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A free monthly newsletter for plan sponsors and employee benefits 
professionals published by The Benefit Services Group, Inc.

Mark your calendars and come see us in Chicago, June 4–7, for the Health and Welfare Plan Management for Mid-Sized Employers Conference. BSG®'s own Gerald Frye and Sue Thomas will present sessions on population management and SPD compliance checking. Contact John Vinopal at BSG® to receive a $200
special guest discount if you register before May 5.

 

Creditable Coverage Guidance and Model Notices for Use After May 15, 2006
CMS has released Creditable Coverage Guidance and Model Notices entities can use when disclosing creditable coverage status to beneficiaries after May 15, 2006. It is a modification of prior guidance and model notices CMS released in 2005 that entities could use when disclosing creditable coverage status to beneficiaries during the Medicare prescription drug Initial Open Enrollment Period of November 15, 2005 – May 15, 2006.

The MMA requires the sponsors of prescription drug plans to notify plan participants who are eligible to enroll in the Medicare prescription drug benefit whether their coverage is “creditable.”
April 24, 2006—Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Please Note: BSG® is reviewing the new guidance and notices from CMS and will be advising clients of any changes they need to make.

Employers Crunching Health Care Numbers
EXCERPT: "According to a recent Watson Wyatt study, companies that adapt numbers-crunching as part of their approach to health care will fare significantly better in managing costs than those that don't.

'It's a good idea to combine data so you can see broader trends,' said David Delahanty, a benefits expert in the Minneapolis office of Buck Consultants. 'You can see what different companies are doing rather than look at just one company.'"  Full Article
March 28, 2006—Minneapolis - St. Paul StarTribune
 

Benefits Were 29.8% Of Total Compensation In December 2005, BLS Finds
Employer-provided benefits costs for civilian workers in private industry and state and local governments in December 2005 averaged $7.87 per hour worked, accounting for 29.8% of total compensation costs, which averaged $26.46 per hour worked. Benefits as a percentage of compensation have risen in the past three years from 27.4% of total compensation. These are among the findings of the most recent Employer Costs for Employee Compensation report, produced quarterly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Full Article
March 14, 2006—U.S. DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics


Tallying the True Cost of Absenteeism
EXCERPT: "Companies can draw on new empirical data to underscore the importance of designing health benefit programs that combat absenteeism. The study, 'How to Present the Business Case for Healthcare Quality to Employers,' finds that the actual cost of health-related absenteeism could be as much as 35 percent higher than conventional estimates."  Full Article (One-time registration required)
April 19, 2006—Workforce Management
 

U.S. Health Care Spending Quiz

1.  True or False: In the U.S., the private sector finances most health care spending.

2.  True or False: One in 10 health care dollars is spent on prescription drugs.

3.  True or False: The largest single contributor to health care spending is the federal government.

Quiz Answers: 1. True: But spending is closely divided between private (55 percent) and public (45 percent) sectors. 2. True. 3. False: Households, at 32 percent, contribute the largest share.

From "Snapshot: Health Care Costs 101, 2006 Edition"
March 2006—California HealthCare Foundation

It Must "Bee" Spring!

Winter is over and the Benefits Buzz bee is back with four brand-new issues to inform and educate your employees. Watch your e-mail for information on these topics, coming in May.

• Choosing a Doctor

• Dental Health

• Generic Drugs

• Self Care

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/PADirect/index.htm. 

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Copyright 2006 The Benefit Services Group, Inc. BSG® is a registered trademark of The Benefit Services Group, Inc.

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