| Fed: Employer Mandate Likely Won't Achieve Universal Coverage A mandate that would require U.S. employers to provide health insurance to most employees working at least 20 hours per week may not be the best way to achieve universal coverage, according to research by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Date posted: 7/2/09 Source: Bloomberg News [via Benefits in the News, compiled by BenefitsLink] 6/29/09 |
| New Laws Fail to Open Spousal Benefits to Gay Couples Three months have passed since the Iowa Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, and gay couples are finding out that being married doesn't necessarily translate into spousal health benefits. Date posted: 7/2/09 Source: Omaha World-Herald [via Benefits in the News, compiled by BenefitsLink] 6/30/09 |
| Study: Employers Keep Up Recruitment Efforts, Expect Fewer Layoffs Most employers expect their staff levels to remain the same as recruiting patterns hold steady and job losses trend downward, according to a new study. Date posted: 7/2/09 Source: PLANSPONSOR.com 7/1/09 |
| Popularity of HSAs Continues to Grow, Research Finds According to a recent survey, health savings accounts continue to be adopted widely, with an ever-growing number of accounts and assets. Date posted: 7/2/09 Source: Healthcare Finance News [via AHIP Solutions SmartBrief] 6/30/09 |
| Diversity Programs Require Transparency from HR, Trust, Experts Say While many see the ascent of new Xerox CEO Ursula Burns -- and that of others -- as victories for civil rights and diversity, others wonder if race and gender were more determining factors than her qualifications to do the job. Date posted: 7/2/09 Source: Human Resource Executive Online 7/2/09 |
| Wal-Mart Adds Support to Coverage Mandate as Senators Consider Scrapping It Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, has announced that it supports an employer health care mandate as senators consider removing that provision from a reform proposal. Date posted: 7/1/09 Source: Reuters [via Business Insurance]; Workforce Management 7/1/09 |
| Research Questions Cost-Effectiveness of Expensive Cancer Drugs The widespread use of expensive cancer drugs to prolong patients’ lives by just weeks or months was called into question by an article published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Date posted: 7/1/09 Source: The Wall Street Journal [via Benefits in the News, compiled by BenefitsLink] 7/1/09 |
| Move to Pull Advice Provision Threatens DB Funding Relief A House committee yanked a pension bill provision safeguarding existing investment advice arrangements for defined contribution plans -- jeopardizing employer support for a package that also provides critical funding relief for defined benefit plans. Date posted: 7/1/09 Source: Pensions & Investments [via Benefits in the News, compiled by BenefitsLink] 6/29/09 |
| Study: Employees Value Supplemental Benefits More than Cash A new study released by Sun Life Financial finds that employees value their total benefits offering more than cash -- even in this volatile economic environment. Date posted: 7/1/09 Source: Business Wire [via Insurance Broadcasting] 7/1/09 |
| San Francisco Marches Toward Universal Coverage Three years ago, San Francisco turned itself into a laboratory for remaking the country's health care system with a bold experiment to expand services to the uninsured, working poor and medically underserved. Date posted: 7/1/09 Source: The Sacramento Bee [via Benefits in the News, compiled by BenefitsLink] 6/29/09 |
