HMSA e-mail riles benefits trust fund Nov 15, 2009
The plans were designed by an EUTF consultant and participants had their choice of plan administrators either HMSA or HMA, which is a sister company of Summerlin Life h Insurance Co., an HMSA competitor that entered the Hawai'i market five years ago. HMSA had the bulk of the business under this arrangement, with HMA only administering claims and other work for about 1,300 members. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Sham Divorces? Not for a Retirement Plan Administrator to Decide, Says Judge Oct 24, 2009
An Oct. 19 ruling by a U.S. District Court judge in an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA ) case demonstrates that retirement plan administrators are in a bad spot when confronted with beneficiaries whom they suspect of gaming the system to access retirement payments, several experts say. The case, The Continental Pilots Retirement Administrative Committee, et al. v. Glenn Brown, et al., involves a group of Continental Airlines senior pilots who allegedly obtained "sham divorces" to... (Law.com)
How would the public option outcompete private enterprise? Sep 30, 2009
The benefit for the employer ranges from less paperwork and no more plan administrators. They will toss all that overboard in a heartbeat. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
TAX FREE: Health expense accounts could face cuts Sep 23, 2009
Some health plan administrators are distressed that Congress may scale back such accounts. Administrators have started a campaign to preserve the flexibility in the plans. (USA Today -- Money)
JC School Board to consider drug dogs Sep 21, 2009
News Tribune - Local News. The Information you need. (Jefferson City News Tribune, MO)
Outside trustee can ease family tension Sep 15, 2009
-- Require 401(k) plan administrators to offer at least one low-cost index fund in order to receive liability protection against participants' investment losses. -- Require service providers to disclose financial relationships so employers sponsoring 401(k) plans can be sure there are no conflicts of interest. (Fresno Bee -- Business)
Stimulus scams Sep 8, 2009
For pension plan administrators, new optional withholding procedures are available to supplement the February withholding tables. Work Opportunity tax credit - This newly-expanded credit adds returning veterans and disconnected youth to the list of new hires covered by the credit that businesses may claim. (The Clarion-Ledger)
Too early to see cuts' effects on higher ed in Georgia Aug 24, 2009
ATLANTA --- Budget cutbacks have hit every facet of state government from troopers to social workers, and the 35 public colleges and universities haven't been exempt. Parents, students and taxpayers might worry the cuts could be so substantial that schools will be permanently weakened and lose some of their standing. (The Augusta Chronicle)
IVCC Board 7-23 Aug 8, 2009
A contract with Great American Plan Administrators, Inc. as a third party administrator for the college;s 403(b) plan. Separate bids totaling $746,200 from Vanguard Contractors of Pekin for restroom modifications ($610,500), replacement of the gym;s exterior doors, security cameras for the new Truck Driver Training Center and security surveillance improvements. (Princeton Bureau County Republican, IL)
Viiad has the ticket for cutting health-care prices Jul 28, 2009
Viiad s customers include health insurers, third-party health plan administrators and employers, particularly those who self-fund their health benefits. Last month, Premier Access PPO Inc., a national preferred provider network from California, and , a national employee benefits administrator in Illinois, were among the health-ticket platform s new customers. (Philadelphia Business Journal, PA)
Richmond County business licenses Jul 13, 2009
Qualified Plan Administrators Inc.. 306 Sixth St.. (The Augusta Chronicle)
School board nixes administrative bonuses Jun 24, 2009
By Christian Schiavone/Staff Writer. Tue Jun 23, 2009, 12:19 PM EDT. (Acton Beacon, MA)
As markets roil, ETFs take an active tack Jun 21, 2009
They ve barely made a dent in 401(k)s, in part because plan administrators back offices haven t adjusted operations to handle the unique way ETFs are bought and sold. Despite ETFs complexities, it could be just a matter of time before 401(k)s adapt to include ETFs on their investment menus. (Boston Globe)
Simple checklist can help ensure compliance with new SEC regs May 26, 2009
Arrange notification procedures with brokers, dealers and plan administrators ... Therefore, companies should immediately consult with brokers, dealers and plan administrators to address these accelerated filing requirements ... In addition, notification procedures should be in place to obligate plan administrators to advise the issuer and the insider immediately following the execution of a transaction. (Pittsburgh Business Times, PA)
Be careful when comparing target-date funds May 17, 2009
The funds are relatively new, and their complexities are so great that new comparison tools from such names as Morningstar, Dow Jones, and J.P. Morgan are geared toward financial advisers and retirement plan administrators, not individual investors. For investors with the freedom to pick among the more than 40 companies now offering target-date products, good luck. (Boston Globe)
Evercore Partners Establishes Evercore Trust Company to Extend Investment Management Platform Apr 30, 2009
Headquartered in New York with additional offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., Evercore Trust Company will employ 29 people, including relationship managers, plan administrators, financial analysts and in-house legal counsel. Evercore Trust Company also will benefit from a distinguished Board of Directors that includes the following independent members: Maureen S. Bateman, General Counsel of Manhattanville College and former General Counsel of State Street Corporation; Anthony G. Van... (PR Newswire)
11th Circuit: Doctors Don't Trump State on Medicaid Care for Children With Disabilities Apr 28, 2009
Despite a slew of amicus briefs by state governments and Medicaid plan administrators, the panel dispatched the case in a two-page, unpublished, unsigned opinion that came out a month after oral argument. partner Robert S. Highsmith Jr., who represented a pro-state friend of the court that provides managed care services for Medicaid programs, said his client, , had been concerned about language in U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr.'s ruling that suggested anything ordered by a treating... (Law.com)
Humana CEO named Texas Business Woman of the Year Apr 10, 2009
Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is one of the nation s largest health plan administrators. The company is based in Louisville, Ky. (San Antonio Business Journal, TX)
County health plan retrieves records Mar 25, 2009
Plan administrators said in the release that, should a member not like the chosen doctor, he or she can change. At an information table on the sidewalk in front of the closed CFMC facility Thursday and Friday, health plan staff answered questions about the closure of the clinic, and helped members choose new doctors. (Half Moon Bay Review, CA)
Lawmakers say 401(k) rules allow conflicts Mar 25, 2009
If changes take effect, retirement plan administrators could advise investors ... WASHINGTON - Labor Department rules allowing retirement plan administrators to offer specific investment advice permit conflicts of interest and should be withdrawn, House Democrats said at a hearing yesterday ... The Labor Department previously had restricted plan administrators to general education about investments without making specific recommendations, in part to limit conflicts of interest. (Boston Globe)
Medicaid Suit Could Determine Who Decides Care: Doctor or State Mar 25, 2009
State governments and Medicaid plan administrators have shown keen interest in a case argued before Atlanta's federal appeals court on Tuesday that could determine whether doctors or state officials get to decide how much medical care a Medicaid recipient needs. But at the center of the case is a young disabled girl living in North Georgia. (Law.com)
New subsidy for COBRA will help some of the unemployed remain insured Mar 19, 2009
Some plan administrators may require a separate application for the subsidy. You should then start seeing reduced monthly bills. (Boston Globe)
Rated F for Failure Mar 17, 2009
Fund sponsors, pension plan administrators and insurance regulators should remove ratings-based criteria. The financial markets can function without letter ratings. (International Herald Tribune -- Ed/Op)
Bankruptcy matters Mar 5, 2009
Talk to your health and retirement plan administrators as early as possible, and obtain copies of all plan documents. Be aware that bankruptcy proceedings involve many complicated deadlines. (San Antonio Business Journal, TX)
Spectrum Pension Consultants, Inc. Opposes Washington State Senate Bill SB 5791 Mar 5, 2009
Initiation of a state-run 401(k) program would put the state of Washington in direct competition with scores of private financial services providers and retirement plan administrators across the state and could conceivably result in the loss of hundreds of jobs the state can ill afford to lose. Finally, employers cite lack of education about available options and not wanting to commit to making contributions for employees each year as reasons for not offering 401(k) plans. (PR Newswire)
RBC acquires full ownership of Commission Direct Mar 3, 2009
RBC stated that the transaction gives CDI the ability to continue to offer professional investors unbiased access to qualified investment decision-making and trading services and plan administrators the ability to save money. Recommend this article. (Globe and Mail -- Business)
Blue Cross: Profit is slim Mar 1, 2009
Blue Cross said in its statement that it "supports the public disclosure of information contained in the contract to administer the State Health Plan, and has indicated this position to State Health Plan administrators.". or 919-829-4861. (News & Observer)
