True Wellness and Savings

admin — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:15:25 +0000

To understand the meaning of True Wellness we need to recognize that our lives are divided into two worlds, our personal and business lives. Throughout the course of our day, there are the expected activities and the challenges which can be anticipated and managed. However today’s environment is unique in many respects with the economy topping this list of challenges. Business and personal finance have a significant impact on our daily lives. It stretches beyond the balance sheet and the family budget and impacts the quality of the relationships we have in both worlds.

You understand the increasing cost of healthcare is impacting the funding of your benefit program. Wellness programs are being reviewed and initiated with hopes of reducing this increase.

Take a moment to look at the list of services offered by wellness programs you’ve investigated and where the emphasis has been placed in the presentations you have heard. Where does stress management and work/life balance appear? If they do not appear at the top of the list, the lasting results and behavioral changes you are seeking will not occur.

When we experience stress at work or at home, it will impact our physical, mental and emotional health and our productivity. Where do you turn? Family member, friend, co-worker, or Human Resource department are common. Will they have the answers you seek? Are they trained to listen? Do they have a personal interest in the outcome? Will they tell you want to do? Results can only be achieved through a licensed mental health therapist trained to help you discover the solutions you seek.

The single most important step you can take to positively impact your health and the health of your employees and their families is to implement a comprehensive employee assistance program. A comprehensive program should included confidential individual problem solving sessions (6-8) per issue. Educational programs and supervisory training are also key ingredients. Telephonic assistance as a single source will not provide the help your employees and their families need and will not achieve the savings you as a company are seeking. The cost to implement a comprehensive employee assistance program is less than you may think. Consider the cost of the prescription drugs you currently fund and how a reduction in that cost will help your bottom line. The ROI can be significant.

Supporting a culture of True Wellness will result in increased productivity and savings.

Mental Health Parity Law

admin — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:30:52 +0000

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, H.R. 1424, was passed into law on October 3, 2008. Included in H.R. 1424 was the New Mental Health Parity Law expanding on the already existing Mental Health Parity Law of 1996. The new law requires benefit plans to cover treatment of mental illnesses and substance abuse under the same terms and conditions of other illnesses. Banned are numerical limits, higher cost-sharing, deductibles and out-of-pocket limits on mental illness and substance abuse that do not also apply to medical and surgical coverage. The effective date for this law is one year from its enactment date of October 3, 2008. Early interpretations conclude that the effective date for self funded benefit plans to be in compliance will be their next plan anniversary date following October 3, 2009.

The impact on the cost of health care has yet to be determined. However, Beyond Benefits, LLC has incorporated in their True Wellness options a program designed to assist employees and their dependents navigate the process of seeking care for mental illness and substance abuse. Our program seeks to reduce the cost of health care while improving the quality of life.

Providing a Solution to the Healthcare Crisis

admin — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:16:11 +0000

The healthcare crisis today weighs heavy on the minds of organizations and companies throughout our country. There have been many ideas proposed politically and in the private sector. You understand that the business of employee benefits has changed dramatically over the years. Cost sharing in the form of increased deductibles, copayments, and employee contribution requirements continue. Employee benefit plans include disease management and wellness programs focused on making benefits more cost effective.

I applaud you for seeking to take action to protect your organization or company and care for the people who deliver your service or product while competing for business in today’s marketplace.

There are two key strategies designed to reduce the cost of your employee benefit program.

(1) Reduce the cost of services through discounted pricing from providers.

(2) Reduce the incident of medical and prescription claims.

Aggressive discounts in all areas of service are important, however the real savings is found in reducing the incident of claims. I would like to encourage and challenge you to consider an approach rooted in programs designed to manage real life issues. Beyond Benefits, LLC is dedicated to supporting you in your efforts to increase profits and for our nonprofit clients more effectively managing their budgets.