Groups Receive News on Technology Upgrade

Preparations are underway to transition our remaining clients to our new claims system. As you will recall, we transitioned our small group and individual business to the new claims system last summer.

Two new resources will help inform affected groups about the changes that they can expect:

• A new Technology Upgrade billing insert (1 MB PDF) will be included with the large group September billing statements mailing this month. The flier provides more information about the transition.
   
• Our communication tool kit at www.pacificsource.com/commtoolkit is designed to help plan administrators get the word out to their employees about the upcoming changes. The new page on our Web site gives them easy access to several member materials, which they may download and distribute at their convenience. We’d greatly appreciate your assistance in encouraging your groups to distribute these materials as soon as possible.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

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October Group Renewal Notices Sent

Last week, we sent renewal notices for Oregon groups renewing in October. Although we strive to send renewal notices well in advance, we delayed the notices for a time while waiting for a response from the Oregon Insurance Division on a matter related to renewals. We apologize for the delay.

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Doug Sheffer Named OAHU President

PacificSource Eugene Regional Manager Doug Sheffer, longtime member of Oregon Association of Health Underwriters (OAHU), was recently elected OAHU president. He began his term on August 1 and is looking forward to the challenges ahead.

	Doug Sheffer, PacificSource Eugene Regional Manager

Doug encourages you to become more involved in OAHU today. “It’s more important than ever for all of our members to be engaged in what’s going on legislatively in Oregon, and specifically with the Oregon Health Fund Board,” he says. “Some proposals, which are currently being considered by the Oregon Health Fund Board and our legislators, could jeopardize the role of agents and change our industry drastically. We need to educate the Oregon Health Fund Board about the value the agents provide to their clients and why a Massachusetts style ‘exchange’ or ‘connector’ isn’t necessarily the answer to cutting healthcare costs here in Oregon.”

For more information about OAHU, visit www.orahu.org.

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Holiday Hours

We will be closed on Monday, September 1, in observance of Labor Day. Our offices will reopen at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 2. Our Customer Service Department will reopen at 7:00 a.m. PST.

Best wishes from all of us at PacificSource
for a happy and safe Labor Day!

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Free Idaho CE Opportunity

September 24, the Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI) will present an afternoon of free CE classes in Meridian, Idaho. Agents can earn four Law credits.

Topics Include:

• Round Table Discussion: Rebating
• 10 Ways to Lose Your License
• Health Insurance—The “7 Up” Quiz
• Stranger Owned Life Insurance
• Legislative Update and What’s New at the DOI

The registration deadline is September 17. For more information and to register, see the CE Registration Flier available from the DOI Web site at www.doi.idaho.gov.

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OAHU Events

Cover The Uninsured Day 2008
September 23, Portland, Oregon, Pioneer Courthouse Square
The Oregon and Portland Associations of Health Underwriters sponsor this community health insurance enrollment fair. Professionals from various insurance carriers and state and local organizations will be on site to assist in locating available health insurance coverage or community resources. Health screening services for hearing, blood pressure, and vision will also be available. For more information, see the Health Insurance Awareness—Cover the Uninsured Day Flier (163 KB PDF) or visit OAHU at www.orahu.org.

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Upcoming Community Events

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:

	Meals On Wheels representatives raise funds at the Alive After Five Summer Concert Series in Boise. Each week, we invite a nonprofit organization to share our booth to increase awareness or seek donations.

Britt Festival—Michael McDonald in Concert
August 27, Jacksonville, Oregon

Walk to D’Feet ALS—ALS Association of Oregon and SW Washington
September events in Portland, Salem, Eugene, Bend, and Medford, Oregon

Eugene Celebration
September 12–14, Eugene, Oregon, downtown
PacificSource is pleased to be the presenting sponsor of this year’s Celebration. Be sure to drop by our tent at the Willamette Street entrance to say hello.

Lane County Heart Walk—American Heart Association
September 13, Eugene, Oregon

St. Luke’s Women’s Fitness Celebration and 5K Run
September 18–20, Boise, Idaho

Rogue Valley Heart Walk—American Heart Association
September 20, Medford, Oregon

Race for the Cure—Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
September 21, Portland, Oregon

Sole Support for Parkinson’s Walk—Parkinson's Resources of Oregon
September 21, Eugene, Oregon

Grants Pass Concerts in the Park
Tuesdays through August 26, Grants Pass, Oregon, Riverside Park

Alive After Five Summer Concert Series
Wednesdays through September 24, Boise, Idaho, The Grove Plaza

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