Boost Engagement, Improve Company Culture and Combat Turnover
By Kelly Holt, CHC
With record low unemployment and competitive labor market in Middle Tennessee, it’s safe to say it’s an employees’ market. Now more than ever, we as employers must think critically about what we are doing to keep our best employees engaged and committed to our organization.
Read MoreJoin the Employee Engagement Conversation at our Wellbeing Conference on April 25
By Kelly Holt, CHC
We’re gearing up for our fourth annual Wellbeing Conference: Enhancing Employee Engagement on April 25 at the Music City Center. This year we will focus on ways to build a workplace with happier, healthier, more engaged employees.
Read MoreTips for Wrapping Up a Successful Open Enrollment
By Heather Eshaghpour
Having tackled Open Enrollment in the fall, many managers and human resources professionals would consider the busy season over; however, to ensure a successful enrollment process, we strongly encourage you to add one more step to your list: follow up.
Read MoreJudge Vacates Portions of the EEOC’s 2016 Wellness Regulations
By Kelly Holt, CHC
On December 20, 2017, Judge John D. Bates, a United States District Judge for the District of Columbia, granted the American Association of Retired Persons’ (AARP’s) motion to alter or amend the previous judgment to its 2016 lawsuit.
Read MoreNetwork Disruption Update: BlueCross BlueShield Network S and HCA/TriStar Facilities
By Heather Eshaghpour
It is our commitment to keep you up-to-date on any news that could affect your employees’ coverage, including significant provider network disruptions. In keeping with that commitment, we wanted to let you know that there is a fee agreement change that can significantly affect BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST) Blue Network S members.
Read MoreCost Containment Strategy #3: Tiered and High Value Network Design
By Susan Heard, SPHR
Up to 85 percent of health plan costs can be attributed to the cost of paying medical and pharmacy claims. Employers are limited to influencing plan costs with benefit plan design, contribution strategy, and provider access. Looking anew at provider access via network approaches makes sense.
Read MoreCost Containment Strategy #2: How Telemedicine Creates Cost Savings
By Edward Rittenberg, CFP ®
Telemedicine uses technology to facilitate communication between a doctor and patient, who are not in the same physical location, to conduct evaluation, diagnosis and treatment. Also referred to as “virtual visits,” telemedicine has gained traction over the past 15 years, and by 2020, there could be an estimated 45.6 million virtual consultations performed in the U.S.
Read MoreCigna Will End Coverage of Opioid Oxycontin in 2018
By Susan Heard, SPHR
Cigna, one of the nation’s largest health insurers, announced last week that its group health plans will no longer cover most Oxycontin prescriptions. The change takes effect January 1, 2018.
Read MoreFair Labor Standards Act Overtime Rule Overturned
By Natalie Withers
This time last year, employers were making plans to implement the new Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Final Overtime rule . However, days before the effective date, a United States District Court judge in Texas granted an emergency motion for preliminary injunction, essentially maintaining the status quo until the court could determine the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) authority to almost double the salary threshold.
Read MoreCommunicate Benefits Effectively During Enrollment and Improve Employee Engagement
By Susan Heard, SPHR
Because of the nature of employee benefits management, open enrollment (OE) communication generally focuses on benefits changes and instructions for completing enrollment, that is, the tactical versus the strategic. Often development of OE communication follows what can be a protracted renewal process and must be accomplished in a compressed timeframe during the busiest time of the year for many employers. Breaking free from this cycle to move toward a strategic approach to benefits communications takes time and needs to be considered well before the intensity of OE is underway.
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