Employer newsletter. Fall 2016

Transcription

1 Employer newsletter Fall 2016

2 Kelly Carew We re pleased to welcome Mr. Kelly Carew as the manager of Account Management. Kelly brings more than 25 years of sales management, strategic planning and leadership to Blue Cross of Idaho. He previously served as a sales manager for Regence BlueShield of Idaho and spent five years in Boston as a business development and regional manager for Starbucks Coffee Company. In this role, he increased sales 13 percent each year, and maintained 95 percent of the company s key accounts in the area. Kelly received a Bachelor of Science in engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and served as a company commander in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Be Ready for Medicare Headcounts Blue Cross of Idaho is happy to help you. Remember, fall is the time that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) begin requesting headcounts for all Medicare-eligible employees. If you have questions about this, or need help getting your group s census information, please contact your account representative.

3 Tax Help It s time to start planning for upcoming tax requirements. Blue Cross of Idaho will provide data support to groups responsible for 1095-C reporting. This member-specific data by group will be available through the Dynamic Reporting Tool (DRT) beginning in January. If you have questions about the DRT, want to make sure you have access to it, or to request data support for 1095-C reporting, please contact your account representative. You can also find more detailed information on our new healthcare reform webpage at bcidaho.com/employers. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires the following forms for 2016 coverage, due in January Forms 1094-C and 1095-C for applicable large employer (ALE) reporting and self-insured large group minimum essential coverage (MEC) reporting Forms 1094-B and 1095-B for insurance carrier and small employer MEC reporting Accompanying instructions Visit the IRS website for details on changes to the forms and instructions. You can find information at irs.gov/form1094c, irs.gov/form1095c, irs.gov/form1094b and irs.gov/ form1095b. You can always find more information about ACA regulations and tax reporting requirements at our healthcare reform webpage at reform.bcidaho.com. Dynamic Reporting Tool Upgrade Communication User Guide Introducing Healthy Backs For years, Blue Cross of Idaho s Spine Centers of Excellence program has helped many of our members avoid surgery for back pain by outlining a course of physical therapy in an effort to provide a non-surgical solution. Now, that program has a new name and even better benefits. The Healthy Backs program still helps members explore non-surgical options to deal with back pain, but now the program includes 10 fully covered physical therapy sessions outside of each plan s contracted physical therapy allotment. Additionally, a Blue Cross of Idaho health coach will help participating members coordinate the program and stay on track. Members must be referred to the program by a participating physiatrist before enrolling, and the program is only available within the state of Idaho. The Healthy Backs program is included in all individual qualified health plans and fully insured group plans. We are expanding the program as an option for self-insured groups later this year. For more information about Healthy Backs, talk to your account representative or visit members.bcidaho.com/healthy-backs. Coverage that fits

4 Online Enrollment Center Moves Forward Blue Cross of Idaho is in the process of moving many of our existing groups to our new Online Enrollment Center (OEC). This new online tool will make it easier for benefits administrators to manage their group s healthcare benefits while increasing both accuracy and speed. The OEC allows benefits administrators to quickly add or remove employees or their dependents, approve changes, manage open enrollment periods and send customized messages to their employees. The OEC even offers groups the option of allowing their employees to self-enroll. The process of moving groups onto the OEC began earlier this year, and groups are going through the process in a set order to make sure we make the experience as seamless as possible. Groups are also being brought onto the system when they are not in their renewal period to give benefits administrators the opportunity to get familiar with the system first. Groups will be contacted prior to their actual move to the OEC to collect any required information, as well as to get instructions on the process and training opportunities. Once groups are on the new system, they have easy access to many support options, including how-to guides, instructional videos and personal help if needed. If you have questions about the OEC, contact your group representative or the Blue Cross of Idaho Online Enrollment Team at onlineenrollment@bcidaho.com.

5 New Provider Search Now, finding a healthcare provider is even easier. Blue Cross of Idaho is launching our new and improved provider search with faster, more accurate results than ever before. When you or your employees log in to your online member account at members.bcidaho.com, you ll be able to find a medical provider in your network, nearby, for whatever you need. Don t have an online account? It s easy to register anytime. Just visit members.bcidaho.com and select Register at the top of the page to get started. You ll just need your member ID number handy. By signing up, you can get electronic explanation of benefits statements, e-newsletters and access to tons of handy tools, including the new provider search. Watch for even more improvements to the provider search in the future. Blue Cross of Idaho bcidaho.com

6 3000 E. Pine Ave. Meridian, ID Published by Blue Cross of Idaho by Blue Cross of Idaho, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. All rights reserved. No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement not take the place of the recommendations of your healthcare provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or healthcare regimen. Blue Cross of Idaho makes no endorsements or warranties regarding any of the products and services included in this publication or its articles. Health Calendar Keeping your employees engaged in a healthy lifestyle is a year-round activity. Why not use one of the nationally recognized health months as a way to get them involved? Here s what s coming up in the next quarter. September National Childhood Obesity Awareness Fruits and Veggies More Matters Ovarian Cancer Awareness October National Breast Cancer Awareness November American Diabetes Lung Cancer Awareness