NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015        
INDUSTRY NEWS                         

Happy Holidays from ABS
In this season of gratitude, we pause to say thank you for your business
and for the confidence you place in us.
 
Best wishes for a very happy Thanksgiving from the entire ABS staff.
Employer Secure Services Portal Now Available
BS
The employer online secure services portal was recently added to the ABS website, giving authorized group contacts the ability to access online resources and assistance 24/7/365.
 
Functionality of the portal includes enrollment verifications, new or replacement identification card ordering, access to coverage details, provider and facility lookups, group reporting and more.
 
An authorization form must be completed prior to initial employer portal access; download a copy of the form here or go to www.abs-tpa.com/ABS-Product-Portfolio/Forms.  

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."  --John F. Kennedy
IRS Announces PCORI Fee Increase
for 2016
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2015-60, stating the applicable dollar amount to determine Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fees for plan years ending on or after October 1, 2015 and before October 1, 2016, will go from $2.08 to $2.17.
The Affordable Care Act imposes fees on health insurance policy issuers and self-funded health plan sponsors from October 2012 through September 30, 2019. The fee amount per plan or policy is calculated using the average number of lives covered under the policy or plan and the applicable dollar amount for that policy year or plan year.
The annual fee increase is based on increases in the projected per capita amount of national health expenditures.
"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."  --Albert Schweitzer
Tools for Better Health at Your Fingertips

Did you know the ABS Online Wellness Resources Center offers a variety of tools to assist with healthy living?

Here's a sampling:





Review all the center has to offer here.
Important Formulary Change Announcement
 
Magellan Rx recently made some important changes to its Hepatitis C products coverage. Specifically, as of January 1, 2016, Harvoni® and Sovaldi® will be the only preferred Hepatitis C agents on the formulary. Viekira Pak® will no longer be a preferred agent and will move to non-preferred status.

The Magellan Rx National Formulary is established by the practicing physicians and pharmacists who comprise its Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee. The P&T Committee reviews drugs based on their evaluation of evidence for efficacy, effectiveness and safety. The Value Assessment Committee (VAC) considers factors such as therapy alternatives, outcomes statistics, utilization metrics and cost.

Magellan Rx recognizes that patient-specific variables and other factors must be taken into account in determining whether a particular prescription product is medically appropriate for a specific patient; they also recognize that physicians ultimately make that decision. For patients in whom Harvoni or Sovaldi are inappropriate, Magellan Rx has a process in place to obtain a formulary exception for other available products.
 
Review the full Magellan Rx formulary here.  
"Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence."  --Erma Bombeck

ABS
Holiday Schedule

The offices of ABS will be closed on the following days:
November 26 & 27
Offices closed

December 24
Offices close at noon ET

December 25
Offices closed

December 31
Offices close at noon ET

January 1, 2016
Offices closed
ABS CONTACTS
Sales Support
 MI, IN, IL, OH, WI BUSINESS
 
 ABS Sales Support Hotline
(844) 828-5968
 
EGP BUSINESS
Sue LaCavera
(800) 229-2210 x 139
Sales Support Team Mailbox

   
Donna Sulhan
(800) 229-2210 x 119
 

Third Party Administration.  First-Class Results.
Home Office
8220 Irving Road  I  Sterling Heights, MI  48312  I  Tel  586.693.4300
  
Sales and Marketing Divisions
 
255 S Old Woodward  I  Suite 300  I  Birmingham, MI  48009  I  Tel  844-828-5968
Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.                            M_ABS_NL_TT_2015_11