Aspen Publishers, CCH Bring Together Premium Resources in New Consumer-Driven Health Library

(RIVERWOODS, ILL., April 11, 2007) – Professionals now have a comprehensive electronic resource to help find the answers to all of their questions on consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs). The Consumer-Driven Health Library combines the reliable resources of Aspen Publishers and CCH to provide authoritative, expert information and guidance in a single, online resource on the CCH Internet Research NetWork. Aspen Publishers (www.aspenpublishers.com ) and CCH (health.cch.com) are part of the Wolters Kluwer Law & Business group.

“The Consumer-Driven Health Library includes convenient access to premier resources that are the first choice of professionals in the field,” said Brian Hodge, product manager. “This Library is a powerful, one-stop tool with expert analysis and answers to key questions; source materials that ensure accurate research; and news to keep professionals informed of the latest developments.”

Library Contents

The Consumer-Driven Health Library consists of comprehensive references to help professionals sort through the complexities of CDHPs. The Library features:

Spencer’s Consumer-Driven Health Report

This reference provides guidance on all types of CDHPs, including health savings accounts, health reimbursement accounts, flexible spending accounts, medical savings accounts and high-deductible health plans. It includes:

  • Expert analysis of specific legal and regulatory requirements for consumer-driven health plans, detailed guidance on implementing consumer-driven programs and examples of companies that have adopted these types of plans;
  • Benefits trends reports on major surveys and studies that track cost, design and implementation of employer-provided health care plans;
  • ERISA reporting and disclosure guidance on requirements for CDHPs, including annual Form 5500 reporting;
  • HIPPA analysis and guidance on portability, discrimination and privacy requirements needed for all CDHPs;
  • Ask the Expert e-mail service, which allows subscribers to ask the Spencer’s editors benefits-related questions; and
  • E-mail news sent out every Friday with a compilation of the week’s news items.

Aspen’s Health Savings Account Answer Book

This comprehensive, in-depth, question-and-answer format reference covers health savings accounts (HSAs) from their establishment in 2004 to the latest rulings and developments. It cuts through the hype and current confusion surrounding HSAs; helps accurately weigh their pros and cons; and provides the facts professionals need to make sound decisions, avoid pitfalls, answer employee challenges and effectively deal with healthcare vendors.

Health Savings Account Answer Book addresses well over 400 key questions on all aspects of HSA establishment, administration and compliance, including rules and penalties, medical coverage, contributions and deductions, distributions, rollovers and transfers, fiduciaries, filing requirements and more.

Explained in clear, plain English, Health Savings Account Answer Book provides hundreds of real-life examples, practice pointers, notes and cautions, ready-to-use forms, citations to case law, charts, tables and other valuable features to make it both applicable and easy to use.

In addition, this reference has been updated to include:

  • Discussion of the prohibited transaction exemption under the Pension Protection Act of 2006, which allows HSA providers to offer personalized investment advice to HSA account holders;
  • Discussion of the expansion of the final employer contribution comparability rules and the exceptions from the comparable employer contribution requirements under the newly proposed regulations;
  • Comparability issues for independent contractors, sole proprietors, partnerships, former employees, part-time employees, unionized employees and others;
  • Examination of the mechanics of funding, pre-funding, testing periods and categories of coverage relating to comparable contributions;
  • Updated 2006 form filing requirements for HSA owners and contributing employers; and
  • Analysis of the Bush Administration’s proposed changes to HSA rules.

Aspen’s Health Insurance Answer Book

This easy-to-use, question-and-answer format guide helps professionals manage a cost-effective health insurance plan and ensure that decisions are in compliance with constantly changing health care legislation. Health Insurance Answer Book offers instant access to information on everything from HMOs, PPOs, COBRA, HIPAA, OBRA and flexible benefits, to plan rating, funding, cost containment and administration.

With frequent updates, the Health Insurance Answer Book allows professionals to stay informed on newly enacted and pending legislation. Professionals will get concise, jargon-free coverage of dramatic changes in the health insurance marketplace, such as the resurgence in healthcare inflation, changes in the Medicare payroll tax, pharmacy benefit management, reduced reimbursements for physicians and hospitals, workers' compensation, Medigap policies, self-insurance and third-party administration.

Aspen’s Flexible Benefits Answer Book

This resource is designed for professional advisors and business executives who need quick and authoritative answers to help them decide whether to institute or continue a flexible benefits plan, how to choose and design the type of plan that best suits their needs and how to comply with the growing number of federal requirements and tax rules that apply to these plans.

Flexible Benefits Answer Book is a proven source of successful solutions, strategies and tools that shows professionals how to:

  • Answer administrative questions;
  • Correctly analyze key planning considerations;
  • Protect a plan’s qualified status;
  • Distinguish among the different types of plans;
  • Develop a working credit and pricing methodology; and
  • Differentiate and compare the five full flexible planning models.

This resource is an essential problem-solving reference with examples, case studies, complete citations, planning hints, practice pointers, samples of field-tested documents and more.

For More Information

For more information or to subscribe to any or all of the Consumer-Driven Health Library, call 1-888-224-7377 (1-888-CCH-REPS).

About Wolters Kluwer Law & Business

Wolters Kluwer Law & Business is a leading provider of research products and software solutions in key specialty areas for legal and business professionals, as well as casebooks and study aids for law students. Its major product lines include Aspen Publishers, CCH, Kluwer Law International and Loislaw. Its markets include health care organizations, law firms, law schools, corporate counsel and professionals requiring legal and compliance information. Wolters Kluwer Law & Business, a unit of Wolters Kluwer, is based in New York City and Riverwoods, Ill.

Wolters Kluwer is a leading global information services and publishing company. The company provides products and services for professionals in the health, tax, accounting, corporate, financial services, legal and regulatory, and education sectors. Wolters Kluwer has annual revenues (2006) of €3.7 billion, employs approximately 19,900 people worldwide and maintains operations across Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific. Wolters Kluwer is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Its shares are quoted on the Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com.

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