The Benefits InfoSource newsletter is designed to highlight various employee benefit matters of general interest to our readers.

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December 2004
New Rules Make 403(b) Plans Operate More Like 401(k) Plans.
Temporary Rules Expand FICA Taxation of 403(b) Contributions.
Company Stock in Benefit Plans Spark Litigation.
Year-end Compliance Checkup for Retirement Plans.
Supreme Court Considers IRA Bankruptcy Case.
New Law Expands Employee Rights under USERRA.
Health Insurance Mandates at the State/Local Level.
IRS Announces 2005 Cost-of-Living Adjustments.
Year-end Compliance Check-up for Health and Welfare Plans.
IRS Grants Transitional Relief to NQDC Plans.
FASB Releases Stock Option Expensing Rule.

November 2004
Cash Balance Plans Hang in the Balance.
New Guidance on Reporting Late 401(k) Deposits.
IRS Targets Plan Design Scheme to Circumvent Nondiscrimination Rules.
IRS Proposes Rules for Phased Retirement Distributions.
In Brief…
                  SEC Mandates Hedge Fund Registration.
                  401(k) Borrowing Via Credit Cards.
                  EPCRS May Offer Less Expensive Correction Option.
Working Families Tax Relief Act Affects Employee Benefits.
Prescription Drug Trends.
IRS Forbids "Double-dipping" Transportation Arrangements.
New Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.

October 2004 - Bulletin
IRS Cost of Living Adjustments for 2005.

October 2004
DOL Gives Safe Harbor Protection to Automatic Rollovers.
DOL Issues Guidance on Dealing with Lost Participants.
New USERRA Rules Address Retirement Plans.
IRS Proposes Staggered Amendment Periods.
New USERRA Rules Address Health Plan Continuation.
Treasury Urged to Change FSA "Use-it-or-Lose-it" Rule.
Pay for Performance Rewards Doctors for Providing Quality Care.
Equity Investment Styles: A General Commentary.

September 2004
GAO Backs Changes to SEC Mutual Fund Trading Proposals.
PBGC Deficit Begs for a Solution.
Need for 401(k) Pension Reform Approaches Critical Mass.
Testimony Says Health and Welfare Plans Not Compliant.
Will EAPs Make Employees Ineligible for HSAs?
Will Consumer-Directed Health Care Control Costs?
In Brief…
                  Spitzer Launches Web Site.
                  Canadian Pharmacies Getting Medicines from Overseas.
                  Federal DOMA Upheld as Constitutional.
                  IRS Releases Final HSA Forms.
                  BC/BS Launch Doctor Recognition Program.
New SEC Rules Require Disclosure of Certain Executive Compensation Agreements.

August 2004
IRS Issues Final Deemed IRA Regulations.
House Votes to Limit Options Rule.
United Airlines Halts Pension Contributions.
In Brief…
                  Deferred Compensation Changes Await House-Senate Conference.
                  U.S. Court of Appeals Rules on Attachment of Distributed Pension Payments.
CMS Issues Proposed Regulations to Implement New Medicare Law.
IRS Releases Comprehensive HSA Guidance.
Electronic Security Rule - The Final Stage of HIPAA Compliance.
Final HIPAA Opt-Out Regulations.
In Brief…
                  House Passes Carryover of Unused Dependent Care Benefits.

July 2004
Treasury Delays Effective Date for Relative Value Disclosure.
IRS Issues Final Minimum Distribution Rules.
Update on Cash Balance Plans.
In Brief…
                  Retirement Savings Account Act.
                  Pro Rata Distribution Does Not Violate ERISA.
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of HMOs in Patients' Rights Cases.
IRS Gives HSA Transition Relief from State-Law Mandates.
IRS Ruling Offers Flexibility in Designing Disability Plans.
DOL Says Employer May Request More Frequent FMLA Recertification.
Congress Passes Legislation Affecting Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans.
Morningstar Ratings: What Is Their Practical Value in Mutual Fund Research?

June 2004
Employers May be Taking More Risk in not Providing Investment Advice.
IRS Issues New Retroactive Annuity Rules.
Care Coordination and Tiered Health Plans: A New Approach to Lowering Health Costs.
AARP Attacks EEOC Ruling on Retiree Health Coverage.
Good Prospects for Passage of Drug Importation Bill.
FASB Issues Final Guideline on Accounting for Retiree Drugs.
DOL Releases Final COBRA Notice Regulations.

May 2004
IRS Clarifies Automatic 401(k) Plan Enrollment.
QJSA Relative Value Rules Take Effect in July.
PBGC Changes Enforcement Penalties.
In Brief…
                  SEC Forces Market Timing Disclosure.
                  House Bill Lifts Penalties for Guard and Reserve Troops.
                  401(k) Assets Up 22% in 2003.
IRS Issues Guidance on Interaction of HSAs with FSAs/HRAs.
Drug Imports Gain Momentum.
AHPs – One Step Closer to Reality.
In Brief…
                  House Passes Bill to Allow FSA Carryovers.
                  Mistakes Reported in Drug Costs on Medicare Web Site.

April 2004
President Signs $80 Billion Pension Funding Relief!
SEC May Abandon Hard Close Proposal.
Proposed Rules Allow Elimination of Burdensome Protected Benefits.
In Brief…
                  Proposed Rules Exclude Tax-Exempt Employees from 401(k) Testing.
                  Options Expensing Debate Continues.
Same-Sex Marriages: What does this mean for Employee Benefits?
IRS Issues New Guidance on HSAs.
DOL Issues Guidance on HSAs.
In Brief…
                  HHS Approves Companies to Provide Medicare Drug Cards.
                  Treasury Adds HSA Information to Web Site.
                  Court Rules Favoring Older Workers not an ADEA Violation.
                  NASD and SEC Look at 529 Plans.
                  COBRA Initial Notice and Election Notice Update.
                  Health-Care Card Usage Increases Significantly.
                  Checking Eligibility of Dependents Can Save Money.
                  IRS Expects to Issue Additional HSA Guidance in June.
                  EEOC Will Finalize Retiree Health Benefit Rules.

March 2004
IRS Rules Plan May Charge Expenses to Ex-Employees.
Update on 30-Year Treasury Bond Replacement.
DOL Releases Proposed EGTRRA IRA Rollover Rule.
Key Differences Between HSAs and HRAs.
IRS Rules Medicare Eligibility Not a Second Qualifying Event under COBRA.
HIPAA Privacy – Practically Speaking.

February 2004 - Bulletin
Treasury Proposes Legislation to Preserve Cash Balance Plans.

February 2004
DOL Again Targets Late 401(k) Deposits.
Congress Takes Up Pension Funding Relief Again.
Electronic Delivery of 2003 Payee Statements.
In Brief…
                  401(k) Eligibility Trends.
                  Congress Bars Cash Balance Regs.
                  PBGC Allows Online Recordkeeping.
                  Estate Tax Exemption Changes for 2004.
2003 Survey Looks at Retiree Health Benefits Before Medicare Reform.
DOL Compliance Guide for Qualified Medical Child Support Orders.
Is the Storm Over? Asset/Liability Forecasting Tools.

January 2004
FASB Issues Final Pension Disclosure Rules.
Final Rules Regarding QJSA Explanation.
DOL Gives Prohibited Transaction Relief for Plans that Enter into Settlement Agreements.
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Impacts Accounting and Retiree Health Plan Design.
Discount Card Drug Program Authorized from 2004 to 2006.
IRS Issues Guidance on HSAs.

Benefits InfoSource is not intended to interpret laws, regulations or to address specific client situations.
Such matters should be referred to your appropriate professional advisors.