FOR YOUR BENEFIT.......
The Sullivan Benefits Monthly Newsletter 
February 2, 2009




Wellness Calendars and Planning
By Nan Maley, R.N.
Corporate Wellness Director, Sullivan Benefits
 
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A Wellness Calendar can be a very effective and inexpensive way to communicate and educate employees and family members about the importance of living a Healthy Lifestyle.
 
Many employers use a wellness calendar to simply promote positive health habits and preventive screening reminders to their employees.  Other employers use wellness calendars to assist with the planning and advertising of their monthly, quarterly or regularly scheduled wellness events. The calendar serves as a reminder to employees.  READ MORE

 
Nobody Asked, Just My Opinion!
By Gary R. Goodhile, CLU
Co-Founder and Principal, Sullivan Benefits
 
Over the past 10 years, if you've been doing a great job managing the cost of your health care plans they have in all likelihood doubled!  And, during this time we have shifted an increasingly larger cost burden onto our employees through higher contributions and increased cost sharing at point of care.
 
Very recently, the Boston Globe published an article (December 28th) that would lead you to believe that negotiations dating back to 2000 between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Partners Health Care (the largest provider in the state) "was a gentleman's agreement that accelerated a health care cost crisis".  Days later, Tufts Medical Center announced that Tufts doctors would no longer accept Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plans beginning February 1st, asserting that Blue Cross Blue Shield was refusing to pay Tufts doctors at a reasonable rate.  READ MORE
Sullivan Benefits is your one-stop resource for all your employee benefits and insurance needs:

Cost saving approaches
Employee wellness programs
Needham Heights Office:
72 River Park · Needham Heights, MA 02494-2631
Phone: 781.449.8323 · Fax: 781.449.5419

Worcester Office:
One Chestnut Place · Worcester, MA 01608-2804
Phone: 508.471.9017 · Fax: 508.797.3689
Sullivan Benefits - Innovative Solutions. Trusted Advice.

THE COMPLIANCE
CORNER...........

Final FMLA Regulations were effective January 16th - Are you in compliance?

The U.S. Department of Labor issued final regulations under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in November, 2008.  The new rules became effective on January 16, 2009, replacing regulations that have been in place since 1995.

The new regulations require employers to make changes in their FMLA policies, procedures, and documentation, including new leave provisions for employees with family members in the Armed Forces.
  
Contact us for updated sample forms and policies.
 
Don't forget your Quarterly Fair Share Contribution (FSC) Filing is due 2/15/09! 
Subsequent filings, if required, will be due on May 15th, August 15th and November 15th.  All filings must be completed online at  https://fsc.detma.org
Contact us if you need assistance.
Download the form here.
 
1099 HC Reminder
Your Massachusetts employees will need Form MA 1099-HC from their insurance carrier to complete the Schedule HC required on their individual tax form.  Duplicates can be requested directly from your insurer's Customer Service Department.
 
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