Press Release Archive – 2001

Chart of Key Health Issues Pending Before Congress (as of December 12, 2001)

Benefits issues at forefront of national agenda: Council Letter to Congress Suggests Priorities for Remainder of Session (December 11, 2001)

Council Letter to Congress Regarding End-of-Year Legislative Priorities (December 11, 2001)

Council urges Senators to support catastrophic reinsurance coverage for group life insurance (December 10, 2001)

Catastrophic Reinsurance for Group Life Insurance Products (December 10, 2001)

Members of Congress join Council and others' call for pension funding and premium relief by year-end (December 3, 2001)

Council urges deletion of Senate mental health parity mandate from Labor-HHS Appropriations bill (November 10, 2001)

Elimination of 30-year bonds makes pension funding relief more urgent (November 2, 2001)

Council urges against expansion of mental health parity law currently debated in Senate (October 30, 2001)

Council lauds postponement of nonqualified stock option gain reporting requirement on Form W-2 (September 20, 2001)

Council urges Senate HELP panel not to pass further benefit mandate legislation   (September 10, 2001)

Council urges employer-employee panel to proceed cautiously on genetic nondiscrimination legislation   (September 6, 2001)

The Genetic Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act (Slaughter)   February 13, 2001

Council urges IRS, Treasury to maintain flexibility when issuing guidance on “catch-up” contributions   (August 23, 2001)

American Benefits Council applauds EEOC steps to address Erie County ruling on retiree health benefits   (August 20, 2001)

Council testimony to Social Security Commission urges consideration of impact on employers   (August 14, 2001)

House votes today on Patients' Bill of Rights: White House/Norwood liability compromise still leaves employers vulnerable to lawsuits, says American Benefits Council   (August 2, 2001)

New Jersey Members of Congress Need to Hear from Employers on "Patients' Bill of Rights"   (July 31, 2001)

Council urges Senate HELP panel not to pass Domenici-Wellstone mental health parity bill  (July 30, 2001)

House Vote on “Patients’ Bill of Rights” Too Close to Call – Members Need to Hear from Employers   (July 23, 2001)

Council says new patients protection language still leaves employers vulnerable to lawsuits   (July 20, 2001)

Senate-passed patients’ protection language in House bill means more Americans will lose healthcare coverage   (July 19, 2001)

Council paper asserts employers will still get sued under Senate-passed patients’ protection bill   (July 13, 2001)

ACTION ALERT: Contact your Representatives Today   (July 10, 2001)

Council available to comment on today’s patients’ rights news as DOL delays benefits claims regulations, White House announces issue highlight for next week  (July 6, 2001)

Council staff available to comment on Senate passage of Patients’ Bill of Rights (S. 1052)  (June 29, 2001)

Council staff available to comment on effect of Senate vote on Kennedy-McCain legislation  (June 28, 2001)

Amendments Introduced to S. 1052, the Patients’ Bill of Rights June 28, 2001

Council paper claims ‘designated decisionmakers’ fails to cure Kennedy-McCain patients’ rights bill  (June 25, 2001)

Council Lauds Boehner Retirement Advice Bill  (June 21, 2001)

Council releases second Patients’ Bill of Rights paper showing how employers will be sued for administrative decisions if bill is enacted
(June 18, 2001)

Council paper illustrates routes lawyers will use to sue employers if Patients’ Bill of Rights is enacted   (June 14, 2001)

ERISA makes possible consistent and fair administration of health benefits   (June 12, 2001)

Kennedy-McCain bill flawed, Council says; independent review process the best solution  (June 12, 2001)

Council witness testifies before IRS on retirement plan minimum distributions  (June 1, 2001)

Council staff available to comment on retirement savings provisions to be signed by President Bush next week  (May 31, 2001)

Council Praises Congress: Retirement Savings Provisions in Final Tax Relief Bill Will Benefit All Americans   (May 25, 2001)

Senate Tax Bill Vote Brings Momentum for Prompt Enactment of Retirement Legislation (May 23, 2001)

Council voices concern over Frist-Breaux-Jeffords' Patients' Bill of Rights Proposal introduced May 15 (May 15, 2001)

Senate Finance Committee to mark up tax bill Tuesday; Council staff available to comment (May 14, 2001)

House Vote on H.R. 10 Yields Optimism for Prompt Enactment of Retirement Legislation (May 2, 2001)

House to vote on retirement savings bill this week; Council staff available to comment (April 30, 2001)

On to the Floor! Council lauds Education and Workforce panel’s approval of H.R. 10 (April 26, 2001)

American Benefits Council hails H.R. 10 passage by Ways and Means Committee (April 25, 2001)

Council staff available to comment on this week’s retirement savings bill votes by House committees (April 24, 2001)

American Benefits Council welcomes further guidance as HHS announces patient health information privacy rules implementation (April 12, 2001)

Council lauds Grassley, Baucus on introduction of their retirement savings bill in the Senate (April 6, 2001)

American Benefits Council to House Subcommittee: ERISA Reforms Critical to Success of Retirement Savings Bill (April 5, 2001)

Council staff available to speak on new comments to HHS on privacy of health care information (March 29, 2001)

Council urges rapid passage of bipartisan retirement savings legislation (March 14, 2001)

Comprehensive Retirement Security and Pension Reform Act to be introduced on March 14, 2000 (March 9, 2001)

American Benefits Council staff available to speak to Bush proposals in Tuesday budget speech (February 27, 2001)

Conference Call Today on “Taking Stock” (February 26, 2001)

American Benefits Council to release stock paper during February 26 media conference call (February 23, 2001)

Council urges Congress to add retirement savings legislation to Bush tax proposal (February 13, 2001)

Council staff available to comment on prospects for addition of retirement savings provisions to Bush tax proposal (February 8, 2001)

Federal health information privacy regulations should be simplified, says American Benefits Council (February 8, 2001)

Kennedy-McCain "Cap" on Punitive Damages Does Not Limit Excessive Liability for Employers or Health Plans (February 7, 2001)

Kennedy-McCain ‘repackaging’ of Patients’ Bill of Rights will only drive up costs and the number of uninsured, says American Benefits Council (February 6, 2001)

American Benefits Council submits comments on 2001 SAVER Summit to DOL (February 1, 2001)

Labor Department releases retirement plan expense guidance; American Benefits Council staff available to comment (January 19, 2001)

Council staff available to comment on IRS stock option withholding moratorium (January 18, 2001)

Council airs concerns at IRS hearing on qualified plan loan regulations (January 17, 2001)

Council staff available to speak to proposed PBGC premium rate reduction (January 17, 2001)

Council submits comments to DOL on disclosure and reporting rules (January 16, 2001)

American Benefits Council Submits Amicus Brief in Erie County Case (January 15, 2001)

Council Policy Recommendations Detail Legislative Priorities for 107th Congress (January 11, 2001)

Press Release on Health and Retirement Position Papers

American Benefits Council Lauds Announcement of Thomas as Ways and Means Chair, Boehner as Education and Workforce Chair (January 5, 2001)