Its ironic. The epidemic of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, cancer and other lifestyle-based diseases continues to grow as the wellness and disease management industry has grown and unprecedented attention by employers, governments, communities, and American families with the need […]

PROJECT COPE: COALITION ON PATIENT EMPOWERMENT
Finding Ways To Pay For Mental Health: Kaiser Studies Examine Medicaid & Other Mental Health Financing Needs & Options
Treating mental illness and finding a way to pay for mental health treatment present a big challenge for health plans, health care providers, policymakers and the families of Americans afflicted with mental illness. The Kaiser Family Foundation’s Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured has released two new resources that explore key aspects of mental health care financing and access, which may provide valuable insights for employer and other health program sponsors, community leaders and others working to meet the challenges of providing financially viable and effective mental health treatment to meet the needs of their respective constituencies within the bounds of their available budget.
Recap of IRS Employee Plans 2011 1st Quarter Guidance
Recap of IRS Employee Plans 2011 1st Quarter Guidance.
Celebrate 1st Anniversary of Health Care Reform Passage By Discussing How It’s Working
On the 1st anniversary of the passage of Health Care Reform, let’s celebrate by accepting the invitation from Joe Biden to “discuss how health care reform is already working.”
CMS Adds “Physician Compare” Feature To Healthcare Provider Directory
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added a new “Physician Compare” feature to the CMS Healthcare Provider Directory on December 30, 2010. Regulators hope the new feature will help Medicare and non-Medicare patients and their families identify and assess the quality of providers.
Join Project COPE: Help Develop Real Tools To Meaningfully Empower Patients & Improve Health Care Access, Affordability & Quality
With all the recent debate about health care policy reforms, it is important to keep the focus on the practical needs of patients and their families in dealing with an illness or disability, and simple steps that health care providers, employers, insurers and other payers, churches and other community organizations, and regular people can do to meaningfully help patients and their families effectively access and pay for care and meet other related challenges attendant to illness and disabilities.You can access information about how you can arrange for training on “Building Your Family’s Health Care Toolkit,” using the “PlayForLife” resources to organize low cost wellness programs in your workplace, school, church or other communities, and other process improvement, compliance and other training and other resources for health care providers, employers, health plans, community leaders and others here
Delivery Of CBO Scoring Opens Door For House Health Care Reform Vote As Early As Sunday
Time is running out for Americans to make their health care reform views known to key Congressional decision-makers. The stage now appears to be set for the House of Representatives to vote as early as Sunday on the latest version of health care reform backed by President Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other key Congressional Democrats, the Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872). Access the bill text, CBO text and tips for sharing your views here.
Getting Your Health Care Reform Message Heard By Key Congressional Leaders
With Congressional Health Care Reform at a critical point this week, many are asking which members of Congress to talk to, how to reach them and what to tell them. The following are some pointers on contacting the key decision-makers and structuring your message.
COBRA Subsidy Extension Enactment Requires Quick Action, Shows Subtle Reform Enactment While Health Care Reform Debate Continues
Congress’ quiet extension of the COBRA subsidy rules for involuntarily terminated employees and their dependents beyond their scheduled 12/31/09 expiration date and lengthening of the required subsidy period from 9 to 15 months shows that the big health care reform debate is not the only legislation Americans and American business needs to watch. (You can learn more about the COBRA Subsidy extension mandates at http/ /slphrbenefitsupdate.wordpress.com ).
FREE 12/5 DFW Area Workship Offers Parents Of Disabled Children Info On Dealing With Schools
Parents of children wtih developmental delays or other special needs often express frustration and confusion about dealings with their child’s school. The Warren Center For Children in Richardson Texas is hosting a FREE Workshop on Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 9:30 – 11:30 am on “On How to Build a Positive Relationship With Your Child’s School.” Parents struggling with these complexities often experience workplace attendance and productivity issues. Employers and others who know parents struggling to cope with these issues may want to share information about this workshop or other similar resources.