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What's Happening at the Health Plan?
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 The website is ready for you!
The SWHP website, MyPlan, has released its Employer Portal for employers to begin using. You can enroll or terminate coverage for your employees and check eligibility. Talk to your Account Representative to get registered!
Note: MyPlan will undergo an upgrade and a name change to MyBenefits in January 2012.
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Please remember!
Scott & White Health Plan no longer accepts changes or terminations listed on the return remittance on your invoice.
Please complete changes or terminations on an application. Applications are available online at swhp.org under the Employer tab.
Click on “Find a Form”.
Completed applications can be emailed to swhpgroupenrollment@swmail.sw.org or
faxed to 254-298-3199.
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Have you heard about our Vitality Coordinators?
Vitality Coordinators are are an important part of your health care team. They are nurses working in a real clinical setting side by side with doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurses, and the other members of the clinical team. Their goal is to close gaps in care for SWHP Members.
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Flu season is back!
Everyday preventive actions can help slow the
spread of germs that can cause many different
illnesses and may offer some protection against the flu.
- Find out about your employer’s plans if an outbreak of flu or another illness occurs and whether flu vaccinations are offered on-site.
- Routinely clean frequently touched objects and surfaces, including doorknobs, keyboards, and phones, to help remove germs.
- Make sure your workplace has an adequate supply of tissues, soap, paper towels, alcohol-based hand rubs, and disposable wipes.
- Train others on how to do your job so they can cover for you in case you or a family member gets sick and you have to stay home.
- If you begin to feel sick while at work, go home as soon as possible.
Find more information and free poster downloads.
Source: www.flu.gov
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How often do we get to tell our members that drug prices are going down?
As a rule, generic drugs are about 30 to 80 percent less expensive than brand name drugs. In the next two years, six of the nation’s 10 best-selling drugs are expected to be available as a generic.
Read about which drugs you can expect to pay less for as a generic.
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Did you know?
Members can get a 3 month supply of maintenance drugs for 2 copays at any of our Scott & White retail pharmacies.
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On the Horizon:
Health Care Reform for 2012
Accountable Care Organizations
(Effective January 1, 2012)
The new law provides incentives for physicians to join together to form “Accountable Care Organizations.” In these groups, doctors can better coordinate patient care and improve the quality, help prevent disease and illness, and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.
Data Reporting
(Effective March, 2012)
To help understand and reduce persistent health disparities, the law requires any ongoing or new federal health program to collect and report racial, ethnic, and language data.
Standardized Billing
(First regulation effective October 1, 2012)
Health care remains one of the few industries that relies on paper records. The new law institutes a series of changes to standardize billing and requires health plans to begin adopting and implementing rules for the secure, confidential, electronic exchange of health information.
Value-Based Purchasing Program
(Effective for payments for discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2012)
The law establishes a hospital Value-Based Purchasing program (VBP) in Original Medicare. This program offers financial incentives to hospitals to improve the quality of care.
Source: www.healthcare.gov
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Small Employer Tax Credits
The Affordable Care Act helps small businesses and small tax-exempt organizations afford the cost of covering their employees.
If you have fewer than 25 employees and provide health insurance, you may qualify for a small business tax credit of up to 35% (up to 25% for non-profits) to offset the cost of your insurance. This credit will increase in 2014 to 50% (35% for non-profits). This will make the cost of providing insurance much lower.
Source: www.healthcare.gov
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Reporting Requirements for Health Care Coverage
Health care coverage reporting requirements as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) will soon require employers' attention. This reporting requirement was established to provide useful consumer information about the cost of health care coverage to employees, and it does not cause otherwise excludable employer-provided health care coverage to become taxable. IRS Notice 2011-28 provides interim guidance regarding the requirement to report to employees, on their Form W-2, the cost of their employer-sponsored group health plan coverage.
Source: www.conexis.com
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2012 HSA Contribution Limits
The IRS recently announced increases to contribution limits for HSAs. For 2012, HSA contribution limits were raised approximately 1.63 percent due to the inflation rate from last year. For individuals with a self-only HDHP, the 2012 HSA contribution limit increased by $50 to $3,100. The HSA contribution limit for individuals with a family HDHP increased $100 to $6,250.
Source: www.conexis.com
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SWHP Partners with HealthEquity for HSA Administration - You should too!
When you choose HealthEquity to administer your health savings and other health care accounts you enjoy:
Enrollment and Claims Integration with Your S&W Health Plan
With integration, you enjoy electronic eligibility for new enrollees and automatic coverage changes and terminations. And your account holders access claims, pay bills, and/or request reimbursements from a single online portal that makes account ownership hassle-free and reduces noise.
Reduced Noise
HealthEquity consistently ranks at the top of the industry for member satisfaction and has live Member Services specialists available 24/7/365. Happy members mean less noise for your benefits team.
Ease-of-Use
With HealthEquity, you get a dedicated online employer portal where you can manage contributions, view reports, and access information anytime. Plus, you have access to the HealthEquity client services team to answer questions and help with any of your needs.
For more information, read:
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HSA participation increases in 2011
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An annual census of U.S. health insurance carriers conducted by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) shows an increase in the number of people who have health savings accounts (HSAs) and high deductible health plan (HDHP) coverage. Participation rates totaled 11.4 million in January 2011 – an increase of 5 million from the previous January.
Over 85 percent of responding companies reported offering online member access to HSA
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account information, health education information, physician specific information, and personal health records as consumer decision support tools for their members.
Source:
www.conexis.com
and www.ahipresearch.org
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