and requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) emerge, The McCart Group will update you on provisions and deadlines that affect employers and employer-sponsored group health plans.
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Government Launches BusinessUSA.com - A "One-Stop" Resource for U.S. Businesses
 Thursday, August 1st, the Obama administration launched a beta version of a new website called BusinessUSA.com to provide an educational resource for employers of all sizes to help them find guidance around many business issues, including the healthcare reform law.
BusinessUSA is a product of collective thoughts and inputs from multiple government agencies who have pledged their commitment to making this site a one-stop shop for everything related to business in the USA.
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NAHU: Employer Mandate Delay 'Necessary' Despite $12 Billion Cost
 A National Association of Health Underwriters spo keswoman says that while there are "short-term financial repercussions" to the employer mandate delay, "we believe this delay was necessary to continue the economic upturn we have seen in the past few months and ensure that American businesses will be able to provide their employees with the health insurance they want and need in the long term."
- Employee Benefit Adviser
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| DOMA Decision Raises as Many Questions as Answers
 The Supreme Court decision that struck down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act and required the federal government to recognize same-sex marriage will have far-reaching implications for employee benefit plans.
In 1996, Congress enacted the DOMA, which defined marriage as "only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.
. . ." Last week's decision declared that section of DOMA to be unconstitutional, so couples that have married in states that recognize same-sex marriage are now entitled to the same federal protections and privileges that come with traditional marriage, including in the employee benefits arena.
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Employer Services
Have Questions?
Our Benefits and Payroll professionals at The McCart Group can provide you with additional information on any of the topics covered under the Employer Services section of the newsletter.
We use an integrated approach to design and implement employee benefit plans, payroll & benefit administration services, technology- based HR information systems, and health management and wellness programs. For more information, call 770-232-0202 or visit www.mccart.com today! |
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Risk Management & Insurance
Property & Casualty Insurance
Risk Management Consulting Claims Management Risk Control & Safety |
New Safety Features That Could Soon Be on Cars
 Cameras that check around the car for pedestrians. Radar that stops you from drifting out of your lane. An engine able to turn off automatically at traffic lights to conserve fuel.
Technology that saves lives - and fuel - is getting better and cheaper. That means it's no longer confined to luxury brands like Mercedes and Volvo. It's showing up in mainstream vehicles like the Nissan Rogue and Ford Fusion.
"What we see today as slightly elitist technology is changing very, very fast," said Steven Lunn, chief operating officer for TRW Automotive, which supplies electronics and other parts to carmakers.
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Is Your Organization's Website Infecting Your Employees, Customers, and Visitors With Malware?
 Mai ntaining an uncompromised server is growing increasingly difficult as cybercriminals' skills grow more sophisticated. A favorite approach is to infiltrate legitimate web servers and use them to spread malicious software-malware-to visitors of a site. It is becoming apparent that some organizations are slow to respond when informed they have been infected. They often have malicious activity on their server weeks and even months after learning of the problem.
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OSHA Launches Safe-Patient-Handling Campaign Amid Criticism
 The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Ad ministration (OSHA) announced a campaign July 16, 2013, to prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) - including sprains, strains, and soft-tissue and back injuries-among health care workers responsible for patient care. ... OSHA is providing 2,500 employers, unions and associations in the health care industry in Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and the District of Columbia with information about how to prevent hazards such as lifting excessive weight during patient transfers and handling. - SHRM Online Safety & Security
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 The magnitude of expenses incurred in an unsafe workplace is often underestimated. The costs associated with poor safety extend far beyond simply counting costs of safety glasses or wages paid to Safety personnel.
During economic uncertainty, a common thought is: "What if we cut back on safety expenditures?" Management may conclude that their organization is spending too much on preventing injuries that may never happen. Does it really make sense to spend $100 to prevent $10 worth of injury costs in a lean manufacturing environment?
- The McCart Group, Risk Control & Safety
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Risk Management & Insurance
Have Questions?
Our P&C and Risk Management professionals at The McCart Group can provide you with additional information on any of the topics covered under the Risk Management and Insurance section of the newsletter.
Addressing the complex risk management issues and property & casualty insurance needs of public and private companies, our services include property & casualty insurance program analysis and design, merger & acquisition due diligence, workers' compensation programs, risk control, safety, and claim management. For more information, call 770-232-0202 or visit |
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Compliance Matters
DOL Tweaks 2013 Investment Disclosure Deadline
On July 22, 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced in Field Assistance Bulletin 2013-02 that it was giving sponsors and administrators of participant-directed retirement plans temporary relief from certain annual participant-disclosure requirements through a one-time "reset."
The participant-level fee-disclosure regulations that took effect in 2012 require most plan administrators to "at least annually" provide plan participants and beneficiaries with detailed investment-related information about the plans' designated investment options using comparative charts.
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
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 Health and Wellness Good health, an active lifestyle, and general well-being are important to
The McCart Group! Look here each month for links to the latest health and wellness news and information. |
The McCart Group News Clips ...
The McCart Group Named in Atlanta Business Chronicle's Top 10 Property and Casualty Insurance Brokers
The McCart Group is ranked 8th in the Atlanta Business Chronicle's 2013 list of Top 10 Property & Casualty Insurance Brokers & Agents. We feel that the commitment and dedication our  associates show to our clients and to each other is what sets us apart and has enabled us to excel in this unpredictable and unsettling economy. The McCart Group is now considered competition by the largest global and national firms in one of the most prominent insurance hubs in the nation.
That makes us extremely proud and excited about the future of our firm. Proud of how far we have come since Joe McCart started the firm in 1971 and excited about the future ahead.
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Since 1971, The McCart Group has been solving complex risk management, insurance, benefits, and payroll / administrative support problems for public and private companies. For more information, visit www.mccart.com.
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The McCart Group is proud to be the exclusive Assurex Global Partner in Georgia, since 2005. Assurex Global is an international insurance, risk management, and financial services enterprise of independent broker partners, combining the experience, expertise, products, and services of professionals around the world.
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www.mccart.com
The McCart Group 2405 Satellite Blvd. # 200
Duluth, GA 30096
770-232-0202
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This newsletter is a periodical publication of The McCart Group and should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general information purposes only, and you are urged to consult a lawyer or other professional advisor concerning your own situation and any specific facts and circumstances that apply. | |
© 2013 The McCart Group. All rights reserved. The McCart Group keeps its contact database strictly confidential.
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