ESTATE Q & A
What is an Ethical Will?
An individual's last will and testament gives instructions for the distribution of his or her assets and for other important legal decisions. An ethical will is not actually considered a legal document. 
 

ESTATE TALK
GST Tax Exemption Automatically Allocated to Grandma's Gifts
Grandma created a trust for the benefit of her grandchildren. The trust was to pay for their college education. 
 

HEALTH HAPPENINGS
Got High Blood Pressure?  Try Low-Sodium DASH Diet
Sodium reduction combined with either a typical U.S. diet or the "DASH" diet, which is rich in vegetables, fruit, and low-fat dairy products and low in fat, substantially lowered blood pressure in persons with high blood pressure, according to the results of a study supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
 

MEDI-MINUTES
HHS Issues Final Rule Closing Medicaid Loophole
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a final rule to close a loophole in Medicaid funding regulations that allowed many states to inappropriately bring in extra funds that were not necessarily spent on health care services for Medicaid beneficiaries.

NATIONAL NOTES
AoA Announces Federal Funds for Caregivers
Citing the tremendous challenges experienced daily by millions of America’s family caregivers, the Administration on Aging (AoA) has announced the availability of funds to meet the needs of those caring for older loved ones who are ill or who have disabilities.

OF INTEREST
Senate Introduces Bush's $1.3 Billion Tax Cut Plan
President Bush’s tax cut plan has been introduced in the Senate, where the GOP hopes it will win wide approval. 

TAX TID-BITS
IRS Issues Guidance on Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements
The IRS has issued a notice (Notice 2001-10) regarding the tax treatment of split-dollar life insurance arrangements. This notice clarifies prior rulings regarding split-dollar arrangements, provides taxpayers with interim guidance on the tax treatment of split-dollar arrangements pending publication of further guidance, and requests taxpayer comments on the interim guidance and on other unresolved issues.