Category: Benefit Bites

Benefit Bites - Resources Edition - December, 2020

12/15/2020

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In this Benefit Bites:

Carrier Corner

AIMS and ALLtech - Regence and Asuris NW 2019 rebates will be retained by the Trusts
Canadian drugs - Canada passed a rule limiting exportation
Premera Trusts and Associations - all removing Teladoc
SBCs and Uniform Glossary updates
SCOTUS & PBMs - ruling that states can regulate PBM pharmacy reimbursements

Vetted Vendor

SimpleHealth

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Benefit Bites - Industry Edition - December, 2020

12/1/2020

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In this Benefit Bites:
Blog: - Dependent Deductions

Carrier Corner:

Advanced Professionals - partnered with Ease, Navia, Allstate
BHT - removing Teladoc
Healthcare Transparency - rules issued
ICHRA/QSEHRA - CMS slide deck
PCORI Fee - IRS announced new rate

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Benefit Bites - Industry Edition - November, 2020

11/16/2020

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In this Benefit Bites:

Carrier Corner:

213(d) - reminder that was expanded
Aetna - okab cgabges
AWB - updated dual option matrix
Blue Cross/Blue Shield - some WA residents may receive a settlement
HR Service - Comparison charg of pre-tax programs
Premera - Teladoc being discontinued
Premera - updating drug prior authorization program
UHC - plan changes
WTIA - removing Teladoc
WTIA - dental plan change

SURVEYS & SUCH

Cigna - whitepaper on the current COVID-19 vaccination landscape
Guardian - 9th Benefit Optimization study, with latest trends in voluntary benefits
HUB International - ACA Reporting guide called Decoding the Codes

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Benefit Bites - Resources Edition - October, 2020

10/30/2020

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In this Benefit Bites:
Blog: 2021 Small Group Plans

Carrier Corner

988 - National hotline for mental health emergencies, set up by 7/2022
Aetna - partnered with Metlife for dental, vision, life, disability
AP Connect - can now provide community-rated medical plans through NW Benefit Alliance
Flu Vaccine - WA is working with Safeway and Albertons to offer no-cost flu shots to the uninsured
Guardian - rolled out teledentistry for urgent needs
Guardian - now coordinating EIO process for employer
Health FSA - plan limits for 2021
Insurance Transparency - federal rule passed, fully effective in 2024
Kaiser - removing some Bartell phamacies from Core network
KAVI - plan renewals
NWBA - plan renewals
Premera - ConnectYourCare will be administrator and custodian for HSA accounts 1/1/2021
Public Health Emergency - HHS extended through 1/21/2021

SURVEYS & SUCH

Optum - 3rd Annual Optum Surey on AI in Health Care
WA State - if ACA struck down, estimated residents who would lose coverage
Willis Towers Watson - 2020 Health Care Delivery Survey

Monthly Freebies

HSA - BeneBrief - HSA at 55+

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Benefit Bites - Industry Edition - October, 2020

10/15/2020

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In this Benefit Bites:
Blog: - Cascade Care - Going Live 1/1/2021

Carrier Corner:

ACA Reporting Deadline - extended forms to individuals to 3/2/2021
ACA Reporting Materials - IRS published
AWB - no longer using Teladoc
Delta Dental - no change to group rates
Cigna - MD Live will be their only virtual care provider as of 1/1/21
Freshbenies - Adding The Pet Pack, including telehealth for pets
Medicare for ESRD - CMS announced final payment model
Medicare.gov - has new Care Compare site combining multiple tools
OMNI Clean Tech - formulary clarification
Premera - plan changes
Premera - Vivacity Care Center in Spokane Valley
VSP - how to add Costco, Visionworks Pearle Vision and Walmart in-network
WA Dept of Health - flyer comparing symptoms
WA State - Insulin copay cap as of 1/1/2021
WA State - minimum wage increase

SURVEYS & SUCH

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Urban Institute - published policy brief on implications of SCOTUS finding ACA unconstitutional
The Hartford - 2020 Future of Benefits study

Vetted Vendor: ChallengeRunner

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2021 Individual Plans

10/2/2020

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The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner released approved 2021 rates for 13 of the 15 carriers that proposed individual plans.

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Benefit Bites - Resources Edition - September, 2020

9/30/2020

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In this Benefit Bites:
Blog: 2021 Individual Plans

Carrier Corner

AIMS - plan changes
ALLtech - plan changes
AWB - plan changes
BHT - no plan changes, added Chambers
Cigna - Level Funding Edge
Individual plans - Cascade Care
Individual - open enrollment extended
Kaiser- plan changes
Kaiser NW - plan changes
OMNI - plan changes
PacificSource - plan changes
Regence, Asuris NW - plan changes
WA Labor Deprt - proposing no change to L&I average pricing
Willamette - new office location

SURVEYS & SUCH

EBRI - Workplace Wellness Survey
VersantHealth - whitepaper Ocular telemedicine as an enhancement for in-person eye care

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Benefit Bites - Industry Edition - September, 2020

9/15/2020

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In this Benefit Bites:
Blog: - Medicare Part D Credibility

Carrier Corner:

Infinisource - now iSolved Benefit Services
Kaiser - will be offering new Virtual Plus plans for 2021, as well as Health360 plans with packaged dental
Premera - large group plan information
Regence - smaall and large group product updates
UHC - fully insured plans no longer covering out of network services for lab, DME, dialysis.
UHC - paying out MLR rebated by end of September
Willamette Dental - 2021 individual brochure

SURVEYS & SUCH

DocASAP - published Telehealth: Taking the Pulse of the Healthcare Consumer in the New Normal
GoodRx - released list of most expensive drugs in the US
Guardian -published Dental Benefits 2020: Maintaining oral health during COVID-19 and beyond
Hartford - released their Future of Benefits Study
HMI - Published their High Cost Pharmaceuticals and Therapies white paper
SunLife - published Introduction to Gene Therapy
VSP - article for BHT on 4 Ways to Protect Your Eyes from Wildfire Smoke

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Benefit Bites - Industry Edition - August, 2020

8/14/2020

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In this Benefit Bites:
Blog: - Navigating the Minefield of Nondiscrimination
Carrier Corner:

Kaiser - Adding Magellan Healthcare to increase mental health and wellness access
Kaiser - new pharmacy in Bellingham
Kaiser - closing CareClinics at Bartell Drugs in WA
Premera - discontinuing member discount program
Principal - expanded Critical Illness to cover more conditions
Regence/Asuris NW - Premium relief in October bills
Vertafore - Joining Roper Technologies
WA Exchange - slide deck of 2021 proposed individual plans

SURVEYS AND SUCH

ACA Reporting - more codes added for Line 14
IRS published healthcare affordability figures for 2021
Principoal - 2020 Principal Financial Well-Being Index
SunLife - 2020 Stop-Loss Research Report - High Cost Claims and Injectable Drug Trends Analysis
WalletHub - Published report on States with the Best Health Infrastructure for Coronavirus

Vetted Vendor: LTC Solutions

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