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Act Proposes More Choices For Health Care Legislation has been introduced in Congress that would expand the number of health care choices available to individuals. The bill, known as the Patients Health Care Choice of 2003 (H.R. 3423), has been introduced by Rep. John Shadegg, R-AZ. The proposed legislation calls for the creation of HealthMarts and individual membership associations (IMAs), the expansion of medical savings accounts (MSAs), a refundable tax credit for health insurance costs, and a tax exclusion for employees... Communication Hampers HIPAA Compliance Efforts Despite the fact that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) has been in effect since April 2003, only three out of four organizations have become compliant with the legislation, according to the Phoenix Health Systems Fall 2003 Survey. Proposal Suggests FMLA Include Paid Time Off The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) would be expanded to allow employees to take paid leave to care for themselves or a close relation under a suggested proposal being made by Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-CT. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees, however, would be exempt from the proposal. Sen. Lieberman noted that many employees do not take advantage of the FMLA because they cannot afford to do so. Under his proposal... Rising Health Care Costs Create Ripple Effects As health care costs have increased, employees have cut back on workplace benefits they receive at additional costs, and have switched to less expensive health plans or dropped their health care coverage completely, according to an American Express Financial Advisors survey (2003). Of the 958 people responding to the survey, more than two-thirds said their share of health care costs had increased. Suspension Not A Violation Of ADA An employee did not establish that he was disabled as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and, as a result, his claim that his employer failed to provide him with reasonable accommodation, was denied by the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals (Parkinson v. Anne Arundel Medical Center, et al; No. 02-2000). Prudential Programs Help Boost Productivity Levels The Prudential Financial companies have received a .best practices. award by the Garden State Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) for instituting programs that are aimed at keeping employees healthy and available to work. |
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