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Strong, Smart Growth Sums up 2008
Thank you for helping us achieve record membership of 1.25 million members! In 2008, we added more than 97,000 medical and 22,000 dental members in 2008 – marking the second consecutive year of record membership growth. Our success is the result of great partnerships with brokers, clients, members and providers, as well as a strong financial performance.
2008 fiscal report highlights include:
Reserves, administrative costs decrease - Our administrative costs (excluding taxes and assessments) have declined for more than five years in a row to 5.6 percent of revenue, according to documents filed with the Minnesota Department of Commerce. At the same time, reserves decreased to cover 1.6 months of medical expenses.
"HealthPartners administrative costs are among the very lowest in the country; it's one way we're working hard to make healthcare more affordable," said Mary Brainerd, HealthPartners president and CEO.
Tax increase - Our taxes increased 23 percent. The increase includes a 32 percent increase in assessments to cover losses for high risk Minnesotans enrolled in the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Assessment (MCHA), a state health plan that guarantees individuals access to health insurance.
No increase in drug costs - Our costs for prescription drugs rose less than one half of one percent in 2008. Generic drug use is the primary factor behind slowing drug cost increases. Generic drug use is at an all-time high of 74 percent among HealthPartners members. Generic drugs cost about $135 less per prescription than brand name drugs.
Stable investments - HealthPartners financial results reflect our conservative investment philosophy with limited exposure to the equity market.
Introducing HealthPartners Smart Steps Program
On May 1, we’re launching a new health and wellness solution for our small group and EZ clients. Smart Steps is a convenient, online wellness solution that pairs our nationally recognized health assessment with one of three wellness programs.
Smart Steps participants take the health assessment (HA) online, and then receive a HealthPotentialSM Score with a printable report and 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. The result is a happier, healthier employee!
Program implementation is simple. Smart Steps includes a complete online communications toolkit and wellness guide to help employers promote the program and implement workplace wellness. All clients really have to do is promote the program using our toolkit. Members simply have to go to healthpartners.com and we’ll do the rest.
Smart Steps is automatically available at no additional cost to employees and their adult dependents on Small Group and EZ plans. This is an annual program, so employees are eligible for one health assessment and one wellness program every calendar year.
For more information about Smart Steps, please contact your HealthPartners Sales Executive
New Generic Savings Program
HealthPartners is always looking for ways to stretch healthcare dollars as far as possible – especially in these difficult economic times. That’s why we’re implementing a new Generic Savings Program beginning May 1, 2009. We expect this program to drive increased generic utilization and result in substantial savings for both the member and employer. In fact, we estimate that the first phase of this program will deliver a return on investment of 46:1.
This program provides an incentive for members on specified medications to switch from a brand-name medication to a lower-cost generic option. We’ll send a letter to eligible members encouraging them to talk to their provider about making the switch and then we’ll offer them up to a three-month supply of medications for free if they make the switch within a 100-day window. In the first round we’ll be targeting brand-name ulcer and reflux medications – Aciphex and Nexium.
Members who have not received prior approval for the medication will be invited to participate once in a 12-month period for each campaign. Currently, the program only applies to members that have a copay for their generic pharmacy benefit (not coinsurance or HSA plans).
HealthPartners is automatically implementing this program for fully insured groups. 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.
Local Success Story Receives National Recognition
A partnership between HealthPartners and a local employer has resulted in a huge win-win for all parties... While the employer experienced reduced medical claims and increased productivity, HealthPartners earned Platinum recognition – the highest level of recognition – from URAC, an independent healthcare accrediting organization.
HealthPartners received the award for “Improving Employee Health through Behavior Change: A Case Study.” HealthPartners and a local employer worked together to promote healthy lifestyles and chronic condition management. Participants experienced an increase in healthy lifestyle behaviors and prevented or minimized development of chronic illness.
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.
Out of 70 submissions, HealthPartners was one of only two organizations that received Platinum recognition. The award was given at the Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Empowerment and Protection Awards Gala held on April 1-2, 2009.
URAC focuses on healthcare quality and the advancement of proven best practices. The award demonstrates recognition of HealthPartners successful, innovative leadership in consumer-focused healthcare management.
For more information please visit urac.org or healthpartners.com.
Online Renewal Survey
As part of our ongoing customer service initiative, we’re constantly looking for new opportunities to improve our partnership. One opportunity that has been identified is the online delivery of renewals to brokers. We’re in the process of evaluating this opportunity and would like your input to help guide our decision. If you haven’t done so already, please take a few moments to complete the survey below.
Start the survey now!
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 the employer's total number of employees. By law, the subsidy is administered differently depending on whether the company is covered by federal COBRA law or state continuation law.
If the company has 20 or more employees:
- It is most likely covered by federal COBRA law and 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 the company has fewer than 20 employees:
- It is 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/broker.
- 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 the employer or their COBRA administrator.
- This process is in addition to the employers’ current process and is not a replacement of their COBRA administration. The employer 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/broker for additional information about the subsidy and for continued updates.
Get up-to-date On Your Medicare Compliance
Before you sell any HealthPartners Medicare products, make sure you’re compliant to sell the products in 2009. Unless you’ve completed the steps below, we cannot process your commission for applications you submit.
To become certified to sell HealthPartners Medicare products, please follow these steps:
- First, complete the AHIP Medicare Marketing Training online course and associated test. You must earn a passing grade of 90 percent or higher and submit your score to HealthPartners. A link to this course is available under the Broker Education section of healthpartners.com.
- Second, complete the online HealthPartners Medicare Product course and associated text. The link is available under the Broker Education section of healthpartners.com.
- Finally, review and sign the HealthPartners Broker Compliance Statement by which you agree to abide by HealthPartners and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policies and procedures when selling Medicare products. A copy is available at healthpartners.com/brokerdirect.
To learn more please contact your HealthPartners Sales Executive or call Medicare Sales at 952-883-5601.
Keep The Flu Out Of The Workplace
When your clients provide an influenza vaccine clinic, they can help 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. Clients also have the option to include non-covered employees or dependents. At the time of the clinic, the employee will simply need to supply their HealthPartners member number.
Encourage your clients to plan for their fall or winter clinic – now. Visit us online to learn more or to register using the online Flu Shot Registration Form.
In Every Issue
Frequent Fitness Update
Our Frequent Fitness program continues to grow. Members now have even more choices and chances to save money while achieving a healthy lifestyle. Now, members who enroll or are enrolled in the Frequent Fitness program will have access to more than 860 locations in the HealthPartners service region.
The Frequent Fitness program offers fully insured members (two per household) up to a $20 reimbursement for working out 12 times a month.
New clubs to join Frequent Fitness effective May 1, 2009
- Edina Community Education Center – Edina
- Northfield Senior Center – Northfield
- The Training Room – Somerset, Wisc.
Learn more about Frequent Fitness.
Network Updates
As our client base and membership continues to expand, so does our network. In fact, we’ve recently added a large number of providers. We’re committed to providing access to the providers your clients demand – nationwide. No matter where your clients live, work or travel, we’ve got them covered. Additions last month included:
Medical – North Dakota
CLINICARE – Cavalier
Medical – South Dakota
Avera Pediatrics Plus – Mitchell
Medical – Wisconsin
Marshfield Clinic Bloomer Center – Bloomer
Dental – Minnesota
Amana Dental – Minneapolis
Chanhassen Dental, PA – Chanhassen
Chart & Mohs Dentistry, PA – Duluth
Dental Care Associates of Buffalo, PA – Buffalo
Lakes Dental Clinic – Forest Lake
Shoreline Dental Associates – Duluth
Try out our new search function to see just how easy it is to find a network provider quickly and simply. Provider Search.
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