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Update on HIPAA Privacy and Other Health Plan Rules
EXCERPT: "The new legal rules impact both plan documents and plan
administration. Plan documents are more complicated and are required to contain more legally required provisions. With the HIPAA privacy and EDI rules, employers are subject to new restrictions and responsibilities with respect to their health plans."
Full
Article
3/25/03—Reinhart Boerner Van
Deuren, s.c.
UnumProvident Study Shows 10 Percent of Employees are Responsible for More Than Half of Medical Costs and Absence Management Programs Can Reduce Costs by 40 Percent
EXCERPT: "UnumProvident released findings of a comprehensive employer research study providing evidence that 10 percent of employees – those who file occupational or non-occupational disability claims – drive 55 percent of employee medical costs and up to 66 percent of all medical, disability and workers’ compensation costs combined."
Full
Article
3/6/03—UnumProvident
Employer Health Costs Worse Than Budgeted In 2002
EXCERPT: "Despite significant increases over the past few years, health care benefit costs escalated even more than U.S. employers had projected in their budgets last year. And with few expressing confidence in their ability to control costs, most large employers are now resorting to traditional cost-sharing and other cost-control tactics, according to an annual survey report released today by Watson Wyatt Worldwide and the Washington Business Group on Health
(WBGH)."
Full
Article
3/6/03—Watson Wyatt Worldwide
How to Achieve an R.O.I. on Your Health Care Dollars
EXCERPT: "Another way to manage health care costs is called Demand Management. With this approach, patients decide what to do for themselves with and without provider assistance. Demand management helps consumers manage their actual and perceived need and demand for health care services. The goal is to produce wiser health care consumers by providing self-care information that empowers people to make informed medical decisions."
Full Article
3/03—American Institute for Preventive Medicine
The Next Big Thing: Public Views and Values on Consumer Directed Health Plans
EXCERPT: "Despite predictions that CDHPs represent an emerging and significant trend in the healthcare marketplace, there is, as yet, little evidence that consumers will choose them. There is also no confirmation yet that CDHPs will actually produce cost savings for employers, whether the plans are offered in conjunction with other options or as the sole coverage available to employees."
Full Article
3/03—California Health Decisions
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A New Disease Called SARS
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating a new disease called severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The disease was first reported among people in Guangdong Province (China), Hanoi (Vietnam), and Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China). It has since spread to other countries. As of April 7, more than 100 cases of SARS had been reported in the United States.
In general, SARS begins with a fever greater than 100.4°F [>38.0°C]. Other symptoms may include headache, an overall feeling of discomfort, and body aches. Some people also experience mild respiratory symptoms. After 2 to 7 days, SARS patients may develop a dry cough and have trouble breathing.
Public health experts think that SARS is
spread by close contact between people but this is still under
investigation. In the United States, there is no indication of
community spread at this time. CDC continues to monitor this
situation very closely.
For More Information:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
SARS Overview & Links
Frequently Asked
Questions
Advice for
Travelers
Number of Suspected U.S. Cases by
State
World Health Organization
SARS Overview & Links
Cumulative Number of Reported Cases by
Country
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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.
To comment on newsletter
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version, please e-mail your request to carolz@bsg.com.
Copyright 2003 The Benefit Services
Group, Inc. BSG® is a registered trademark of The Benefit Services
Group, Inc.
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