Hasina Anderson, MS, ARM, REBC®

From conference calls to construction sites: how musculoskeletal conditions impact workforce health https://lnkd.in/gpwMRJ84 #Healthcare #EmployeeHealth #MusculoskeletalHealth #WorkforceWellness #KaiserPermanente

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SB 525 will necessitate significant changes in California healthcare organizations’ compensation programs. And rather than simply bringing all applicable employees to the new minimum wage levels, many organizations will consider nuanced pay adjustment strategies and optimizing their broader total rewards strategies. Find out more about the impacts of SB 525 today. #HumanResources #compensation #healthcare

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❗ ❗ California Mandates IVF Coverage for Group Health Plans Starting July 2025, California's Senate Bill 729 will require group health plans to cover certain fertility treatments, including IVF, for policies written or renewed on or after July 1, 2025. Large plans must cover up to three IVF cycles, while small plans must offer the option to cover infertility services. Read more to stay prepared in our latest edition of Compliance Directions. https://lnkd.in/g6Vsp2JK #EmployeeBenefits #ComplianceConsulting #ComplianceDirections

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Most workplace benefits prioritize supporting plan members over cost containment, yet the question remains: How can the costs of these plans be managed in the long run? One key cost-containment measure to consider: with Pillcheck plan sponsors avoid the costs of covering ineffective, sometimes harmful prescriptions, and lost productivity until the right treatment is found. 👀   Drug claims for women are growing higher year after year. Women experiencing depression, hot flashes, gastrointestinal problems, or medication-induced side effects may benefit from personalized medication optimization. https://lnkd.in/dXzhqn3S #womenhealth #wellness #groupbenefits

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My Medicare team and I have been energized with optimism and momentum since the Annual Enrollment Period began on October 15. Consumers are beginning to explore and appreciate the value-added coverage options we at Blue Shield of California offer members for 2025 through our combination of cutting-edge technology and high- touch care. Our goal is to simplify healthcare, support comprehensive care, and reduce costs for our Medicare beneficiaries. A few highlights of our 2025 pharmacy offerings include: Price Check My RX tool: We are working hard to improve the end-to-end pharmacy experience for Medicare members. This new tool allows members to find the lowest price for their medications with easy side-by-side comparisons of drug alternatives and pharmacies. Also, members can opt-in to receive a text alert when there is a lower cost option available for their prescription. https://lnkd.in/gjMSi7Ss Amazon Pharmacy: Starting January 1, 2025, Blue Shield will offer additional pharmacy service options for members, including home delivery from Amazon Pharmacy at no additional cost, and tools to find the lowest-cost medications. Members also will have phone access to pharmacists 24/7 through Amazon Pharmacy. https://lnkd.in/gSciTw_F Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (M3P): A new, federally mandated Medicate prescription payment plan called M3P offers Medicare Part D enrollees the option to pay their out-of-pocket Medicare Part D drugs costs through monthly payments over the course of the plan year. It’s designed to provide better financial predictability and expense management for members with chronic conditions or high-cost medications. Member participation is voluntary and there is no cost to participate. More information about M3P is available from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: https://lnkd.in/gPS5ZMJk Learn more about Blue Shield’s AEP for 2025 here: https://lnkd.in/gtQ_gf3j #WhatWeStandFor #WeNeverStop #Medicare #AEP #HealthcareInnovation #SeniorCare

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❗ ❗ California Mandates IVF Coverage for Group Health Plans Starting July 2025, California's Senate Bill 729 will require group health plans to cover certain fertility treatments, including IVF, for policies written or renewed on or after July 1, 2025. Large plans must cover up to three IVF cycles, while small plans must offer the option to cover infertility services. Read more to stay prepared in our latest edition of Compliance Directions. https://lnkd.in/g6Vsp2JK #EmployeeBenefits #ComplianceConsulting #ComplianceDirections

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California increased the paid sick leave bar on 1/1/24, requiring employers to provide 40 hours (5 days) per year. Our FAQ guide can help clarify accrual methods and impact on your part-time workers. Check out the details! #sickleave

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Healthee Partners with Warner Pacific Insurance Services to Transform Employee Health Benefits The full article is in the first comment

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Alera Group’s "Healthcare and Employee Benefits Benchmarking Report" is coming soon. Benchmarking is the only way to determine how your offerings compare with your competitors’. Join our July 18 webinar to learn whether you're an employer of choice. https://ow.ly/LCrF30sETwe

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In our latest Bottom Line Thursday, we discuss California's ambitious plan to limit healthcare cost growth. The state aims to cap annual growth at 3.5%, dropping to 3% by 2029. But is this realistic? We talk about the pushback from hospitals citing an aging population, the ongoing challenge of controlling prescription drug costs, and potential impacts on care access and quality. Join us as we discuss the implications of this initiative and its potential ripple effects across the healthcare industry. Can California succeed where others have struggled? Tune in to hear our thoughts California’s proposal. #HealthcarePolicy #CostContainment #EmployeeBenefits #BottomLineThursday

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In our latest Bottom Line Thursday, we discuss California's ambitious plan to limit healthcare cost growth. The state aims to cap annual growth at 3.5%, dropping to 3% by 2029. But is this realistic? We talk about the pushback from hospitals citing an aging population, the ongoing challenge of controlling prescription drug costs, and potential impacts on care access and quality. Join us as we discuss the implications of this initiative and its potential ripple effects across the healthcare industry. Can California succeed where others have struggled? Tune in to hear our thoughts California’s proposal. #HealthcarePolicy #CostContainment #EmployeeBenefits #BottomLineThursday Brad Johnson Chris Boling - PPACA

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I continue to applaud U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Mike Braun (R-IN) for bipartisan support for #PACE. LIFE COORDINATED Commonwealth PACE - As an organization operationalizing PACE we see the heartache and heartbreak of families waiting for arbitrary monthly dates to gain access to a PACE Program. While there are similar special needs programs such as DSNP, FIDE-SNP and HIDE-SNP, there is nothing quite like the dynamic interdisciplinary team (IDT) of a PACE program to make an impact to an elder's outcome. What can you do? Take action - Encourage your elected officials to support The PACE Anytime Act and to expand PACE access nationwide. Our elders deserve the option of PACE. Senator Casey's staff posted a one pager summing up why this makes sense. From Senator Casey: "Why do we need the PACE Anytime Act? Currently, older adults can only enroll in a PACE program on the first of every month, which is a significant barrier for older adults whose needs are constantly changing. Other comparable providers, including hospice care, home care, and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), are not required to wait for the first of the month to enroll patients who need immediate care. In addition to delaying care, PACE enrollment restraints often force PACE-eligible individuals to seek care in SNFs and other modalities that are already critically overburdened. What would the PACE Anytime Act do? The PACE Anytime Act would allow eligible individuals to enroll in PACE at any time during a month. The bill also provides the ability to prorate capitation payments to account for varying PACE enrollment dates. Peter Kapolas Beth Fowler Ricki Wilkey Bob Osburn Cyndi Guerra

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Now, there is lots in healthcare that defies logic and convention. Usually a shortage of something results in higher value/payments. Good primary care is so essential, and why are we doing this? #thinkingdifferently #cfoinsights #ceoinsights #hr #hrbenefits #employee experience #ESOPCG

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Interesting read here on new attempts to cap health care cost increases to 3% annually. And by interesting, I mean pretty void of common sense and basic math. A couple of questions come up when reading this. 1. Does anyone want any more government involvement in healthcare, especially in California? We are all familiar with the Affordable Care Act currently and not sure anyone would argue that is affordable anymore. 2. When you require hospitals and health clinics to increase their minimum wage to $21/hour, but cap the amount they can be reimbursed for services, what did you think would happen? Having 10-12 clients in this space and seeing the impact this is having on them obviously makes me a little biased, but like most things coming out of the legislature in Sacramento, the opposite effect of their intended goal is what usually occurs. This may potentially cause more facilities to close and thus reducing access to care for more residents and employees.

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