As some state and local governments move to re-open, we’re hearing more about contact tracing. Since many Americans may be unsure of its meaning, we thought it might help to explain how this process may impact us. Massachusetts seems to be out front, already working to hire and train nearly 1,000 people to do contact [...]
According to HealthDay News, a study covering millions of children age 17 and younger showed that overall visits to pediatricians in the U.S. fell by 14% from 2008 to 2016, with sick visits dropping by 24%. At the same time, however, well-child preventive visits increased by 10%. Researchers mention increasing out-of-pocket costs and the increased [...]
There are many concerns that cause top executives to lose sleep, but the events of the past couple months have tested business owners and decision makers in ways that can only be described as unprecedented. The uncertainty surrounding the Coronavirus coupled with a burning desire to get back to business have created an increasingly dynamic [...]
In mid-March when Discover Financial Services made the decision to put safety first, it meant quickly devising a plan to move 8,000 call center agents from their cubicles in 4 different regional facilities to their homes. Infrastructure services and customer service teams worked 24/7 to develop work-from-home kits consisting of monitors, keyboards and cables, then [...]
According to the CDC, the Coronavirus is thought to spread mainly through being close enough to an infected person to be touched by respiratory droplets discharged by coughing, sneezing or talking. These droplets can land in the mouth or nose or be inhaled into the lungs. Physicians suggest the virus can spread very easily between [...]
Uninsured people needing medical treatment for the coronavirus will be able to get that treatment without concerns about out-of-pocket costs or unexpected charges. Thanks to the federal stimulus package passed by Congress in early April, hospitals and healthcare providers that treat these folks will be paid for unreimbursed care at current Medicare rates. While the [...]
MetLife recently released a report showing that an increasing number of employers believe that personal finance has become the main source of stress for their employees. Lack of an emergency fund, student loan repayment and a need for advice top the list of concerns... and this was prior to the Coronavirus crisis. Knowing that no [...]
Even though Labor Department reports show that fewer than 15% of private sector employees are covered by paid leave programs, more states are looking for ways to help employees cope with the difficulties of caring for family members of all ages. In addition to California, New Jersey and Rhode Island that have had programs in place for a long time, [...]
This blog was published on April 3, 2020 International's Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans Blog, written by Robbie Hartman, CEBS. Photo source: blog.ifebp.org. In rapid time, the coronavirus has upended the benefit industry’s way of work. Most offices stand empty or operate with a skeleton crew, as employees and plan participants keep their distance and work [...]
If Florida House Bill HB59 becomes law, Floridians will be able to use video conferencing technology to speak with a pharmacist and obtain prescription drugs dispensed by automated pharmacy systems or vending machines. The systems, manufactured by Canadian company MedAvail, are currently in use in hospitals located in Jacksonville and Miami, Florida. [...]
