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SPECIAL: Introducing HCTrends.com
Something was missing last month. There was no September issue of
PlanAhead Direct in your in-box. That's because we've been very busy making news, not just reporting it.
The news is this: We've created a new online health care and benefits resource for all stakeholders in the health care benefits arena. The resource is
HCTrends.com, a companion site to a publication you should have recently received in the mail:
The Greater Milwaukee Annual Report on Health Care.
This month in PlanAhead Direct, we'll feature some of the articles found in
both the publication and on the website. Remember that you can find all the publication articles online, plus lots of links to
additional
resources. And if you'd like another copy of the publication, you can
request it on the Website as well.
Note: To visit any of the links
given in this issue, you'll need to first complete a free login at the HCTrends.com
site. After logging in, the links given here will take you directly
to articles and other internal pages.
Consumer-Driven Health Care: The Future? Or Fantasy?
EXCERPT: "Consumer-driven health care, which includes defined-contribution plans, has been receiving significant attention in the media and at trade association meetings as the next evolution of health care plans. However, there is no clear consensus as to what is meant by a defined-contribution plan and there are many variations being tossed about."
Full
Article...
Productivity Management: Health as an Investment
EXCERPT: "Sick employees do far more than rack up medical bills. By lowering productivity, whether through absenteeism or working while sick, they end up boosting what it costs companies to get work done. Employee groups with higher-than-average illness rates tend to drive up disability and workers compensation costs as well."
Full
Article...
The Employer's Role: Setting the Pace for Reform
EXCERPT: "Because of their unique position in the health care matrix, employers are perfectly situated to take the lead in making the system more accountable and efficient. Their failure to act could be devastating."
Full
Article...
TPAs & Networks: Benchmarking Your Vendors
EXCERPT: "...now is a good time for employers to evaluate their claim administrators and provider networks to ensure they are—and will be—getting the best service, access and cost."
Full
Article...
Keeping up with the Regulators: Major HIPAA Deadlines Loom
EXCERPT: "Given the complexity of HIPAA's privacy and EDI requirements, companies that have not yet implemented a compliance program, should immediately conduct a "gap analysis" that compares their current policies and procedures to what is required under HIPAA. This will help determine the steps needed to achieve compliance."
Full
Article...
International Health Care Trends
EXCERPT: "Each health care system is a product of its country's culture, tax laws and entitlement programs. . . Following is a look at the health systems in four countries—Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden—and how they compare to the United States."
Full
Article...
National Health Care Trends
EXCERPT: "As the recent wave of double-digit health care increases continues to pummel corporate profits, it’s becoming increasingly clear the nation’s health care system is stressed. . .
The problems may be obvious, but the solution is elusive—and employers are the wild card."
Full
Article...
Local Health Care Trends
EXCERPT: "While many believe that employers in southeastern Wisconsin pay more for their employees’ health care than employers in other regions in the country, the debate over the region’s health care challenges and potential solutions dissolves into disagreement and uncertainty shortly after that."
Full
Article...
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A compass provides direction. A map highlights choices. Knowledge empowers the traveler who must choose a path.
When navigating the constantly changing health care industry landscape, choosing the best path is a daunting task. Employers and industry professionals can look to
HCTrends.com to:
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Get a foothold on current issues affecting employee health care benefits and the industry at large.
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Learn about regulatory horizons.
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Decipher the direction of health care trends at the local, national and international levels.
HCTrends.com. Here to give knowledge, highlight choices, provide direction.
Future Additions
Visit HCTrends.com in the months ahead as we add the following features and more:
Submit your ideas for articles you'd like to see in the next edition of
The Annual Report on Health Care. If we use your idea, you'll receive a $25
gift card from your choice of several major retailers like Barnes & Noble, Home Depot and Boston Store.
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By providing links to other
sites, The Benefit Services Group, Inc. does not guarantee, approve or
endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a
link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to
The Benefit Services Group, Inc.
The preceding is not
intended to be and is not offered as legal advice. We are prohibited
from the practice of law. Compliance is the responsibility of the
employer or Plan sponsor and affected employees, who should seek their
own legal counsel regarding questions about information presented in
this newsletter.
PlanAhead Direct is a
monthly newsletter provided free of charge to select BSG® client
representatives and associates. View and search back issues at www.bsg.com/news/index.htm.
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Copyright 2002 The Benefit Services
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Group, Inc.
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