New Professional Development Webinars

Perspectives on Complying with the 2008 Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act

For many group health plans, a law passed in 2008 requiring equitable coverage of mental illness and substance abuse treatment went in to effect this year. Interim final regulations were published in February providing guidance on how health plans must meet specific standards with respect to equal durational treatment limits, financial limitations, and nonfinancial limitations for plan years beginning on or after July 1.

Join Kathleen Mahieu and Andrew Sperling as they provide you with a clear understanding of the new regulations, their impact on health plans, consumers, employers; and insight into the steps necessary for compliance.

We would like to thank Pfizer for their assistance with the coordination of this presentation.

Click here for more information and to register.

Smoking Cessation Webinars

This free, two-part series is designed to provide you with viable solutions for both the employer and the consumer.

Part I: Smoking Cessation: The Purchaser Perspective

Cigarette smoking is highly prevalent and increases the risk of many serious health complications. Few people successfully quit smoking on their own because nicotine addiction is a chronic, relapsing medical condition with physical and behavioral factors. Offering comprehensive smoking cessation benefits, including pharmacotherapy and behavioral support, can help smokers quit. Leading health agencies and business organizations have called for comprehensive smoking cessation benefits. A smoking cessation benefit has been shown to be valuable for both employees and employers.

Join Renee Juhl, PharmD, who will provide an overview on the financial and clinical impact of cigarette smoking on an organization, demonstrate the value of smoking cessation benefits to an organization, discuss the components of smoking cessation coverage, available treatment options and present best practices in smoking cessation management.

Click here for more information and to register.

We would like to thank Pfizer for their assistance with the coordination of this presentation.

Part II: Tobacco Cessation Collaboration

Everyone benefits when the air is cleared of secondhand smoke. Workers become healthier, and healthier workers miss less work, are more productive and have lower health care costs. Smoke-free initiatives are good for your workers’ health – and that’s good for your bottom line. Without changing lifestyle choices and company policies toward promoting healthy behavior, things will only get worst. This session will discuss how agents and brokers can help clients meet their insurance needs by providing a variety of plans and explaining the pros and cons of each. Unique collaboration can be offered to reduce tobacco use and increase awareness for potential cost savings to employers who implement evidence-based cessation programs that work.  Comprehensive cessation programs save money. A wellness plan cannot be measured in bottom-line savings alone. The improved worker productivity, morale and overall health of employees will no doubt be recognized.

Join Susan Rider, Employee Benefits Senior Account Manager, who will discuss in detail how to gain direct access to trained professionals that provide one-on-one counseling over the phone, an employer referral to the program with consent of employee and discount coupons for gums, patches and other medications to assist employee in becoming a non-smoker.

Click here for more information and to register.