Employer Strategies

National Business Coalition on Health issued yesterday its annual findings that evaluate the quality and efficiency of U.S. health plans.

The American Medical Association has adopted a new policy that gives guidance to physicians using social media.

The growing number of limited medical plans that are receiving waivers from the Department of Health and Human Services for 2011 — a number that nearly quadrupled in the last couple of months, rising from 30 in September to 117 by Nov. 1 — now face some additional reporting requirements.

AARP and the Consumer Reports Health publication have launched a Web site for consumers to compare price, effectiveness, safety and convenience of medications.

In the past, unless a 403(b) program (or plan) was subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, it had no documentation requirements and, even if subject to ERISA, very few reporting obligations.

Feedback from 750 senior-level HR professionals on the state of performance-evaluation programs reveals that employers can do a better job of aligning the process to business objectives, finds a study by WorldatWork and Sibson Consulting.

One of the nation’s leading group legal plan providers recently acquired a lesser-known player, while a rival firm considered this avenue as one of several strategic moves to enhance shareholder value – proving the adage about strength in numbers may be particularly compelling in this business climate.

Two recent indicators of small-business activity have found that the nation’s economic engine is chugging along with a more optimistic outlook than previously believed – developments that could expand the number of voluntary benefit plan participants.

Humana Inc. recently expanded its digital footprint in the worksite market by launching an interactive, Web-based resource that shows how critical illness, disability and accident coverage offer financial protection in the event of an injury or illness.

Various months are designated throughout the year to educating consumers about the need for a particular insurance product line or service to ease financial burdens.