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| Volume 3, Issue 2: January 25, 2008 |
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Portland Offices To Move February 15 Our Portland PacificSource, Manley Services, and Select Benefit Administrators, Inc. (SBA) offices are planning to move to their new Tigard location the weekend of February 15. The new office will open for business on Tuesday, February 19, after the Presidents’ Day holiday. The address of the new location is 13010 SW 68th Parkway, Suite 140, Tigard, OR 97223. Our PO Boxes and phone numbers will remain the same. PacificSource and SBA Add Toll-Free Numbers PacificSource’s Portland office and Select Benefit Administrators, Inc. (SBA) have added new toll-free numbers. Now, you and your clients can call (866) 540-1191 to reach the PacificSource Portland regional office directly, or call (800) 473-0509 to reach SBA's main office in Portland. For more information about SBA’s services for employers that self-fund their employee benefit plans, visit SBA’s Web site at www.selectadmin.com or contact your PacificSource Marketing Representative. As you know, effective January 1, the defined size of Oregon small employer groups changed from 2–25 to 2–50 eligible employees. This change affects groups that are new or renewing after March 31. We’ve created an Oregon Group Profile Form to help you determine group size. This form replaces our Employer Census for Client Size Determination form. Although we prefer our Oregon Group Profile Form, we will accept the Oregon Insurance Division’s Oregon Standardized Group Profile Form. You may continue to use our SEHI Coverage Guidelines as a reference. The guide details criteria for various small business types, such as sole proprietorships, LLCs, and partnerships. Our staff is continuing to interpret and evaluate the changes affecting Oregon small groups. We promise to keep you informed as details develop. Please feel free to contact your PacificSource Marketing Representative if you have questions or concerns. Chemotherapy Coverage Notice Mails to Members This week, PacificSource mailed a chemotherapy coverage notice to Oregon members explaining changes in coverage for orally administered anticancer medications. Oregon Senate Bill 8, which became effective January 1, 2008, requires health benefit plans that provide coverage for cancer chemotherapy treatment to provide coverage for prescribed, orally administered anticancer medication no less favorably than IV-administered or injected cancer medications. Orally administered anticancer medications are now covered under the medical chemotherapy benefit instead of the pharmacy benefit. Although these anticancer medications are now a medical benefit, members need to obtain these drugs through Caremark® Specialty Pharmacy Services to receive the participating provider benefit. Mishap Proves Value of Travel Benefit PacificSource employee Tiffany Jacobs discovered firsthand the value of our Assist America Global Emergency Services travel benefit. She was happy to share her story with you. Recently, Tiffany and her family traveled to the Boise area from her home in Oregon for a family reunion. Just after she arrived, she and her family went out for an early dinner. The afternoon sun was streaming in the window where they were seated, so Tiffany reached up to close the blind. As she did, she brushed the window frame and felt a large sliver of wood pierce her hand. The restaurant staff helped remove the 3/4-inch sliver and gave her first aid, but Tiffany was worried about the puncture portion of the wound. “I know that it’s ridiculous to go to the emergency room for a splinter, but I realized it had been 15 years since my last tetanus shot,” she said. “I would need a shot within 72 hours, and I wasn’t planning to be back home for another week.” Fortunately, Tiffany remembered her new PacificSource travel benefit, Assist America Global Emergency Services, for members traveling 100 miles or more from home. She called the toll-free number on the Assist America card in her wallet. The Assist America representative gave her the emergency number of a nearby clinic and driving directions. In addition, Tiffany was put in touch with an Assist America nurse, who helped evaluate her medical need. “The clinic was fabulous!” commented Tiffany. “They checked my wound, put on a fresh bandage, and gave me the tetanus shot. My only cost was my $15 copay plus a few dollars billed later. The emergency room would have cost $100 for the copay, plus more for my portion of the bill.” The next day, Tiffany was surprised and delighted to get a follow-up phone call from Assist America. They called to see how she was doing and to find out about her experience at the clinic. “All in all, it was a great experience for an accident,” she remarked. “It was a relief to call Assist America and immediately get a live person on the phone. The clinic that they directed me to gave me great care. And not only did they save me money, they saved me from what could have been a very stressful event on my trip!” To learn more about the Assist America value-added benefit, you’re welcome to download our informational flier (Bend, Boise, Eugene, Medford, Portland) from our Web site. PacificSource Demonstrates Commitment to Community Health Throughout its 75 years of providing health insurance coverage, PacificSource has also been committed to the health of people in the Northwest through financial support and personal involvement in community service initiatives. A community's health is influenced by the quality of the support network available to those who require assistance in making healthy lifestyle choices or providing for their basic needs. PacificSource seeks to help individuals, families, and communities increase healthy behaviors and to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children to develop into healthy adults. “We’re happy to support the communities we serve,” says Ken Provencher, Chief Executive Officer of PacificSource. “We strive to create and sustain local health initiatives whenever possible.” The PacificSource Charitable Foundation One way PacificSource helps local communities is through its charitable foundation. Since its incorporation in 1992, the PacificSource Charitable Foundation provides financial support to organizations, programs, and individuals in communities that PacificSource serves to improve health status and meet healthcare needs, with an emphasis on children and youth. The Foundation works in partnership with PacificSource and its many business partners and customers, including healthcare providers and health insurance agents. Last year, with the goals of increasing access to healthcare services, addressing the healthcare needs of children and youth, and assisting the uninsured and underinsured, the Foundation granted more than $600,000 to community-serving organizations. Through grants to organizations such as United Way of Lane County‘s 100% Access Initiative (Lane County), Outside In (Portland), Three Rivers School District (Josephine County), and Mercy Foundation Healthy Kids Outreach Program (Douglas County), the Foundation has helped thousands of people throughout the Pacific Northwest. The PacificSource Healthy Communities Program In addition to the foundation's accomplishments, PacificSource and its employees, as well as employees of its subsidiaries Manley Services and Select Benefit Administrators, participate in a wide range of charitable and community activities. Through our Healthy Communities program, we strive to educate and empower individuals and families to adopt healthy behaviors and lifestyles. We sponsor a number of educational and fun family-oriented activities that support the health of communities throughout Oregon and Idaho. PacificSource has provided strong support to United Way for many years through monetary donations and participation in their Loaned Executive and Day of Caring programs. For several years, our employees have participated in the United Way campaign, Junior Achievement, and children's literacy programs. You may have seen the PacificSource team at the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life or the March of Dimes March for Babies (WalkAmerica) events in your community. Whether through its foundation, employee involvement, or community giving program, PacificSource demonstrates a sincere commitment to improving the quality of life for people throughout the Pacific Northwest. Our offices will be closed in observance of Presidents’ Day on February 18.PacificSource Sponsors CE Classes in Eugene and Portland February 26 Classes in Eugene (Six credit hours total)
February 28 Classes in Portland (Six credit hours total)
Invitations will be e-mailed with class and registration details. Class space is limited, so be sure to register as soon as you receive your invitation. Please e-mail Marketing Agent Coordinator Candice Wilkins to register or for more information. As we schedule additional classes, you can find them listed in our 2008 schedule in the For Agents/Prof'l Development section of our Web site. Portland Association of Health Underwriters will host a CE seminar on February 20 in Portland, Oregon. Contact PAHU for more information or visit www.pahuonline.org and select Upcoming Events. For more information, visit www.orahu.org. PacificSource is proud to sponsor Northwest community events that support healthy communities and health-focused organizations. We hope you will join us in supporting these events: Casino Night—CASA of Lane County Mardi Gras Celebration and Auction—The Child Center 2008 Spring Fling—Birth to Three |
Questions? You’re always welcome to contact us! |
Eugene Bend Boise Medford |
Portland Manley Services Select Benefit Administrators |
