Number of uninsured stays nearly flat. The poverty rate in America rose to its highest rate in more than a decade and a half according to new census data, even though Government programs saved millions more from dropping below the poverty level. The report points out that the number of uninsured in 2010, hovering around 16.3 percent, remained relatively stable compared with 2009 but is still up dramatically from 13.1 percent in 2000. The New Republic asks whether this is proof that the new health law is working.  NPR argues that there may be much more "churn" in the population of uninsured than the report suggests.

This week's health care reform picks:

Health care reform rules would restrict public reporting (ProPublica)

Moody's reiterates ratings on HealthSpring (BusinessWeek)

GOP: Back to health care-gutting business (Mother Jones)

Obama jobs bill would raise revenue by taxing health benefits for wealthy (The Hill)

IRS proposes safe harbor for health care plan affordability test (Business Insurance)

Insurers that fought health law cooperate to aid uninsured (The Washington Post)

No job, no insurance, no health care (The New York Times)

Will your employees get a better deal through an exchange? (Miller Johnson)

Top retirement stories this week

Will Congress meddle with retirement accounts. The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on Thursday to address the retirement savings crisis facing the country. Witnesses offered a broad range of proposals. There is some concern that lawmakers could revise the current 401(K) deduction. Witnesses cautioned Congress against meddling with retirement accounts. The hearing was held at a time when the retirement income deficit has reached a high of $6.6 trillion.

Clash of the fiduciaries. Republican House members teamed up with industry groups at a hearing this week to oppose SEC efforts to apply a uniform fiduciary standard, arguing that it would impair consumer access and limit choice.

This week's retirement picks:

Solving the retirement crisis: Q&A with Alicia Munnell (SmartMoney)

Starting a 401(k) plan: 5 things you need to know (Huffington Post)

The tax law that could make your grandchildren super-rich (The Washington Post)

Fine-tune a 401(k) or IRA and cut costs (New York Times)

Take it public: Group offers novel U.S. retirement route (Reuters)

Industries with the best 401(k) matches (U.S. News & World Report)

Despite phony divorces, pension must pay spousal benefits (Thompson)

As politicians fight over Social Security, planners fill retirement gap (AdvisorOne)

Top HR / Benefits stories this week

The dangers of wellness. Several companies won awards for their wellness programs this week. Such programs incentivize employees to maintain healthier lifestyles while lowering health care costs for employers. But employers need to be cautious, warns the EEOC. Employee participation in wellness programs must be voluntary. Further, companies adopting wellness programs must navigate a veritable "minefield of laws and regulations," including HIPAA, ADA and GINA.

This week's HR/benefits picks:

The entertainment value in employee benefits (BenefitsPro)

How Silicon Valley's most connected exec does his hiring (ReadWriteWeb)

Conservatives join liberals in opposing Obama's payroll tax cut extension (The Hill)

Seattle approves paid sick-leave requirement (The Seattle Times)

The 4-page mini-SPD: Coming to a plan near you (Thompson)

My job made me healthier: 4 inspiring stories (CBS MoneyWatch)

Employers tell workers to get healthy or pay up (The Tennessean)

Employers more open to remote offices (BenefitsPro)

The ABCs of workplace flexibility (Huffington Post)

Most workers make mistakes on benefits coverage (BenefitsPro)

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This week's BenefitsPro blog roll:

Shot in the dark, by Denis Storey

Tax haggling and retirement security, by Jenny Ivy

Actuarial footballing, by Dan Cole

The DOL's new fiduciary rule: Who will speak up for IRA investors?, by Chris Carosa

Hedging benefit plan costs, by Steve Parrish

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