Employer Strategies

Health care plan sponsors planning to get in the front of costly services this year may want to consider increasing employee communication, particularly if they have high deductible health plans. New data from Change Healthcare shows wide price variability among some common medical procedures.

Some 403(b) plan sponsors believe that if they are exempt from ERISA, they cannot be held accountable as an acting-fiduciary. This is a misconception.

Long a provider of backend technology solutions to other private exchanges and employers, bswift announced today the launch of its own private health insurance exchange, Springboard Marketplace.

Insurers participating in Obamacare may have to expand their plans to include more federally funded health clinics, safety-net hospitals and other medical providers used by low-income people, under a U.S. proposal.

Proactive vision care has been linked to early detection of chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. However, a new study from HCMS Group finds that stand-alone vision benefits can equate to nearly $100,000 in health care cost savings for large employers over a four-year span.

The employer coverage mandate and other ACA requirements relevant to employer sponsors of health and welfare plans will be discussed in detail as part of the “ACA Update — What Went Right, What Went Wrong — And What Now?” presentation at the Workplace Benefits Renaissance on Feb. 24, 2014.

After losing two colleagues in a short period of time (one in a car accident caused by an undetermined medical issue and one from a heart attack) Joe Mina, a captain in the criminal investigations division with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office in Bel Air, Md., increased his efforts to implement a more comprehensive health screening program for employees.

Poll suggests employees are looking to employers to help them keep their healthy New Year's resolutions.

When gauging whether employers need health management programs, the focus should be less on medical cost savings and more on the benefits for increased productivity and risk reduction, says new research from Optum.

Blogger Vinnie Daboul on how to get clients to seek you out for advice — not just to place a transaction.