Pension & Benefits Reporter Index-Summary

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT (HHS)

– Daschle nomination, hearing scheduled, 10; withdraws name, 298
– Health reform office announced, 1227
– Sebelius nominated, 552; Baucus (D-Mont) supports, 842; Senate finance panel to vote, 960; Senate approves, 1082
– Surgeon General nominated, 1702

HEALTH CARE

– COBRA

See COBRA

– Costs

See HEALTH CARE COSTS

– E-health

See E-HEALTH

– Health insurance

See HEALTH INSURANCE

– HIPAA

See HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (HIPAA)

– Medical records privacy

See HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (HIPAA)

– Reform

See HEALTH CARE REFORM, FEDERAL

– SCHIP

See STATE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (SCHIP)

– Sotomayor rulings scrutinized, 1294
– Universal coverage

See UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE

HEALTH CARE COSTS

– Antitrust enforcement affects, 1704
– Average medical spending reported, 1277
– Biologics, AARP pushes follow-on legislation, 633
– Chronic illnesses increasing employer burden, 631
– Comparative effectiveness

– – Consensus sought by senators, In Brief, 1566
– – Innovation as focus urged for lawmakers, 1029
– – Rationing

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 1259

– – Reform of system urged, 1602
– – Urged in reform, In Brief, 1505

– Competitive disadvantage for U.S. firms reported, 632
– Copayment hikes tied to delayed treatment, 1081
– Disease management favored by public sector employers, 179
– Economists address costs and lagging quality, 2101
– Employer costs predicted to rise in 2010, 1498
– Family coverage

– – Employer-sponsored coverage costs estimated, 1755
– – Uninsured push up costs, 1296

– Ferris State Univ. sued by labor coalition, drug plan data sought (Mich. Cir. Ct.), 588
– First DataBank and MediSpan AWP rollback, challenge rejected (1st Cir.), 2112
– Fundamental changes in financing and delivery needed, CBO reports, 1497
– Generic drugs

– – Reverse payments

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 1706

– – Savings over decade reported, 1137; kept spending down in 2008, 1226

– Health care reform proposals

See HEALTH CARE REFORM, FEDERAL

– Incentives to cut costs, House panel hears testimony, 843
– Income growth, health care predicted to consume, 2106
– Individual coverage unaffordable for most due to out-of-pocket costs and premiums, 1759
– Medicare costs, reform across health care system needed to slow growth, reports say, 414
– Mining of health data discussed at conference, 1499
– Multiemployer plans, advice offered on managing costs, 2107
– Peterson Foundation releases projection, 2103
– Primary care improvement and lower costs, Senate hears testimony, 1083
– Recession, efforts to avoid cost hikes urged, 964
– Reducing health care share of GDP suggested, 492
– Series of reforms urged to slow growth in cost, 414
– Shift of costs to workers predicted for 2010, 2105
– Small businesses, hearings held on coverage costs, 2433
– Stakeholders promise trillions in cuts over decade, 1222
– Trends

– – CPI, inflation rate reported for 2008, 164; Feb. 2009, 679; Mar. 2009, 951; Apr. 2009, 1199; May 2009, 1482; Jun. 2009, 1682; Jul. 2009, 1900; Aug. 2009, 2180; Sep. 2009, food costs down, 2377
– – Employer-sponsored coverage premium predicted to go up in 2010, 1958; employers surveyed, 2197
– – Forecast for 2010 reported, 1955
– – Increases predicted for 2009, 409
– – Spending growth slows, 68; U.S. spending compared to other developed countries, 175; spending reported for 2008, 485
– – Technology, overuse blamed for cost hike, 1145
– – Workers benefit costs surveyed, 2345

– UnitedHealth reports savings through better use of technology and administrative simplification, 1600
– White House advisor testifies, 1565

HEALTH CARE REFORM, FEDERAL

– AARP official says reform likely in 2009, 72
– ABA white paper warns against moving away from employer-based system, 1074
– Administrative reforms pushed, 1757
– AFL-CIO chief urges health care overhaul, 304; union launches campaign, 1861
– Alexander (R-Tenn) criticizes reconciliation, 2050
– Alternative medical approaches, prevention pushed, 493
– AMA calls for reform, 1495
– America's Agenda pushes wellness programs, preventive care and reduced costs, 1428
– Andrews (D-NJ) supports employer-based system, 628; raises cost issue, 1026
– Baker and Dole, former senators offer plan, 1498
– Bargaining power key to curbing costs, policy paper urges, 897
– BCBS Ass'n addresses administrative costs, 1911
– Biden says economy cannot be fixed with health reform, 546; touts Obama speech, 2049
– Bipartisan talks continue, Baucus reports progress, 1492
– Blue dogs, In Brief, 1374
– Brookings pushed infrastructure improvement, 1861
– Budget

– – Options reviewed by CBO, 1296
– – Reconciliation issues, Analysis & Perspective, 2211

– Business opposition to health reform may lack unity, Analysis & Perspective, 1580; “affordable” reforms sought, 1595; employer groups nervous, Special Report, 1622
– Cadillac plans

see High-value policies, this heading

– CBO chief warns of effect of overhaul, 1693
– Chairman's mark, 2190; cafeteria plan safe harbor from non-discrimination rules included, 2189; includes excise tax on “Cadillac” plans, 2235; high-value plan tax opposed, 2241; Hatch (R-Utah) questions constitutionality of excise tax proposal, 2242; indexing of excise tax planned, 2338
– Chronic disease, In Brief, 1864
– Commonwealth Fund proposal would expand coverage, 73
– Compromise of successful employer plans, ERIC warns, 1428
– Conrad (D-ND) says reforms should not increase spending, 353; offers compromise, 1422; says panel likely to look outside health sector, 1552; finance panel may not meet deadline, 1959; finance panel addresses tax penalties for uninsured, 2282; financing amendments considered, 2283; negotiation by states approved, 2285; Grassley (R-Iowa) raises cost issue, 2289; CBO reports on finance panel proposal, 2336
– Consumer-driven plans urged as part of debate, 1701
– Core concepts should be built on employer-based system, benefits council says, 127; prefers employer-based system, 839
– Corporate benefit execs express concerns, 1499
– Costs

– – CRS reports, In Brief, 1823
– – Employers to pass on costs, 2243

– Daschle promises to work with both parties, 74; withdrawal may delay reform, 298
– Delivery and payment systems, Brandeis professor urges reform, 2438
– Democratic proposal gets Senate panel markup, 2240
– Dent (R-Pa) describes centrist GOP proposal, 1502
– Dodd (D-Conn) reports progress, 1361; discusses possible merger of Senate bills, 2390
– Doggett (D-Tex) disappointed, 1597
– Draft Senate bill would impose major requirements on employers, 1906
– Economic advisors predict benefits, 1366
– Education campaign launched, 128
– Employers urged to prepare to implement reform changes, 2340
– ERISA preemption concerns raised, 2391
– Estate tax reform, small business may oppose White House proposal, 1230
– Excise tax on uninsured persons, Baucus considers delaying, 2286
– Expansion of coverage pushed in Hewitt report, 2196
– Final package, House Democrats developing, 2436
– Financial industry stabilization

– – Business group lists stimulus priorities, 122
– – Democrats economic stimulus packages pushes health care IT, preventive care, and comparative effectiveness, 122
– – Roundtable pushes health IT, 131
– – Urgency of reform emphasized by economists, 766

– Financing options examined, 1420; CRS reports, 1554; Urban Institute reports, 1821
– Flexible budgeting pushed, 630
– Focus of IT should be communications, white paper urges, 131
– Funding proposals reported, 1282
– Georgetown Univ. project identifies legal issues, 844
– Grassley (R-Iowa) and Baucus announce discussions, 963; Baucus says all options on table, 1023; Baucus and Grassley (R-Iowa) offer policy options, 1076; finance panel options outlined, 1220; briefing planned for finance panel, 1232; fianance panel considers ending medical deductions, 1279; Baucus reports progress, 1361; Baucus outlines schedule, 1419; Baucus says panel closer to agreement, 1551; Baucus says bipartisan agreement near, 1563; Baucus says no markup before recess, 1812; Baucus seeks deadline, 1855; Baucus announces no agreement before recess, 1855; finance panel bill to be identical to HELP proposal, 1856; Baucus touts Obama speech, 2094; Baucus to release plan, 2096; finance bill, weaker employer mandate likely, 2098; Baucus releases reform bill, 2187; benefits community optimistic, 2190; finance panel clears Senate bill, 2386; would create nonprofits to sell insurance, 2387; action unlikely before Nov., 2432; further action, see LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 1796
– Grassley (R-Iowa) predicts delay if no action in 2009, 692; wants coverage for all, 896
– Grassroots coalition, In Brief, 1374
– Hatch (R-Utah) expects passage in 2009, 1025; plans bipartisan approach, 1145
– Health insurance exchanges

– – Commonwealth Fund reports, 1432
– – State-level insurance exchanges

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2520

– – Subject of issue brief, 1430

– Health IT governance, federal advisory boards created, 407
– HELP panel releases draft Senate bill, 1427; GOP criticizes, 1501; GOP criticism continues, In Brief, 1505; Senate panel close to approval, 1554; costs projected, 1594; GOP members criticize, 1646; further action, see LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 1679
– High-end insurance plans, tax proposal criticized, 1858
– High-risk insurance pools, GAO reports, 1957
– High-value policies

– – Concord Coalition supports excise tax, 2392
– – Democrats seek higher cap, 2192
– – Geographic disparities, coordinated effort to address urged, 2435
– – Higher tax threshold urged for “Cadillac” plans, 2243; “Cadillac” plan tax criticized, 2290; JCT reports, 2338; Harkin (D-Iowa) expects higher thresholds, 2389
– – JCT analyzes excise tax, 2434
– – Pelosi (D-Cal) may adopt high plan tax, 2294

– Incentives to improve care and cut costs urged, 630
– Individual insurance mandate

– – Analysis & Perspective, 2313
– – Improved scenarios may not apply to all employers, 694

– Industry fee deduction elimination, revenues estimated, 2343
– Insurers oppose public insurance option, 767
– Interstate competition, effect on costs reported, 2344
– Itemized deductions, maintaining current value for high-income taxpayers would help fund reform, paper says, 1429
– JCT offers background material on tax expenditures related to health care, 1142
– Job losses predicted with employer mandate, 235
– Kaiser supports subsidies, 2001
– Kennedy (D-Mass) and Baucus (D-Mont) urge reform in 2009, 303; Baucus outlines timetable for reform bill, 551; Senate pension panel staffers predict reform by Aug., 627; Kennedy and Baucus expect bill in June, 1024; Kennedy developing bill, 1370; Kennedy to offer play-or-pay mandate, 1421
– Kennedy (D-RI) supports health IT funding, 235
– Labor market, effect of reform considered, 1702
– Leavitt urges Congress to include Medicare in reform, 126
– Lessons from Medicare

– – Inadequacy of Medicare payment bad prospect for public plan, 844
– – Successes and shortcomings outlined, 846

– Lincoln (D-Ark) offers small business incentives, 1142
– Long-term care

See LONG-TERM CARE

– Managing costs, advice offered to employers, 1645; recession heightens worries, 1648
– Market reforms, insurers favor employer-based system, 1697
– Massachusetts

– – Legal immigrants coverage will be scaled-back, 2052
– – Results evaluated, 2052

– Medical liability reform pushed by GOP, 766
– Medicare

See MEDICARE

– Medicare financing of reform, Senate panel hears testimony, 1221
– Mix of ideas reviewed at conference, 551
– Model employer mandates considered by Senate pensions panel, 1558
– OMB director urges action, 1645
– Online report from HHS, action in 2009 urged, 843
– Optimism and obstacles, Analysis & Perspective, 146
– Out-of-network fees at issue, 1909
– Pallone (D-NJ) urges quick action, 354
– Parents coverage and adult children, Commonwealth Fund supports, 1862
– Patient-centered outcomes

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 1213

– Pelosi (D-Cal) defends budget reconciliation as vehicle to pass reform legislation, 765; insurance lobby responds to Pelosi, 1858; sends bill to CBO, 2337
– Personalized medicine pushed by Merck CEO, 1224
– Play-or-pay

– – Burden on employers and possible job losses studied, 1503
– – Business groups oppose mandate, 1424
– – House panel considers mandate, 1218

– Pre-existing condition denials, reform proposal would bar, 1910
– Prevention services, CBO reports, 1910
– Private coverage called essential, 1281
– Profits focus of firms, ex-CIGNA exec says, 1562
– Public health, state and local initiative probed by Senate panel, 178
– Public option

– – Baucus (D-Mont) says finance panel to review options, 1139; legislation likely to include public option, 1278
– – Cal. MDs group supports, 2288
– – Called “important tool” by White House, 1557
– – Cato Institute analyst criticizes public option proposal, 960
– – Chamber of Commerce opposes, 1755
– – Commonwealth Fund reports, In Brief, 1764
– – Consensus lacking, Senate panel finds, 1220
– – Democratic senators favor public plan, 1078; moderate Democrats offer framework, 1423; House Democrats offer framework, 1425; progressive coalition seeks, 1953
– – Fiscal discipline and full accountability, Senate briefing report predicts, 1368
– – Insurance industry reps oppose, 1138
– – Merits of public plan, House holds hearing, 694; full panel considers, 1218
– – Pelosi (D-Cal) pushes, 2107; anticipates conference with Senate, 2388
– – Physicians coalition supports, 1496
– – Popular support found, 1650
– – Progressives push, 2050
– – Sebelius says option would stabilize private insurance market and provide more coverage choice, 1140; supports public insurance plan, 1366; says public plans already cover some state workers, 1504; says public option not essential, 1954
– – Stakeholders debate proposals, 1649
– – Waxman (D-Cal) pushes public option, 237; reiterates support, 550; supports option, 1141
– – Witnesses push public option, House holds hearing, 1026

– Quality approvement, coalition offers reform agenda, 769
– Racial discrimination feared due to mandates, 1859
– Rangel (D-NY), Waxman (D-Cal), Miller (D-Cal) predict action by Aug., 626; Rangel plans hearings, In Brief, 772; Rangel, Waxman, Miller release discussion draft with mandates and Medicaid expansion, 1493; Rangel announces hearing, 1505; Rangel open to modifications, 1555; comprehensive reform urged at hearing, 1556; stakeholders criticized House bill, 1560; section-by-section summary obtained, 1596
– Rationing

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 1259

– Reid (D-Nev) outlines Senate schedule, 1351; offers summer agenda, 1360; says Senate vote unlikely before fall, 1751
– Revenue issues remain, 1644
– Rockefeller (D-WVa) outlines principles for reform, 1142
– Roundtable planned, In Brief, 1147
– Schumer (D-NY) says Democrats may use reconciliation, 1857
– Sebelius says reform should build on employer-based system, 894; meets with state lawmakers, In Brief, 1505; says reform should not hike deficit, 1558
– Seniors, crisis requires reform, HHS reports, 2003
– Series of reformed urged to slow growth in costs and improve care, 414
– Similar employer mandates, bills compared, 2392
– Sin taxes, effect reported, 1597
– Single-payer

– – Andrews (D-NJ) says plan should be considered, 1426
– – Baucus (D-Mont) meets with advocates, 1362
– – Universal coverage bill

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 1200

– Slowed cost growth, In Brief, 2297
– Small businesses

See SMALL BUSINESSES

– Snowe (R-Me) favors financial incentives for employers, 1819
– Stakeholders outline consensus and unresolved issues, 845; chronic illnesses emphasized, 893; savings detailed, 1363
– Stakeholders urged to suspend judgment on comprehensive reform legislation, 768
– Stark (D-Cal) offers comprehensive reform legislation, 71
– State-by-state reports on reform issued by HHS, 1860
– State official consider impact of federal reform, 1651
– Subsidies

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 391

– Suggestions offered by physicians, 1284
– Surtax to fund, most Americans favor, 1956
– Task force formed by GOP, 305
– Taxation

– – Biden criticizes Baucus (D-Mont) proposal, 1495
– – Cap on exclusion for employment-based health benefits

– – – Effects reported, 123; House panel urged to maintain, 1075
– – – Employers reluctant to lose exclusion, Analysis & Perspective, 196
– – – Feasibility debated, 1365
– – – Progressive policy groups concerned about cap proposals, 1421

– – Cato Institute pushes tax cuts, 1559
– – CBO chief suggests changes, 353
– – Deloitte report, In Brief, 1704
– – Effects analyzed, 1754
– – Exemption for some family health plans considered by Senate panel, 1491
– – Increase proposed to fund health reform, 1652
– – Itemized deduction limits, In Brief, 1505
– – Lincoln (D-Ark) opposes taxing employer health benefits, 691
– – Low-income tax credits

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2520, S 1099

– – Rangel (D-NY) says proposal to tax benefits unlikely to pass, 839
– – Regional exclusion caps difficult, budget official tells senators, 629
– – Repeal of exclusion for employer-provided insurance

– – – Democratic bills

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 1321, HR 3000, S 391, S 1099

– – – Republican bills

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2520, S 1240

– – Surtax

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 3200

– – Value-added tax proposed, In Brief, 903; criticized, 1655
– – White House downplays reports on taxing health benefits, 692; Obama opposes taxing benefits, 1596

– Transparency and antitrust enforcement pushed at Senate hearing, 1698
– Treatment decisions, reform may give more control to providers, 961
– Trends

– – Middle-income population, hardest hit without reform, 1276
– – Outlook 2009, 21; health care policy, 40
– – Public thinks reform should be priority, survey finds, 127
– – Status quo favored by large firms, survey finds, 628

– Uninsured persons, Senate panel votes to drop tax penalty, 2237
– Universal care

See UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE

– Usurpation of employer cost control alleged, 1753
– Wages and effect of employer-provided health costs, Social Security chair addresses, 1912
– Wal-mart and SEIU back employer mandate, 1598
– White House

– – AMA addressed by Obama, 1493
– – Approval of health reform bills sought by summer recess, 1643; action urged, 1692
– – Bipartisan legislation sought, 1952; President prefers public option, 1953
– – Consumers would be protected, Obama says, 1814
– – Economic imperative cited by President, 1752
– – Finance panel, senators meet President, 1134
– – GOP lawmakers seek meeting, 1221
– – Health and welfare office sought, 489
– – Hospital execs efforts praised, 1500
– – Improved care touted, 2339
– – “Make-or-break” period, President urges passage of reform, 1359
– – Mandate exemptions sought, small business waivers considered, 1358
– – Medicare/Medicaid reform, health reform called crucial first step, 958; cuts proposed, 1134
– – “New foundation for growth,” includes health reform, 1076
– – No excuses accepted by President, 1219
– – Public option, President to push, 302; wants reform legislation in 2009, 545; announces forums, 547; bill on Senate floor by June, 548; DeParle says option could be constructed to quell opposition, 959
– – Reform chief optimistic about bill signing in 2009, 896
– – “Talking points” distributed, 2294
– – Taxing health benefits, reports downplayed, 692; Obama opposes taxing benefits, 1596
– – Union leaders and employers meet with President, 1231; discuss legislation, 1704

– Women, reform may reduce insurance barriers, 1860

HEALTH CARE REFORM, STATE

– California

– – Cal-COBRA subsidy approved, 1232
– – Experience of Cal. called corollary for federal efforts, 965
– – S.F., employer insurance contribution mandate

– – – ERISA does not preempt, en banc review sought (9th Cir.), 94; rehearing denied, 640; restaurants seek stay (U.S., rev sought), 706; response filed, 783; stay den, 851; (U.S., rev sought), 1438; employer groups urge review, 1714; Solicitor Gen. brief filed, 2349
– – – Play-or-pay, employers adjusting, 1213
– – – Public option touted, 1954

– Connecticut

– – Universal care veto overridden, 1761

– Massachusetts

– – Barriers remain, study finds, 1288
– – Declining revenues and enrollee spike puts strain on program, 1654
– – Distribution of spending unchanged, report finds, 903
– – Overhaul of health care payments urged, 2395
– – Payment system revisions urged, 1703
– – Penalty schedule for uninsured issued, 561
– – Public option urged, 695
– – Single-payer advocates criticize program, 416
– – Subsidy numbers reported, 848

– Ore. funds extended access for children and low-income adults, 1863
– Trends

– – BCBS Ass'n reports on efforts, 409
– – Tax incentives offered to employers, 307

– Utah low-cost health benefit plan, Senate approves, 563
– Wyo. uninsurable pool, individual allowed to participate, bill signed, 562

HEALTH INSURANCE

– Affirmative rejection of coverage not done, cash credits for waiver rejected (D.N.J.), 370
– Air ambulance service benefit denial upheld (S.D. Ohio), 1312
– BCBS

See BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD PLANS (BCBS)

– Behavioral health insurance plan does not cover residential care at noncontracted facility (9th Cir.), 1833
– Bone marrow transplant coverage denial upheld (6th Cir.), 2121
– Cal. Atty. Gen. probes claims denials, 2100
– California

– – Mandates passed, veto likely, 2198

– COBRA benefits

See COBRA

– Deceptive practices, Senate panel reports, 1562
– Del. rate control law signed, 1654
– Demographics and coverage, census reports, 2245
– Eating disorder, residential treatment benefits denial upheld (S.D.N.Y.), 720
– Exchanges

See HEALTH CARE REFORM, FEDERAL

– Full-time workers, most employers cover, 1806
– Furloughs due to economy may affect benefits, Analysis & Perspective, 1392
– GE announces $6B initiative, 1143
– Grassley (R-Iowa) wants policyholders to know limits of AARP plans, 1029
– High-deductible plans, more consumer involvement found by survey, 1031
– IBM improperly refused to enroll participants disabled adult son (N.D. Ill.), 790
– Illegal acts exclusion, lack of driver's license and insurance no bar to coverage (6th Cir.), 2253
– Labeling of insurance products for consumers proposed, 1146
– Leukemia, plan must cover transplant (N.D. Ohio), 504
– Market domination by small number of firms reported by AMA, 240
– Marriott workers, In Brief, 1705
– McCarren-Ferguson Act repeal

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 3596, S 1681

– Middle-aged coverage reported, 1819
– Misrepresentation of eligibility, wrongful denial of benefits alleged (S.D.N.Y.), 797
– 90-day waiting period, firm acted properly, written terms trump oral agreement (E.D. Ark.), 791
– N.Y., CIGNA to end use of Ingenix database, state to sue Excellus, 410
– Obesity-related surgery, coverage denial upheld (6th Cir.), 503
– Out-of-network reimbursement

– – Knee surgery, full benefits denied (N.D. Cal.), 261
– – Rockefeller (D-WVa) seeks data from firms on calculations, 893

– Owner of two firms not eligible to participate in employee fund (W.D. Wis.), 718
– Pre-existing condition exclusion, Rockefeller (D-WVa) and Courtney (D-Conn) plan bill end, 696
– Purging probed by House panel, 2051
– Reform

See HEALTH CARE REFORM, FEDERAL; HEALTH CARE REFORM, STATE

– Renal disease, health and welfare fund improperly terminated benefits (E.D. Tenn.), 1929
– Retiree health plans

See RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE

– Retroactive premium hike upheld (W.D. Mich.), 1517
– Rockefeller (D-WVa) seeks premium data, 2001
– Satisfaction of individual and small business participants surveyed, 848
– Shaw's Supermarkets sued over cuts (D. Mass.), 1161
– Size of firm correlated with coverage, 2295
– Standardized policy information, 1231
– Summary plan description granting discretionary authority does not trump plan silence on discretion (D. Or.), 653
– Withdrawal from small group market, insurer did not establish rules for eligibility (S.D.N.Y.), 1768

HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (HIPAA)

– Enforcement, In Brief, 1864
– Information collection extension, comments sought, 2246
– Privacy and security enforcement, HHS funding up under American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 557; will require changes in contracts and policies, 902
– Regulatory agenda published by Labor Dep't, 1208

HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS (HSAs)

– Ed. Note: HSAs were created by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act.
– Employer contributions

– – Comparable contributions, IRS issues final rule, 2104
– – Reported for 2007, 355

– Inflation adjustments issued by IRS, 1213
– Population covered reported, 1225
– Use growing faster than IRAs, 413

HEDGE FUNDS

– Banc of America Securities accused of abetting fraud (S.D.N.Y.), 2124
– CalPERS plans to restructure existing relationships, 833
– Fiduciary duty

– – Reporting on offshore funds, confusion found, 1538
– – Zenith Capital sued over hedge fund investments (N.D. Cal.), 1244

– Madoff scandal

See INVESTMENTS

– Pay-to-play kickbacks, ex-hedge fund manager pleads guilty (N.Y. Sup. Ct.), 1039
– Plan asset rule, flight by investors may expose funds, 611
– Teamsters asset manager accused of imprudent investments (N.D.N.Y.), 2205

HHS

See HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT (HHS)

HIPAA

See HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (HIPAA)

HSAs

See HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS (HSAs)