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| Volume 3, Issue 5: March 7, 2008 |
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PacificSource Finalizes Relationship with St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Idaho We are pleased to announce that St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center has signed an agreement to join our participating provider network. With the addition of the St. Luke’s facilities in Boise and Meridian, our network now includes ten hospitals and approximately 1,600 medical professionals in the Treasure Valley area, representing nearly all of the area’s healthcare professionals. “With the completion of the St. Luke’s agreement, we’re able to offer Boise businesses a truly comprehensive provider network to go along with our group health insurance plans,” says Regional Manager Dave Ewers. “Our members have been able to access St. Luke’s hospitals through our contracted national PPO network for some time, but having a direct contract with both of the major hospital systems is a real business advantage.” In July 2007, we signed an agreement with the Advantage Care Network, including St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, six other area hospitals, and affiliated provider groups representing almost 700 providers. In November 2007, we reached an agreement with Select Medical Network of Idaho, an Independent Physician Association (IPA) representing approximately 630 physicians. “We anticipate a long and mutually rewarding partnership with St. Luke’s and the other local hospitals in our network,” Dave adds. “We appreciate their confidence in PacificSource. We’re here to stay, and we're committed to our mission of helping people get the healthcare they need.” First Health Idaho Coverage Area Changing The completion of our agreement with St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center gives our members full access to services in the Idaho counties of Ada, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, and Washington. As a result, effective May 1, we will no longer use the First Health network for those counties. Claims from those counties with service dates of May 1 or later will no longer be sent to First Health for pricing. Later this month, we will notify our affected members (notice to members) and group clients of the change. Group Commissions Increase in Oregon Commissions for small (2-50 enrolled employees) and large groups (99 or fewer enrolled employees) will be increased across the board effective May 1, 2008. Your June commission statement will reflect this change. Commissions for groups with 100 or more enrolled employees will remain the same. Medical commission is being increased two percent for small groups of 25 or fewer eligible employees, five percent for small groups of 26-50 eligible employees, and two percent for large groups with 99 or fewer enrolled employees. Dental commission on these groups will also increase three percent.
Please sign the revised Schedule B Group Plan Commissions form and fax it to PacificSource at fax (541) 225-3645, or mail it to Attn: Marketing, PacificSource, PO Box 7068, Eugene, OR 97401-0068. A copy should also be attached as an addendum to your Producer Contract. Oregon Group Profile Form FAQ Provides Answers In the February 22 Agent Bulletin, we updated you on changes to our Oregon Group Profile Form. Based on your questions, we’ve created a frequently asked questions document that we hope will help clarify this form. If you have additional questions, you are always welcome to contact us. Report Helps Agents Track Delinquent Premium Payments Now that PacificSource commissions are based on premium paid rather that premium billed, you may be interested in knowing when your group clients are delinquent on their premium payment. We provide automatic monthly reports to agents with delinquent clients. If any of your clients are delinquent, you’ll receive a Group Past Due Notices report from us in the mail by the 20th of the month, along with a copy of the coverage termination letter that will be issued should we not receive payment within 30 days. The letter informs the group whether or not it is eligible to reinstate coverage, and it explains their reinstatement opportunity. If you believe you are not receiving this information, please let us know. Groups and Affiliates May Enroll as Single Employer Oregon regulations have recently changed for affiliated groups of employers with common ownership. The change makes Oregon regulations consistent with federal guidelines. Some employers may be considered an “affiliated service group” of another organization and can be included in the other organization's plan coverage. For example, if an employer is a shareholder or partner in another organization and regularly performs services for, or is associated with, the other organization’s services, the employer may be considered an affiliated service group of the other organization. For benefit purposes, employees of an organization and its affiliated service groups may be treated as employed by a single employer. Idaho regulations are consistent with the federal guidelines, but also allow for affiliated groups of employers who are eligible to file a combined Idaho tax return to be considered a single employer. A Common Ownership Confirmation Form (Idaho, Oregon) must be completed and signed by the affiliated group’s accountant, attorney, or an officer of the company, and returned to us with their enrollment. The form confirms their affiliate relationship and enables them to be included in the plan coverage. Member Materials Available in Spanish Spanish language forms and fliers for members for both Oregon and Idaho are now available in For Agents/Materials area of our Web site. The fliers have been updated with the fresh look and updated language of our other member materials. If you would like paper copies for any of these, please contact your PacificSource Marketing Sales Representative. Boise Office Welcomes Melissa Berg It’s official! Marketing Office Assistant Melissa Berg has joined our Boise regional office team. Some of you may already have met her since she actually began work in November on a temporary basis. |
In This Issue: PacificSource Finalizes Relationship with St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Idaho First Health Idaho Coverage Area Changing Group Commissions Increase in Oregon Oregon Group Profile Form FAQ Provides Answers Report Helps Agents Track Delinquent Premium Payments Groups and Affiliates May Enroll as Single Employer Member Materials Available in Spanish |
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A recent transplant from Minnesota, Melissa moved to Boise after graduating from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota at Winona. “Call me and ask me to say ‘goat',” she jokes. “My Fargo accent is a big kick around the Boise office.” Although Melissa wishes Boise had more snow like Minnesota, she’s counting down the days until springtime, flip-flops, fishing, and disc golf. She takes her disc golf seriously and is a member of the Gem State Disc Golf Club. It’s easy to see from her friendly manner and sense of humor how much Melissa enjoys people. “Working with the awesome people here in the Boise office is great,” she says. “And I’m looking forward to being a part of all of the summertime events that PacificSource helps to sponsor, such as the Alive After Five concert series and the St Luke’s Women’s Fitness Celebration.” The Willamette Valley Association of Health Underwriters will host a CE seminar, “Overview of Oregon Health Fund Board,” on March 13 in Salem, Oregon. See the WVAHU CE seminar registration flier for details. For more information about OAHU, visit www.orahu.org. The Idaho Association of Health Underwriters (IAHU) 2008 Health Symposium will be held on April 9 in Boise, Idaho. See the IAHU Health Symposium Web page for details. For more information about IAHU, visit www.iahu.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: Race for the Roses—Albertina Kerr Centers Get Inspired Luncheon—Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) Pear Blossom Festival and Street Fair |
“I'm looking forward to being a part of all of the summertime events that PacificSource helps to sponsor.” |
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Questions? You’re always welcome to contact us! |
Eugene Bend Boise Medford |
Portland Manley Services Select Benefit Administrators |
