| On My Mind: Alliance Learning Circles |
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 Last month I had a chance to attend the National Business Coalition on Health Conference in Washington, D.C. Along with my dirty laundry I brought back a suitcase full of ideas about public reporting, health care trends and other tools that I can't wait to share. The only downside to attending the conference was that I missed the first Alliance Learning Circles™ event, Weighing the Issue of Obesity in the Workplace.
 From what I heard, the Alliance Learning Circle event was a success, with more than 40 members and business partners in attendance. I hope those of you who were able to attend left feeling as invigorated as I did leaving my conference. Conferences and workshops are a great opportunity to get together and learn with peers. That's why we've developed Alliance Learning Circles. As a cooperative we want to bring members and business partners together to learn about common issues and challenges - so you can leave with tools and solutions. If you weren't able to attend in November, mark your calendar for January 27, 2009, for our next Alliance Learning Circle - Mental Health and Addiction in the Workplace. It will help employers understand this complex issue and develop practical solutions to assist employees. We'll also provide some information about the recently passed mental health parity legislation. According to Mental Health America, more than 90% of workers say mental health and personal issues affect their lives at work. Unaddressed mental health issues with employees and in their families can cause absenteeism and lost productivity. In fact, estimates say that in the U.S., untreated mental illnesses, such as depression and alcoholism, cost businesses $44 billion each year in lost productivity. The event will be held the morning of Tuesday, January 27 at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. Read more and register today. We also have helpful tools related to past and upcoming events In the Circle. Members can learn more about the impact of depression and alcoholism on their work force and check out the executive summary of Weighing the Issue of Obesity in the Workplace.
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| Retail Clinics Added to The Alliance Network |
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You have no doubt heard about retail-based clinics that have opened or will open in the next few months. The Alliance has worked with these clinics to allow access to members. The following immediate care clinics have been added as participating in-network Alliance providers:
Beaver Dam Community Hospital Fast Care Clinic
Locations:
· Shopko - Beaver Dam
· Marshland Pharmacy - Mayville
Meriter Fast Care Clinic
Locations:
· Shopko - East Madison
· Shopko - West Madison
Monroe Clinic Fast Care Clinic
Location:
· Shopko - Monroe
Employees who choose to receive care at a Fast Care Clinic will be required to pay the fast care clinic fee at the time of service. At that time they should ask the clinic to submit a claim to The Alliance, using the address provided on the back of their health plan identification card. Payment will be made to the provider and they will reimburse the employee directly. We are working with these providers to ensure that these refunds are made within 30 days of receipt by the hospital or clinic.
Fast Care Clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners and offer basic medical care for patients 18 months and older at clinic locations within the retail setting. Treatment is provided for minor conditions that are often cared for in an urgent care.
We are also currently in negotiations with other retail clinics and will provide you with information about these clinics as available. If you have any questions about retail clinics, please contact Diane Loram, 800.223.4139, x 6643.
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| New Case Study: Health Care Vigilance Pays Off for Rock County |
In this new case study, John Becker, director of human resources, talks about how Rock County saw a reduction in health benefit costs after joining The Alliance.
Becker discusses the importance of "diligence and vigilance" to ensure continued cost savings for self-funded plans. You'll read more about how in their first year, Rock County saw a reduction in health benefit costs of $1.2 million. Be sure to read it today.
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| In Your Words - Members Share Their Story |
One of the best ways to come up with new ideas is to learn from others. As a cooperative of employers with one thing in common, Alliance members have a unique opportunity to share their good ideas with each other. Through our events, such as The Alliance Learning Circles, and other networking events, our goal is to bring our members together as a true community. At these events members and our business partners have a chance to talk to one another and learn what's working, and what's not. To help expand our members' network and keep the conversation going while they're at their desk, we're introducing a new feature in The Alliance News. In Your Words will give members a chance to share their story with other members and to learn what their peers are up to. If you have a mutual client who has a story to tell, all they have to do is complete a short questionnaire. They can use it to tell us more about their health care benefits and what's going well for them. They are free to fill out as many questions as they like. They can even skip those that aren't applicable. We'll feature responses to In Your Words in future newsletters and on the Web. |
| Holiday Donation Supports Second Harvest Foodbank |
Did you know that on any given day, an estimated 103,000 people, including nearly 39,000 children, may go to bed hungry in southern Wisconsin? Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin is one organization devoted to helping feed those who are hungry. This year, The Alliance is proudly making our annual holiday donation to Second Harvest. Instead of sending cards or gifts to our business associates, each year The Alliance makes a donation to a charitable organization as a way of giving back to the communities in which our members live and work. This year's donation of $500 will help Second Harvest fight hunger in southern Wisconsin. We thank you for your continued support and wish all our members and business partners a happy and healthy holiday season and a prosperous new year! |
| Real Savings on Stop-Loss Coverage |
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One benefit of membership in The Alliance is access to significant discounts on stop-loss rates. We are able to offer this preferred pricing by leveraging the collective purchasing power of our member companies.
More than a dozen stop-loss carriers have agreed to offer additional discounts for employers that are members of The Alliance. The discounts range from 8 to 45%, and are based on a thorough evaluation of our contract effectiveness with health care providers and facilities.
The following carriers recently evaluated The Alliance:
- Alliance Underwriters
- Best Re
- BP Inc
- Hartford
- HCC Life
- Intermediary Insurance Services Inc.
- ING
- Meritain Health
- Medical Risk Managers
- Optum Health
- RE Moulton
- SLG
- SunLife
- Vista Underwriting
As part of their membership Alliance members are also able to access preferred pricing on prescription benefit management with Wisconsin Rx, dental benefits through Delta Dental, and vision benefits via DeltaVision. For specific details on the stop loss discounts or if you know of additional carriers who are not on this list, please contact Jill Mathison, 608.210.6644. |
| QualityCounts for Employees |
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- Tips When Getting Medical Tests - Taking an active role when doctors order blood tests, X-rays, and other tests is an important step to ensuring good care.
Did you know you can find past issues of QualityCounts for Employees in the Employer Resource Center? After you log in, select "Consumer Newsletters" from the Employee Health and Education tab.
You can also connect with this direct link but you will need to log in first. If you don't know your password, call Jen Linden, 608.210.6635, or 800.223.4139, ext.6635, and she will be happy to assist you.
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| News You Can Use |
The Alliance highlights health care and benefit management news for employers in News You Can Use with a link to take you to the original story or report.
- Wellness Programs and Employer Opinions - To provide current information about the nature of employer-sponsored health benefits, the Kaiser Family Foundation conducts an annual national survey of private and public employers with three or more workers.
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| About the Agent and Consultant Briefing |
Each month, The Alliance Agent and Consultant Briefing delivers the latest news to insurance agents and consultants about Alliance services, programs and events as well as information on health benefit trends, issues, and ideas of interest to our mutual clients. Subscriptions are available on a complimentary basis. To subscribe, please send an e-mail message with your name and agency to the Sales and Member Services Department. Read past issues of this newsletter on-line.
Reader comments, suggestions, and topics are always welcome.
Cathy Lanser, Editor
Melanie Cannon, Designer
Mary Borland, Director, Sales and Member Services | |
Be sure you don't miss an issue of Agent Consultant Briefing. Set any spam filters you may have to accept e-mails from @the-alliance.org.
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| Tell Us What You Think |
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Help us bring you the information you need and want. Take a short survey about this newsletter and tell us what you think. | |
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The Alliance encourages employers to distribute the