April Headlines

Take smart steps toward a healthy workplace
Introducing the Generic Savings Program
COBRA subsidy administration update
HealthPartners wellness solutions receive highest recognition
Keep the flu out of your workplace!

Take smart steps toward a healthy workplace
It’s clear that employers with wellness programs improve employee health, increase productivity and save money. Yet in today’s busy world, it is not always easy to implement wellness in your workplace. On May 1, 2009, HealthPartners will  introduce Smart Steps – a new, convenient, online wellness solution!

Smart Steps is automatically available  at no additional cost to employees and their adult dependents on Small Group and EZ plans. Delivered through a seamless Web experience on healthpartners.com, Smart Steps is comprised of our nationally recognized online health assessment and a choice of three different online wellness programs. Plus, Smart Steps includes employer resources to help you promote the program and implement workplace wellness.

Smart Steps begins with HealthPartners nationally recognized online health assessment. After taking the health assessment, participants receive a HealthPotential^SM Score and a printable report with personalized information to help them improve their overall health.

After discovering their health potential, participants have the opportunity to take one of three online wellness programs: HealthPartners 10,000 Steps^® program, Stress eProgram or Weight eProgram. 

Smart Steps also has a built-in completion certificate that populates with the participant’s name and completion date after both the health assessment and the wellness program. If you are offering an incentive for Smart Steps participation, a copy of the completion certificate can be used as proof to receive an incentive. 

All you need to do is promote the program as much as it fits in your schedule. We make promotion easy through a complete online communications toolkit. Plus, we also provide you with a wellness guide to give you tips on implementing a wellness program in the workplace.

Smart Steps is an annual program based on the calendar year, so your employees will have the opportunity to take a health assessment and one wellness program every year.

For more information about HealthPartners Smart Steps, please contact your broker or HealthPartners sales executive at 952-883-5200 or 1-800-298-4235.

Introducing the Generic Savings Program
HealthPartners knows that during these difficult economic times, you and your employees are looking to stretch your healthcare dollars as far as possible. That’s why we’re implementing a new Generic Savings Program beginning May 1, 2009.  

This program provides an incentive for members to switch from a brand-name medication to a lower-cost generic option. In the first round we will be targeting brand-name ulcer and reflux medications – Aciphex and Nexium.  If the member switches from the brand-name medication to the generic option, omeprazole 10mg or 20 mg, they will be able to get up to a three-month supply for no out-of-pocket cost.

Although the member can get up to a three-month supply of the generic medication at no cost, in most cases the three-month generic supply will still be less expensive than the cost for a one-month fill of the brand-name medication.

With this program, a letter will be triggered and mailed to members when a claim for the targeted brand-name medication is processed. The member will be encouraged to talk to their provider about making the switch and will be offered up to a three-month supply of medications at no out-of-pocket cost if they make the switch within a 100-day window.

Members will only be targeted once in a 12-month period for each campaign and we will not target members with prior approval for the medication. Currently, the program only applies to members that have a copay for their generic pharmacy benefit (not coinsurance or HSA plans).

We expect this program to drive a further increase in generic utilization and result in substantial savings for both the member and you. In fact, we estimate that the first phase of this program alone will deliver a return on investment of 46:1.

HealthPartners is implementing this program for our fully insured business. Self-insured employers will receive a communication within the next few weeks about opting in to the program.

To learn more about HealthPartners pharmacy programs and services, please visit healthpartners.com/pharmacy.

COBRA subsidy administration update
In February 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed into law by President Obama. This new law includes a 65 percent federal subsidy for COBRA premiums for up to nine months.

There are different rules for the subsidy depending on your total number of employees. By law, the subsidy is administered differently depending on whether your company is covered by federal COBRA law or state continuation law.

If you have 20 or more employees:

• You are most likely covered by federal COBRA law and you will need to administer the subsidy and collect the subsidy reimbursement through a payroll tax credit. More information is available at www.dol.gov/cobra.

If you have fewer than 20 employees:

• You are most likely covered by state continuation law and HealthPartners will cover the 65 percent subsidy and collect the reimbursement from the federal government.
• The special election period is very likely to be approved in the next few days by the State of Minnesota and is being discussed by the State of Wisconsin. The special election period offers those with an involuntary termination of employment between September 1, 2008, and February 16, 2009, who previously declined continuation coverage or initially elected coverage but later dropped it, another chance to enroll with coverage beginning on March 1, 2009.

For groups with fewer than 20 employees, the following procedures will be put in place once the special election period in Minnesota is passed:

• HealthPartners is required by the Department of Labor to send a continuation notice to certain members with a qualifying event from September 1, 2008, to December 31, 2009.
• In order to comply with this requirement, we will be sending a continuation notice that includes an attestation to all members with terminated coverage from September 1, 2008, to December 31, 2009. A copy of the initial notice is posted on healthpartners.com/employer.
• When the special election period passes, HealthPartners will notify terminated members of a possible opportunity to re-elect coverage.
• We will instruct recipients to return applicable information to you or your COBRA administrator.
• This process is in addition to your current process and is not a replacement of your COBRA administration. You will continue to be responsible for communicating with eligible individuals about continuation coverage and billing the premiums.

Thank you for your continued partnership. Please visit healthpartners.com/employer for additional information about the subsidy and for continued updates.

HealthPartners wellness solutions receive highest recognition
HealthPartners was recently awarded Platinum recognition – the highest level – from URAC, an independent healthcare accrediting organization. URAC focuses on healthcare quality and the advancement of proven best practices.

Out of 70 submissions, HealthPartners was one of only two organizations that received Platinum recognition at the Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Empowerment and Protection Awards Gala held April 1-2, 2009.

HealthPartners received the award for “Improving Employee Health through Behavior Change: A Case Study.” HealthPartners teamed with BAE Systems, a global defense and aerospace company with 1,400 employees at its Minneapolis facility, to promote healthy lifestyles and chronic condition management. Participants experienced an increase in healthy lifestyle behaviors and prevented or minimized development of chronic illness.

As a result, the employer experienced reduced medical claims and increased productivity. During the first four years of the initiative, the employer saw a positive ROI of 3:1, through a reduction in average medical claims. They also saw a significant increase in workplace productivity of 6:1 and had a claim savings of $1.8 million.

BAE offers the following advice to you as you consider a consumer engagement strategy:

• Develop a strong partnership with HealthPartners to coordinate your program
• Make a long-term commitment (BAE’s was five years)
• Communicate
  

Keep the flu out of your workplace!
Providing a flu (influenza) vaccine clinic can reduce the number of lost workdays and medical costs associated with the flu.

HealthPartners believes so strongly in this preventive measure that fully-insured employers may offer this service to HealthPartners members at no additional cost. The cost for self-insured employers varies by vendor — but all costs are handled through claims — making this a hassle-free service that doesn't require a pre-planned budget item. You also have the option of including non-covered employees or dependents.

Plan now for your fall or winter clinic. You have the option to offer the program to employees only or employees and their dependents. At the time of the clinic, the employee will simply need to supply their HealthPartners member number.

Visit us online to learn more or to register using the online Flu Shot Registration Form.