Issue No. 85

April 14,  2015

 


 

Tomorrow is TAX DAY! The day all Americans are due to pay their annual income taxes. The task, alone, is daunting. Let alone, tomorrow, crowds of cars will line the lots of post offices to meet filing deadlines. A taxing day, to say the least. 


Thankfully, meeting your need for health benefits does not have to be nearly as taxing. Help is merely a phone call away and the person answering - Knows You AND your Company! Your need is personal and TACT is dedicated to meeting your need in a way that takes away stress and question. 


Taxes? Well, we hope you met the deadline. Health Benefits that will not tax your stress level - call TACT!


 

 

 


 

Now serving ALL of Texas Agriculture -

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TACT - Dedicated Insurance Professionals
you know and trust...like Family. 

  


Who? How? Get to Know Us!

Who is behind the scenes? How does it all get done?


 


 


At Texas Ag Coop Trust, serving YOU better in 2015 - that is our goal. With the last 6 issues of InTACT, you have had an opportunity to meet the team that works tirelessly behind the scenes with meeting YOUR needs as their goal. You now have a glimpse of how it all gets done and who is doing what. 

With Obamacare in full force, we continue to strive to provide the best benefits at the most competitive rates, provide exemplary customer service and even bring more stability and options to you, our members. 

Kim Holcomb, Martha McQuhae, Cisti Pinkert, Anne Pinkert, Karen Worth and Marcelo Aguilar have an extensive knowledge base and have worked together in various capacities through TACT's years with third party administrators. 

This is a very exciting time for Texas Ag Coop Trust. We are working on projects that will bring you more customer service, education, and opportunity! 2015 is well underway and is shaping up to be an exceptional year!

What is your need? Give us a call. We're here to help you! 

Get to know us!

 


 


 

  

 Healthcare in the News

 

  

Online Tools, Resources Available to Help States Use IT to Improve Health Care Quality, Lower Cost



 


Courtesy hhs.gov

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) announced the availability of online tools and resources designed to help states participating in the State Innovation Models initiative improve health care quality and lower costs.


 
The State Innovation Models initiative supports states in planning or implementing a customized, fully developed proposal capable of creating statewide health transformation to improve health care, focusing on Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Program beneficiaries. This new initiative is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services effort to achieve better care, smarter spending of health dollars, and healthier people.


With the support of $665 million in awards, over half of states (34 states and 3 territories, and the District of Columbia), representing nearly two-thirds of the population are participating in the initiative.


As part of an agreement with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which funds the State Innovation Models initiative, ONC has developed tools and resources to help leverage existing health IT infrastructure and tools being used by state Medicaid systems and health care providers. These include resources that can help states and health care providers use health IT tools to manage an individual's care for both their primary care and behavioral health needs, ensuring the individual is getting the right care, at the right time, and at the right place. Many of these tools and resources, accessible at www.HealthIT.gov, will also be available to states that are not participating in the State Innovation Models initiative.


"These online resources are part of an overall effort to advance of goals of better care, smarter spending, and, ultimately, healthier people," said Karen DeSalvo, M.D., M.P.H., M.Sc., national coordinator for health IT. "We are focused on supporting states and partners in developing innovative ways to pay for health care, providing tools and resources to support change, and making more information available to consumer and patients to enable them to make the right decisions - at the right time - to improve health and care."


In addition, through the use of the online resources states and health care providers will have resources to help them successfully create and use health IT infrastructure components.


To learn more about the tools and resources available, please visit:  www.HealthIT.gov


For more information on the awards, please visit: http://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/State-Innovations/


To learn more about other innovative models being tested by the CMS Innovation Center, please visit:innovation.cms.gov


 


 


 

Agriculture News
  
Global Food Prices 
Lowest in Five Years
 

 

Wednesday, April 08, 2015
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The United Nations (U.N.) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said the food price index, which measures monthly price changes in cereal, dairy, meat, sugar and oilseeds, fell 2.6 points in March to 173.8 points. This is the lowest since June 2010.


"Overall, except for a pause in October 2014, the index has been falling steadily since April 2014, on account of large global supplies for most commodities included in the index," the U.N. said in its monthly report.


Consumers will benefit from a surplus of commodities. World cereal production, which includes grains such as corn, rice, oats and rye, should reach 2.804 billion tons, 2.2 million tons above the February forecast.


Last year, the U.S. corn and soybean crops were the largest ever. The U.S. Agriculture Department said farmers would sow 84.635 million acres of soybeans this year, up slightly from last year's record 83.7 million acres. Corn plantings are projected at 89.199 million acres-the lowest since 2010.



 


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 Healthful Hint

  

Five Surprising Sources of Omega 3s

Courtesy WebMD

We often hear about what we should be cutting out of our diets - like saturated fats, sodium, and sugar. But if you want to better your health, it's not enough to just avoid the bad - you also need to make sure you're getting enough of the good. 


 

And some of the most important nutrients, such as omega-3 fats, are lacking in the typical American diet.

What makes omega-3 fats special? These essential fatty acids play a vital role in our bodies -from helping to control blood clotting to building brain cells - and have also been linked with many health benefits, such as protection against heart disease, some types of cancer, and even age-related memory loss.


While there's no Dietary Reference Intake for omega-3s, the National Institutes of Health has recommended that people eat at least 2% of their total daily calories as omega-3 fats (that's about 2 grams for a 2,000-calorie/day diet)


Fatty fish like salmon, tuna and halibut are among the best sources of omega-3s. However there are other food sources that can boost your omega-3 intake.

Here are five surprising foods to help you get more beneficial omega-3s in your diet:


Beans - Not only are beans an excellent source of protein, an eight-ounce serving of tofu (derived from soybeans) has about 1.2 grams of omega's, while a cup of kidney beans packs in nearly 1 gram (about half of what you need for the day). What's more, beans are easy on your wallet, especially compared to fresh fish. Enjoy a meatless main dish with this simpleBeans & Rice recipe.


Winter Squash - Fantastic for roasting, acorn, pumpkin, and butternut squash are best known for their beta-carotene content, but they also contain omega-3s. One cup of butternut squash has about 50 mg of omega-3s. Wondering what to do with your squash? Try this amazing Butternut Squash and Quinoa Salad.


Eggs - Once demonized as artery-clogging culprits, eggs are now known to be nutritional all-stars: one egg has 13 vitamins and minerals and high-quality protein, all for 70 calories. And some specialty eggs, like Eggland's Best, have double the amount of omega-3s (and four times more vitamin D and 25% less sat fat!) compared to ordinary eggs. Looking for the perfect power breakfast? You can't miss with these Baked Eggs in Canadian Bacon Cups.


Flax Seeds - Two tablespoons of ground flax seeds have about 3.4 grams of omega-3s. (Make sure you grind the seeds or they will pass through the body mostly undigested!) In addition to their omega-3s, flax seeds are an excellent source of fiber. They have a rich, nutty taste and are a perfect topping for salads, cereal, yogurt, or as a healthy addition to smoothies.


Walnuts - Just one ounce (about ¼ cup shelled walnut pieces) has 2.5 grams of omega-3s, making them the richest nut-source of this essential nutrient. In addition, an ounce of walnuts provides a convenient source of protein (4 grams) and fiber (2 grams).  Pump up the nutrition of your oatmeal, salads, snacks, main dishes and even desserts with this nutty nutritional powerhouse. For a perfect "anytime" snack, try these Parmesan-Herbed Walnuts.


The research is still unclear as to whether plant-based or fish omega-3 fatty acids are equally beneficial. Most Americans do not get enough of either type, so you should aim to get at least one rich source (plant or fish) of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet every day.


Small changes can lead to big results. What healthy step can you take today?


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Texas Ag Coop Trust
915 Austin Street
Levelland, TX 79336
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Texas Ag Coop Trust
Officers, Board of Trustees
 
Kimberly Tullo-Holcomb
TACT Executive Director
Lubbock, TX
 
Jim Turner, Chairman
Dalhart Consumers Fuel Association
Dalhart, TX

Bret Brown, Secretary/Treasurer
Ag Producers Co-op
Sunray, TX 
 
Ben Boerner
Texas Grain & Feed Assn.
Fort Worth, TX
 
Craig Rohrbach
Parmer County Cotton Growers
Farwell, TX
 
Dean Sasser 
Farmers Coop Elevator
Levelland, TX

Tony Williams
Texas Cotton Ginners' Association
Austin, TX
 
Paul Wilson 
United Cotton Growers
Levelland, TX


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Effective April 1

  

Want to know how to do your part in keeping  your Health Insurance Premiums from Increasing next year?

Use the In-Network Providers in Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)! PHCS contracts with physicians, hospitals and ancillary services (lab, equipment, sleep studies, radiology centers, etc.) at a discounted rate. These providers can be found by visiting the TACT website (www.TxAgCoop.com) and clicking on the "Find your Provider" link, enter your group number and click "find my provider." This will provide you with a link to obtain a list of all PHCS in network providers.


 

There is a very good reason why your employer has chosen PHCS as your PPO provider. Cost Savings. your employer is self-funding the employee health plan; in simple terms this means your employer is paying for every claim that employees and the covered dependents incur. When your employer is considering next year's health plan, and if there are many out of network claims that cost the health plan a considerable amount of money, the employer has no choice but to raise premiums or reduce benefits.


 

Example:

 

If you go to an in-network radiology facility for an MRI, the contracted rate and total cost is $639.73

If you go to an out of network radiology facility, there is no contracted rate and the total cost is $2,850


 

Let's say your deductible is $500 and your plan pays 80%. (With your out of network benefits - guess what - you and your employer will end up paying more of the cost.)


 

Make sure that you and your physician use PHCS providers. You can go to the TACT website (www.TxAgCoop.com) and click on the "Find your Provider" link, enter your group number and click "find my provider." This will provide you with a link to a list of in network providers with Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS).


 

If everyone would do their part in keeping costs down, you might be pleasantly surprised at health plan renewal time!


 

****see your office manager for New ID cards****


 

If you have questions or need assistance locating an in network provider, 

PLEASE CALL Texas Ag Benefit Administrators at 806-568-2600.


 

  

   


 


 TACT - Dedicated Insurance Professionals
  you know and trust...like Family. 
 

 

Next Issue:  April 28, 2015 
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