MyHealthGuide Newsletter
News for the Self-Funded Community
5/12/2008
Published weekly by MyHealthGuide, LLC (www.MyHealthGuide.com ). This Newsletter is for personal, non-commercial use only. This weekly newsletter is FREE OF CHARGE to subscribers. Subscribe free. Send news, press releases and announcements to mailto:Info@MyHealthGuide.com.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
AmWINS Acquires Beacon Risk Strategies
Presidio Acquires Vespasian Management
HealthEdge Receives $13 Million Investment Commitment from Psilos
NCPDP Launches dataQ to Provide Real-Time Pharmacy Access and Customized Reporting
MedSolutions’ Call Center Operation Achieves J.D. Power and Associates Recognition
Claimsnet.com 2008 Q1 Results Show Increased Revenues and Losses from Operations
PHX Announces Kim Elliott as Strategic Account Manager
Market Trends, Studies & Books
Employees Without Access to Health Coverage Outside Work Defer Retirement
Workers Comp Market Has Slim 1% Underwriting Profitable for 2007
Legal, Legislative & Regulatory News
ERISA Preempts Doctor's Claims of Breach of Contract and Fraud
Patient Knowledge is Lacking on Newly Prescribed Medication After Hospital Discharge
Arthritis Can be a Barrier for Adults Seeking to Manage Diabetes through Physical Activity
Editorial Notes, Disclaimers & Disclosures
AmWINS Acquires Beacon Risk Strategies
MyHealthGuide Source: AmWINS Group, Inc., 5/7/08, www.amwins.com and www.beaconrisk.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AmWINS Group, Inc., one of the nation’s
largest and most diversified wholesale insurance distribution firms, announced the acquisition of Beacon Risk Strategies, a Seattle-based
managing general underwriter of excess-loss benefits insurance.
"The addition of Beacon Risk Strategies is a continuation of our initiative
to strategically grow and diversify our Group Benefits Division,” said
Steven DeCarlo, AmWINS Group’s CEO. "Beacon’s stop-loss capabilities
represent a new product offering for our company and will strongly
complement our existing capabilities.”
"We’re excited to have found another firm that fits so well into our company
and enhances our strong portfolio of benefits services,” said Sam Fleet,
President of AmWINS’ Group Benefits Division. "The synergies between Beacon
and AmWINS Group Benefits will provide immediate benefit and opportunities
to our broker customers.”
"Joining AmWINS makes terrific sense,” said Wright Dickinson, Beacon Risk
Strategies’ President. "Combining our underwriting expertise and
long-standing carrier relationships with AmWINS’ national retail client
network and existing product solutions allows us to instantly build new
relationships and bring new services to our existing customers. We are
excited about this transition and look forward to becoming part of AmWINS.”
About Beacon Risk
Founded in 1999, Beacon Risk Strategies is a full-service managing general underwriter focusing on medical excess loss insurance. The company provides customized products and services to protect companies and their health plans from unexpected catastrophic claims. Beacon represents several carriers and can offer products in all 50 states, giving them the unique ability to provide innovative and tailored packages to large self-funded employers and Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan markets. Visit www.beaconrisk.com.
About AmWINS Group, Inc.
AmWINS is a wholesale distributor of specialty insurance
products dedicated to serving retail agents throughout the United States by
providing property and casualty, group life and health, and program
administration services. Based in Charlotte, NC, the company operates
through more than 35 offices across the United States and handles premium
placements in excess of $3.3 billion dollars annually. Visit
www.amwins.com.
Presidio Acquires Vespasian Management
MyHealthGuide Source: Presidio Reinsurance Group, Inc. (Presidio Re), 5/6/08, www.pxis.com and www.vespasiangroup.com
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Presidio Reinsurance Group, Inc. (Presidio Re) is pleased to announce the acquisition of Vespasian Management, Ltd. (Vespasian), of London, UK. Vespasian provides accident and health reinsurance solutions and products to support insurance companies, employers, affinity groups and financial institutions worldwide. The transaction was completed last week. Vespasian will be renamed Presidio Reinsurance Management, Ltd. Presidio Reinsurance Group is the parent company of Presidio Excess Insurance Services, Inc.
Dennis Heinzig, President and CEO of Presidio Re said, "In 1999 we opened our first office in London with this same team which later became Vespasian. Now we are pleased to welcome them back into the group. Under Craig Tyrell’s leadership as its Managing Director and our combined effort within the group, we will comprehensively expand our international accident and health programs and build on the success we have had together in the past.”
Craig Tyrell, Managing Director of Vespasian stated, "We are delighted to become part of Presidio Re. Their vision for international accident and health insurance and reinsurance is exciting, progressive and complements our current lines of business wonderfully. As part of Presidio Re, we will now be able to broaden our accident and health business, expand our underwriting operation, and enhance service for the benefit of our brokers and clients.”
About Presidio Re
Presidio Re is a market leader providing accident and health insurance
and reinsurance products and services addressing the opportunities and
challenges experienced by insurance companies, HMOs, managed care
organizations, healthcare systems, hospitals, medical groups and employers.
Since 1994, Presidio Re has provided management solutions for clients
assuming all forms of medical risk exposures. Presidio Re writes over $150
million of medical reinsurance in North America. The company has offices in
San Francisco, Minneapolis and Kansas City, and has clients throughout North
America.
Contact: Dennis Heinzig, CEO at (415) 354-1555 and visit
www.pxis.com.
About Vespasian
Vespasian Management Ltd provides accident and health reinsurance solutions and products to support companies worldwide. Clients include insurance companies, employers, affinity groups and financial institutions. Vespasian focuses on a range of accident and health reinsurance coverages including catastrophe PA, general PA programs, key man, credit card, sports, passive war and terrorism, excess of loss medical reinsurance and certain proportional medical contracts. Vespasian has offices in London, UK and New York, NY. Contact: Craig Tyrell, CEO at 011-44-20-3008-6646 and visit www.vespasiangroup.com.
HealthEdge Receives $13 Million Investment Commitment from Psilos
MyHealthGuide Source: 5/6/08, www.healthedge.com and www.psilos.com
Burlington, MA — HealthEdge, the leading provider of
next-generation claims and benefit administration, business intelligence and
portal software products for healthcare payors, announced that it has
secured a $13 million investment commitment from Psilos Group, a leading
healthcare venture capital and private equity firm.
"We believe that HealthEdge’s HealthRules is the only software platform that
meets the needs of today’s healthcare marketplace,” said Dr. Albert Waxman,
senior managing member of Psilos Group. "The legacy systems currently in use
at most health plans cannot respond to the evolving consumer-focused
healthcare economy which demands support for personalized benefits and
complex financial transaction management. HealthEdge is uniquely positioned
to provide payor organizations of all sizes the ability to quickly offer the
kinds of innovative products that the market demands and to make long
overdue reductions in administrative overhead. Psilos is excited to extend
our support of HealthEdge as it continues to expand its products and
services.”
"We are seeing unprecedented demand for our products,” remarked Rob
Gillette, CEO of HealthEdge. "The healthcare payor community has now
realized that a contemporary software platform, built with the next
generation of healthcare in mind, is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. We
are extremely pleased to have Psilos Group as our investment partner.”
HealthEdge will use the funds to increase the size of its business and to
continue to invest in advanced product capabilities.
About HealthEdge
HealthEdge provides health plans, TPAs, PPOs and insurers of all sizes
unique software products that enable them to compete in the new healthcare
market. Payor organizations are able to pursue innovative, new strategies
focused on increasing revenue, decreasing costs and improving the quality of
healthcare. HealthEdge provides HealthRules®, a next-generation, patented
software platform for core administrative processes, business intelligence,
and web self-service. The company is headquartered in Burlington,
Massachusetts. Visit
www.healthedge.com.
About Psilos Group
Psilos Group has been a successful healthcare venture capital and private
equity firm since its founding in 1998. With over $500MM under management,
Psilos focuses its investments across the healthcare services, healthcare
information technology, and medical technology sectors. Psilos invests
nationwide in businesses that are poised to create enduring market value by
fundamentally improving the U.S. healthcare system. Our portfolio companies
are sustainable and high-value businesses that have a demonstrated ability
to reduce the costs of healthcare delivery, improve clinical quality and
advance the alignment of payer, patient and provider incentives. Psilos has
offices in New York, the San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Visit www.psilos.com.
MyHealthGuide Source: TriZetto (NASDAQ: TZIX), 5/5/08, www.TriZetto.com
NEWPORT BEACH, CA -- The TriZetto Group Inc. announced a suite of applications that can provide health plans with
advanced, Web-based services to enable members, providers, employers and
brokers to make more informed decisions and improve the coordination of
healthcare services across the U.S. healthcare system.
TriZetto's
Constituent Web Solutions Features
"Our Constituent Web Solutions will help take our customers to a new level
as strong service organizations. By enabling better transparency and
information sharing, our applications can assist constituents across the
healthcare system in conducting business with health plans more easily and
make better informed decisions," said Dave Pinkert, TriZetto's senior vice
president, constituent web solutions. "These unique capabilities help make
our payer clients more competitive and differentiated when responding to
RFPs for new cases and renewals."
Other benefits of TriZetto's Constituent Web Solutions, according to Pinkert,
are that these Web-based systems can reduce a health plan's call center
expenses and increase satisfaction of health plan constituents. Constituent
Web Solutions directly support the payer's consumer-driven plans, help
improve service quality in more traditional insurance products and lay the
groundwork for a next-generation consumer retail platform. And by obtaining
all of these applications from TriZetto, added Pinkert, the payer can
present a common look and feel online with applications that integrate with
TriZetto's back-office core administration and care management systems.
"Getting the right information to health care consumers, at the right time,
and in the right format is healthcare's 'last mile,'" Pinkert said. "By
securely distributing this information, our applications will enable a whole
new experience in health insurance, which we call Integrated Healthcare
Management (IHM), which will lead to more informed and engaged
members, more efficient and effective healthcare providers, all supported by
payers that see and manage the big picture, working with employers who see
healthier, more satisfied employees.
In a recent research report, industry analyst firm Gartner Inc. wrote, "The
relative immaturity of health insurance portals, when compared to other
industries, and lack of consistent portal strategy within an insurer's site
make investment in market differentiation possible and profitable."*
About TriZetto
TriZetto is Powering Integrated Healthcare Management™. With its technology
touching nearly half of the U.S. insured population, TriZetto is uniquely
positioned to drive the convergence of health benefit administration, care
management and constituent engagement. The company provides premier
information technology solutions that enable payers and other constituents
in the healthcare supply chain to improve the coordination of benefits and
care for healthcare consumers. Healthcare payers include national and
regional health insurance plans, and benefits administrators that provide
transaction services to self-insured employer groups. The company's
payer-focused information technology offerings include enterprise and
component software, hosting and business process outsourcing services, and
consulting. Call 949-719-2200 and visit www.trizetto.com.
MyHealthGuide Source: Benefit Informatics, 5/9/08, www.benefitinformatics.com and www.maa-tpa.com
TULSA, OK – Mutual Assurance Administrators (MAA), one of the most recognized Third Party Administrators in the Midwest, recently signed an agreement to implement the proven data analysis, reporting and distribution services of Benefit Informatics, a leading healthcare data warehouse provider for payers serving the self-insured health plan market.
Mutual Assurance Administrators will implement and offer the Benefit Analyzer® service to analyze healthcare utilization for self-insured clients, which includes the ability to drill-down to provider, procedure and payment information at the individual EOB level. MAA will distribute standard, ad-hoc and scheduled reports to clients and broker/consultants utilizing the Connect Edition.
"Partnering with Benefit Informatics strengthens our commitment to aggressively initiate and invest in additional programs and services to control rising healthcare costs for our clients,” said Todd Archer, President and CEO of Mutual Assurance Administrators. "Benefit Informatics is user friendly and at the same time delivers in-depth analysis capabilities for both our clients and consultant partners.”
Through proprietary applications that transform raw claim data into actionable management information, Benefit Informatics provides clients such as Mutual Assurance Administrators the ability to enhance their service offerings and better communicate with their self-funded clients, health plan participants and consultants.
"We are excited to be working with a nationally recognized payer such as
Mutual Assurance Administrators,” said Philip Kurtz, President and CEO of
Benefit Informatics. "MAA is a leading TPA in the industry and is growing to
meet the needs of the self-insurance market. Our two companies share a
common goal of increasing transparency to all stakeholders in the health
insurance process to help control costs.”
About Benefit Informatics
Benefit Informatics Inc. enables the efficient planning, management and analysis of employee benefit plans through the delivery of online proprietary applications and services to insurance companies, Third Party Administrators, brokers and employers. Through its clients, Benefit Informatics currently serves more than 3,600 businesses, managing health benefits for nearly 2 million members. Benefit Informatics works closely with customers to provide solutions that help attract new customers, retain current clients and operate more efficiently. Please contact us to see how we can help your organization Sell, Keep and Do More™. Call (888) 802-INFO (4636) and visit www.benefitinformatics.com.
About Mutual Assurance Administrators
Mutual Assurance Administrators, a nationally recognized TPA founded in 1975, remains focused on delivering excellent customer service, controlling costs and providing professional support to employers and brokers. MAA is headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK and has division offices in Bartlesville, OK; Dallas, TX; Little Rock AR; Memphis, TN; and Springfield, MO. MAA continues to lead in developing practices and investing in resources that assist employers in providing quality benefits to their employees while keeping costs under control. In addition to providing Medical Administration, FSA Administration and URAC accredited Medical Management programs; MAA’s broad scope of services includes a fully integrated Disability Management program including Workers’ Compensation Administration. Call 800-825-3540 and visit www.maa-tpa.com.
NCPDP Launches dataQ to Provide Real-Time Pharmacy Access and Customized Reporting
MyHealthGuide Source: The National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP), 5/6/08, www.ncpdp.org
SCOTTSDALE, AZ — The National Council for Prescription Drug
Programs (NCPDP), announced the launch of dataQ™, a next generation
pharmacy data solution that provides healthcare stakeholders with the most
up-to-date and in-depth pharmacy information available. dataQ enables
PBMS, health plans, pharmacies and other stakeholders improved pharmacy
database accuracy and streamlined electronic claims processing for faster
reimbursement of prescription drug claims. It is also used for pharmacy
network development and credentialing, data validation, drug utilization
monitoring and product recalls, along with market research and analysis.
Available with varying subscription and administrative levels, the new
resource expands functionality to include optional real-time web access to
pharmacy data, extensive custom reporting and file download capabilities.
dataQ’s industry-leading accuracy and integrity is based NCPDP’s on deep
data validation, verification and documentation processes, which have been
trusted for decades.
The launch reflects a natural evolution of the Standard
Pharmacy Database v2.1 product containing almost 75,000 pharmacies, which
will continue to be available. Originally developed to provide NCPDP
Provider ID enumeration, the unique identifier for pharmacies, it now
contains the new National Provider Identifier (NPI) on pharmacies and has
grown to be the industry’s most comprehensive database of consistently
updated pharmacy information.
"Using a time-tested method of assigning "intelligent” identification codes
to data fields, dataQ provides more than just raw data; it is a way to
identify, sort and categorize that data in a nimble manner previously
unavailable in the industry,” stated NCPDP President Lee Ann Stember.
"It is
an invaluable data tool for payers and other drug claims processors,
pharmacies, pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers, informatics companies,
pharmacy practice management system vendors, list procurement vendors and
more. The new solution will allow pharmacies to have more access and control
over their own information, with the ability to update their data via any
web-based browser and view their data in a real-time environment.”
Added Stember, "With the new real-time look-up option for subscribers, we
anticipate that dataQ will become an indispensable troubleshooting tool that
empowers healthcare organizations to enhance productivity, reduce costs and
improve the bottom line.”
About NCPDP
Founded in 1977, the National Council of Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP)
is an ANSI-accredited non-profit organization that creates and promotes
consensus-driven standards for the transfer of data from and to the pharmacy
services sector of the healthcare industry. A long-time and trusted player
in the industry, NCPDP has been named in ground-breaking federal
legislation, including HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act) and the MMA (Medicare Modernization Act). NCPDP members
have created standards such as the Telecommunication Standard and Batch
Standard, the SCRIPT Standard for e-Prescribing, the Manufacturers Rebate
Standard and more to improve communication within the pharmacy industry.
Call (480) 477-1000 and visit www.ncpdp.org.
MedSolutions’ Call Center Operation Achieves J.D. Power and Associates Recognition
MyHealthGuide Source: MedSolutions, 5/5/08, www.medsolutions.com
NASHVILLE, TN / WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA -- MedSolutions,
providing radiology management services for 20 million individuals
nationwide, announces that it has been recognized for the second consecutive
year for "An Outstanding Customer Service Experience" under the esteemed
J.D. Power and Associates Certified Call Center Program (SM). MedSolutions
was the first and currently the only radiology management companies to be
recognized with this distinguished award, an outstanding achievement in
light of the fact that there are 75,000 call centers in North America and to
date only 40 have been certified with this award.
"Our call center exemplifies the highest professional standards, with
professional first-level responders, and specialist reviewers including
registered nurses as well as medical directors who are actively practicing
physicians and currently board certified in an area of clinical pertinence
to the review request," says Chris Crabtree, vice president of operations.
"With increased Web technology improvements, we are currently expecting 40% of our volume to be coming through our web site, and have made
improved efficiencies to lower our call volume, improve customer
satisfaction, and increase turn around times on our cases."
J.D. Power and Associates certified the operations division both in
Tennessee and Florida, following an exhaustive external audit which involved
an independent third party satisfaction survey assessing customer ratings
for MedSolutions' courtesy, knowledge, and concern for customer needs.
Auditors also examined policies and procedures for each call, evaluating
MedSolutions' commitment to enhancing the customer experience and confirming
its delivery of world class services. MedSolutions call center operations
handle about 2,840,920 calls annually from more than 200,000 physicians
nationwide.
"Every member of the MedSolutions organization was honored to receive this
esteemed award last year, and we are again gratified by this recognition,"
states Curt Thorne, CEO of MedSolutions. "This distinction is testament to
our dedication to meeting customer expectations for service."
"This independent and unprecedented validation of our dedication to
excellence in radiology management again punctuates MedSolutions' position
as an ideal partner to the nation's leading healthcare payers and government
programs," says Thorne.
About MedSolutions
MedSolutions specializes in managing radiology services for national and
regional health plans as well as federal and state government agencies,
maintaining management contracts for nearly 25 million individuals
nationwide. The company leverages sophisticated analytics, personalized call
center operations and extensive radiology care management experience to
provide the most innovative, cost-effective radiology management solutions
in the industry. Visit www.medsolutions.com.
About J.D. Power and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is an
ISO 9001-registered global marketing information services firm operating in
key business sectors including market research, forecasting, consulting,
training and customer satisfaction. The firm's quality and satisfaction
measurements are based on responses from million of consumers annually. J.D.
Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.
Visit www.mcgraw-hill.com.
Claimsnet.com 2008 Q1 Results Show Increased Revenues and Losses from Operations
MyHealthGuide Source: Claimsnet.com inc. (OTCBB: CLAI.OB), 5/5/08, www.claimsnet.com
DALLAS – Claimsnet.com inc., a leading provider of Internet-based business-to-business solutions for the healthcare industry, reported its results for the first quarter of fiscal 2008, which ended March 31, 2008.
Financial Highlights
"While we are pleased with the 18% growth in sales, our loss from operations increased compared to last year. This primarily resulted from extra efforts that were expended to upgrade our ASP server operations, providing updated hardware and software and increased capacity." commented Don Crosbie, chief executive officer of Claimsnet.
"Our expectation is that going forward we will benefit from this upgrade as our efforts in sales growth continue to increase our sales, and expenses again return to more normal levels. In connection with these efforts, the Company hired a new Vice President of Sales to focus on the payer industry and a sales representative to improve our penetration of the provider community. The results of these efforts seem promising, based on initial results in the first month. In addition, we have substantially completed the integration of the operations of Acceptius into our operations, and as a result we have further options in our sales efforts for paper conversion of claims and medical claims repricing opportunities. We believe these things taken together, along with continued cost controls, will move us towards profitability by the end of this calendar year," added Crosbie.
About Claimsnet.com inc.
Claimsnet.com inc. is a leading provider of Internet-based claim processing
solutions for the healthcare payer industry, including distinctive, advanced
ASP technology. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Claimsnet offers systems
that are distinguished by ease of use, customer care, security and
measurable cost advantages. Contact
Don Crosbie at
(972) 458-1701 Ext. 112, dcrosbie@claimsnet.com
and visit www.claimsnet.com.
TPA Acquisition Sought By Louisiana-Based TPA
MyHealthGuide Source: Richard T. Wickert, Managed Care Strategies,
865-300-3925 or rtwickert@hotmail.com,
5/10/08 (rerun from 3/13/08)
Louisiana based workers compensation TPA, with offices in Louisiana, Texas,
California and Washington, DC, is interested in acquiring a benefits TPA in
any of the following States, Louisiana, Texas, California, or Florida. Key
products should include, but not limited to, self-funded health benefits and
consumer driven health plans. Please contact Richard T. Wickert, Managed
Care Strategies, at 865-300-3925 or email:
rtwickert@hotmail.com.
PHX Announces Kim Elliott as Strategic Account Manager
MyHealthGuide Source: PHX, 5/9/08, www.phx-online.com
Bedminster, NJ -- PHX, the leader in advanced cost management services, is pleased to announce the addition of Kim Elliott to the position of Strategic Account Manager.
Elliott has 24 years experience in the healthcare industry working in both
Carrier and Third Party Administration environments. Additionally, Elliott
has held various positions on the Payor side ranging from various functions
such as Claims Analyst, Claims Training Specialist, Claims Manager, and most
recently, Director of Account Management.
"We are proud to have Kim Elliott join our team to help lead PHX as
Strategic Account Manager. She will collaborate with our clients to ensure
their expectations are being exceeded. Mrs. Elliott is the caliber of
professional we will continue to seek out, with talent and experience levels
unsurpassed in the industry, to join our management team. With Kim's strong
background and experience in the healthcare marketplace, combined with the
unique suite of claims management services we offer, PHX undoubtedly remains
the leader in the cost management arena. We will continue to lead the
industry by uncovering every opportunity available in order to guarantee our
goals and mission – to offer our clients superb service that translates into
the best value in the healthcare cost management marketplace," stated
Robert
C. Malone, PHX President and CEO.
PHX is excited to add this position to its organizational structure.
Strategic Account Management will immediately become a value added service
to PHX clients. Elliott will coordinate PHX's stewardship efforts while
gauging and reporting performance metrics. This role will also include
discussing new programs, ideas, and solutions PHX will bring to market to
demonstrate our clients' value in an increasingly competitive environment.
Elliott will be located in PHX's Regional Office in Dacula, GA.
About PHX
PHX delivers advanced cost management solutions for health plans. The
company combines claim processing automation with professional services to
deliver a centralized approach to cost management, increasing savings in
both the near and long term while dramatically reducing errors and
turnaround time. The firm's solutions are used by a number of the industry's
leading insurance companies, Health Maintenance Organizations, and
Third Party Administrators. Services included in the PHX offering
include bill review and audit, secondary network re-pricing/claims
negotiations, claims editing, fraud and abuse detection, and health benefits
trend analysis and reporting. All services are handled in-house for maximum
privacy and legal and regulatory compliance. PHX also supplies full
technology implementation, training and support for quick, seamless
integration into any organization. Visit www.phx-online.com.
MyHealthGuide Source: Reinsurance Group of America, Inc (RGA), 5/8/08, www.rgare.com
Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. (RGA) announces that Steven J. Abood, FSA, MAAA, joined RGA on April 21, 2008, as Senior Vice President, US Healthcare Reinsurance, a newly formed division at RGA.
"Steve is known throughout the industry and we are excited to have him as part of the RGA family, " said Paul A. Schuster, FSA, MAAA, Senior Executive Vice President, U.S. Division, RGA Reinsurance Company. "Steve will be responsible for building our US Healthcare Reinsurance line of business."
Abood has over 25 years of group insurance experience where most recently he was 8 years at Munich Re America. He is a Fellow in the Society of Actuaries and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He is a graduate of Rutgers University with a BA in Mathematics and Economics.
Steve Abood is located in New Jersey and can be contacted at 732-604-4775 or sabood@rgare.com.
About RGA
Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated is a leader in the global life
reinsurance industry, with more than $2.1 trillion of life reinsurance in
force and assets of more than $21 billion. RGA serves clients from 24
offices around the world, delivering expert solutions in life reinsurance,
facultative underwriting, risk management, product development, and
capital-motivated reinsurance services. Visit
www.rgare.com.
Gen Re Promotes John Cholnoky to President
MyHealthGuide Source: General Re Corporation, 4/29/08, www.genre.com
Stamford, CT -- General Re Corporation announced that I.
John Cholnoky has been promoted to President of General Reinsurance
Corporation and Manager of Gen Re’s global direct Property and Casualty
operations. Mr. Cholnoky’s responsibilities will include General Re’s direct
treaty, both marketing and underwriting, facultative and claims divisions.
In addition, Mr. Cholnoky has been elected to the Board of Directors of
General Re Corporation, the parent of General Reinsurance Corporation. Also
elected to the General Re Board: Patricia H. Roberts, Steven J. Mannik
and
Winfried Heinen who join current Board members, Tad Montross,
Peter Lütke-Bornefeld, William G. Gasdaska and Damon N. Vocke.
Commenting on the organizational changes, Tad Montross, Chairman and CEO of
Gen Re, said, "I’m very excited about these changes. They will bring a
sharper focus to our different businesses and help us navigate a challenging
operating environment. John Cholnoky has been with Gen Re for 28 years. He
has extensive reinsurance experience, in-depth knowledge of the business and
significant client contacts around the world.”
About Gen Re
General Re Corporation, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., is a
holding company for global reinsurance and related operations. As one of the
leading property/casualty and life/health reinsurers in the world, Gen Re is
represented globally by a network of 45 branch and subsidiary offices in key
reinsurance markets. Visit www.genre.com.
RenaissanceRe Names Dan Eudy as Senior Vice President
MyHealthGuide Source: RenaissanceRe (NYSE: RNR), 5/8/08, www.renre.com
PEMBROKE, Bermuda -- RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. announced that Dan R. Eudy
has joined the Company as Senior Vice
President of the Glencoe Group, which conducts the organization’s Individual
Risk business. Mr. Eudy, who will report to William J. Ashley, Glencoe Group
Chief Executive Officer, is expected to be based in Hartford, CT.
Neill A. Currie, President and Chief Executive Officer of RenaissanceRe
Holdings Ltd., said: "I am very pleased to welcome Dan to the RenaissanceRe
team. Dan is a seasoned and respected insurance professional. The breadth of
his experience and his expertise in managing complex commercial risks will
be of immense value as we continue to build upon our capabilities in this
area.”
Mr. Eudy most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Industrial Risk
Insurers, which he joined in 1996 as Chief Underwriting Officer before being
promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2000 and CEO in 2001. Prior to this
time, Mr. Eudy held a number of increasingly senior positions in
underwriting, operations and marketing at Hartford Insurance Group. He has a
BSBA in business and economics from Appalachian State University, and an MBA
from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
About
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. is a global provider of reinsurance and
insurance. Our business consists of two segments: (1) Reinsurance, which
includes catastrophe reinsurance, specialty reinsurance and certain joint
ventures and other investments managed by our subsidiary RenaissanceRe
Ventures Ltd., and (2) Individual Risk business, which includes primary
insurance and quota share reinsurance. RenaissanceRe is traded on the New
York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol 'RNR'. Visit
www.renre.com.
Market Trends, Studies & Books
Employees Without Access to Health Coverage Outside Work Defer Retirement
MyHealthGuide Source: Watson Wyatt (NYSE, NASDAQ: WW), 5/7/08, www.watsonwyatt.com
WASHINGTON, DC — Older workers without other health care insurance options are more likely to defer retirement to stay covered under their employer’s plan, according to an analysis by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a leading global consulting firm. Other factors, such as whether an employee has a pension, also contribute to decisions on when to retire.
Watson Wyatt analyzed data collected from 1992 to 2004 as part of the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study, a biannual survey of 22,000 older U.S. workers.
Analysis Highlights
Employees who rely on their employers
for health care coverage and do not expect to receive employer-provided
health benefits in retirement are 16.5 percentage points less likely to
retire in any given year than workers with access to health care coverage
through another source.
These sources can include a spouse’s health insurance plan, public health insurance, COBRA coverage or employer-sponsored retiree health insurance.
Retirement Influencers for Workers Over 50 Years Old
Retirement plan types.
Having only a defined benefit (DB) plan, such as a traditional pension, increases the likelihood of retirement by 4.1 percentage points.
Compared with defined contribution (DC) plans, DB plans encourage a more timely retirement in part because they provide guaranteed retirement income.
In DC plans, such as 401(k)s, participants bear the dual
risks of fluctuation in their retirement accounts and outliving their
retirement funds.
Public policies.
The gradual increase of the age at which workers can retire and receive full Social Security benefits is having a considerable effect on retirement decisions.
With the age incrementally increasing from
65 to 67, workers born in the 1940s are less likely to retire early than
those born in the 1930s.
Household wealth. While workers’ household financial wealth obviously has an effect on their retirement decisions, the analysis found that the source of the wealth makes some difference. For instance, a $100,000 increase in expected income from a pension plan or Social Security is more likely to prompt earlier retirement than an increase in housing equity or other household financial assets.
"Retirement is the result of a complex decision-making process that is
influenced not only by employees’ benefit packages but also by environmental
factors,” added Kevin Wagner, senior retirement consultant at Watson Wyatt.
"When the market booms, DC plan participants might retire just when
companies need to add workers, and when there are market busts, DC plan
participants might stay at work just when companies want to reduce the size
of their workforce. To effectively predict and manage workers’ exit from the
workforce, employers need to take a comprehensive view of their benefit
programs and tailor their retirement programs to meet both employee and
employer needs.”
Read more information about the factors affecting workers’ retirement
behavior at www.watsonwyatt.com/retirementtiming
About Watson Wyatt
Watson Wyatt is the trusted business partner to the world’s leading organizations on people and financial issues. The firm’s global services include: managing the cost and effectiveness of employee benefit programs; developing attraction, retention and reward strategies; advising pension plan sponsors and other institutions on optimal investment strategies; providing strategic and financial advice to insurance and financial services companies; and delivering related technology, outsourcing and data services. Visit www.watsonwyatt.com.
Workers Comp Market Has Slim 1% Underwriting Profitable for 2007
MyHealthGuide Source: National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. (NCCI) , 5/8/08, www.ncci.com. Slides: www.ncci.com/ncci/media/pdf/AIS-2008-SOL-Complete.pdf
Boca Raton, FL -- NCCI Holdings, Inc. released its annual
"State of the Line” workers compensation market analysis. This year’s report
indicates that the workers compensation calendar year combined ratio stands
at 99%—the second consecutive year that the line has realized an
underwriting profit, albeit a 6-point deterioration from 2006.
"We are pleased to report solid overall results for the workers compensation
line in 2007,” NCCI President and CEO Steve Klingel said. "However, NCCI
continues to observe that a low interest rate environment, combined with the
modest performance of the equity markets, have left the line with post-tax
returns on surplus that are far below record levels—and these results barely
return the industry’s cost of capital after the significant payments of
federal income taxes.”
"Given the positive 2007 results, our short-term view of the market is
optimistic,” added NCCI Chief Actuary Dennis Mealy. "However, our long-term
outlook is cautionary due to the myriad of uncertainties that continue to
face the business.”
Analysis Highlights
About NCCI
National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. (NCCI) is the largest
provider of workers compensation and employee injury data and statistics in
the nation. Visit www.NCCI.com.
PPOs Must Collaborate Among Non-traditional Allies
MyHealthGuide Source: American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations (AAPPO), 5/8/08, www.aappo.org
Washington, DC – Collaboration among a broad set of industry stakeholders
is vital to tackling many of the largest issues facing the health care and
preferred provider organization (PPO) industries, according to a report
released today by the American Association of Preferred Provider
Organizations (AAPPO).
The annual report, Outlook Connect – 2008 Market & Industry Trend
Report, found that while competition, consolidation and consumerism
are trends that continue to be prominent in the PPO industry, the focus in
the next several years needs to be on collaboration. The report is based on
interviews with key industry stakeholders as well as data from AAPPO’s
research partner, Mercer.
"Our report found that stakeholders believe the PPO industry is at a pivotal
point where issues demand profound and potentially uncomfortable solutions –
and that these solutions require us to work with nontraditional allies in
order to improve the flow of needed information among preferred provider
networks, payers and providers in order to improve the health care
experience for all consumers,” said Karen Greenrose, CEO and
president of AAPPO. "I am proud of the work AAPPO has accomplished to forge
relationships with groups like the American Medical Association, and believe
similar collaborations will only benefit consumers and the health care
industry as a whole.”
Key findings
"PPOs are chosen by more than 165 million Americans, which represents
nearly 67% of all insured Americans,” said Allen Karp, AAPPO chairman
and vice president for Health Care Delivery for Aetna . "The popularity of
PPOs, we believe, is due to our industry’s dedication to preserving the
hallmarks of the PPO delivery system for consumers and employers – choice,
quality and flexibility.”
About the AAPPO
Founded in 1983, AAPPO is the leading national association of preferred
provider organizations (PPOs). PPOs put control for medical decisions in the
hands of the physician and patient, resulting in easy access to the right
care, provided by the right doctor, at the right time. AAPPO creates a forum
for discussion and dissemination of PPO best practices. Visit
www.aappo.org.
Legal, Legislative & Regulatory News
ERISA Preempts Doctor's Claims of Breach of Contract and Fraud
MyHealthGuide Source: Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. (BNA), Legal News, Volume 08 Number 89, 5/8/08, www.bna.com
Case: Gianetti v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut Inc., D. Conn., No. 3:07cv01561 (PCD), 5/2/08. Court's Ruling
Article recommended by John H. Eggertsen, john@jhelaw.com, Eggertsen & Associates, P.C., www.jhelaw.com
ERISA preempts a doctor's state law claims seeking reimbursement for reconstructive plastic surgery he performed on a health plan participant's child, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut ruled in the above case.
Case Background
Dr. Charles D. Gianetti performed reconstructive plastic surgery on SR, a minor covered by an employer-sponsored health care plan operated by Anthem Health Plans Inc., Anthem Insurance Companies Inc., and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut Inc.
The court said Rose and her mother, Cynthia Bellamy, signed a statement that they would pay for all fees regardless of insurance. The agreement also provided that Gianetti would not send Bellamy a statement of his charges until Anthem paid him.
According to the court, Anthem paid only $3,019 of the $7,695 Gianetti sought in medical expenses. Anthem said it paid a portion of the amount owed directly to Bellamy and Rose, and denied coverage for another portion of the medical expenses. Bellamy and Rose denied ever receiving Anthem's payment and refused to make any payments to Gianetti, the court said.
Gianetti subsequently filed a lawsuit in state court against Anthem, Bellamy, and Rose, alleging breach of contract, quantum meruit, and unjust enrichment. Gianetti also alleged fraud, misrepresentation, and violations of CUTPA against Anthem. Anthem then removed the action to federal court on the basis of ERISA preemption.
Court's Ruling
Dismissing all of the doctor's claims, Judge Peter C. Dorsey said the doctor was a plan beneficiary because the participant and her child assigned their rights to him. In so finding, the court said the doctor's state law breach of contract claim derived from the administration of the ERISA plan, and thus was preempted by the federal statute.
According to the court,
Standing to Bring Lawsuit Under ERISA
The court found that Gianetti's claims derived from the existence and administration of the ERISA plan because recovery of the value of his services required an initial determination of the nature and extent of his benefits under the plan. "Plaintiff's benefits under the ERISA-regulated plan dictate both the value of the services and, as a result, the amount due for those services," the court reasoned.
Thus, liability would exist only because of Anthem's administration of the plan, the court said.
ERISA Preempts Claims of Breach of Contract, Unjust Enrichment
Noting that the court had supplemental jurisdiction over Gianetti's breach of contract, quantum meruit, and unjust enrichment claims against Bellamy and Rose, the court also found those claims were preempted by ERISA. In so finding, the court said Gianetti did not have a claim against Anthem without Bellamy's and Rose's assignment, and Gianetti would not have a claim against Bellamy and Rose without Anthem's denial under the plan.
ERISA Preempts Claims of Fraud, Misrepresentation
The court went on to find that Gianetti's fraud, misrepresentation, and CUTPA claims against Anthem were also preempted by ERISA. According to the court, the denial of charges, the alleged lack of timely review of the denied charges, and the alleged purging of Rose's records from Anthem's files all related to Anthem's management of the plan and had a large impact on Gianetti's benefits under the plan.
The court noted that ERISA's savings clause did not save Gianetti's claims from preemption because they were not specifically directed at the insurance industry, but rather were laws of general application. Furthermore, Gianetti's claims did not transfer or spread the policyholder's risk, constitute an integral part of the policy relationship between the insurer and insured, and the laws were not limited to entities within the insurance industry, the court said.
The court similarly ruled that the doctor's claims of misrepresentation, fraud, and violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA) concerned the existence and extent of benefits owed under the plan, and also involved the management of the plan. As such these claims also were preempted by ERISA, the court held.
About BNA
The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. (BNA) is the largest independent
publisher of information and analysis products for professionals in law,
tax, business, and government. BNA publishes daily, weekly,
monthly, and up-to-the-minute news covering the full range of legal,
legislative, regulatory, and economic developments that impact the business
environment. Visit www.BNA.com.
Patient Knowledge is Lacking on Newly
Prescribed Medication After Hospital Discharge
MyHealthGuide Source:
Mayo Clinical Proceedings, 2008;83(5):554-558,
Abstract
There is an unacceptable functional health literacy and understanding of medications by the patient following hospital discharge according to a study published in the Mayo Clinical Proceedings.
Researchers reviewed the charts of 172 patients who were discharged from February 1, 2006, through April 25, 2006, from the internal medicine residency service at a community-based teaching hospital with prescriptions for 1 or more new medications. Between 4 and 18 days after discharge, patients were contacted by telephone and asked about the name, number, dosages, schedule, purpose, and adverse effects of the new medication(s) and whether they could name their medical contact person. Researchers recorded the number of correct answers, patient age, and years of education.
Study findings
Arthritis Can be a Barrier for Adults Seeking to Manage Diabetes through Physical Activity
MyHealthGuide Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
5/8/08,
Article
More than half of adults with diagnosed diabetes also have arthritis, a
painful condition that can be a barrier to physical activity according to a
study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study, "Arthritis as a Potential Barrier to Physical Activity among
Adults with Diabetes: United States, 2005 and 2007,” analyzed data on
the prevalence of physical inactivity among adults with arthritis and
diabetes in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
Study findings
"These findings suggest more needs to be done to help people with diabetes and arthritis get physically active to improve their health,” said Chad Helmick, M.D., a CDC medical epidemiologist and co-author on the study. "Engaging in regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can help alleviate the pain and disability that often accompany arthritis.”
Adults with arthritis and diabetes have unique barriers to being physically active such as concerns about pain, aggravating or worsening joint damage, and not knowing how much or what types of physical activity are safe for them. These concerns must be addressed for adults with both conditions to become more physically active.
About Arthritis and Diabetes
Nationwide, 46.4 million adults have arthritis and 20.6 million adults have diabetes, with nearly 7 in 10 having had diabetes diagnosed by a health professional. Research shows that engaging in joint-friendly activities such as walking, swimming, biking can help manage both conditions.
Disease self-management classes, including exercise programs that address arthritis-specific barriers, may help adults with arthritis and diabetes better manage their disease. Programs proven to be effective in managing arthritis, such as the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, the Arthritis Foundation′s Exercise Program, and Enhance Fitness, are available in many local communities nationwide. For more information, visit CDC′s Arthritis Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/intervention.
MyHealthGuide Source: Journal of the American Medical Association, 2008;299(17):2027-2036, 5/7/08, Abstract
After 7 years of treatment and follow-up, a combination pill of folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 did not reduce risk of cardiovascular events among high-risk women according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. However, there was significant homocysteine lowering.
The study followed 5,442 women who were US health professionals aged 42 years or older in a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of antioxidant vitamins. Each woman either a history of CVD or 3 or more coronary risk factors. Participants received a combination pill containing folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 or a matching placebo, and were treated for 7.3 years from April 1998 through July 2005. Researchers measured a composite outcome of myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, or CVD mortality.
Study findings
Researchers concluded that randomized trials among patients with
preexisting cardiovascular disease (CVD) failed to support benefits of
B-vitamin supplementation on cardiovascular risk.
Standard Stop Loss Employer Disclosure Form Endorsed
MyHealthGuide Source: Self-Insurance Institute of America (SIIA, www.SIIA.org), Society of Professional Benefit Administrators (SPBA, www.SPBATPA.org), Recurring article
Self-Insurance Institute of America ( www.SIIA.org ) and Society of Professional Benefit Administrators (www.SPBATPA.org) have endorsed a standardized stop-loss disclosure form, which also includes ICD-9 codes. The documents are intended to help facilitate the sharing of health data information between self-insured entities/TPAs and stop-loss insurers/MGUs for the purpose of medical stop-loss underwriting.
Stop Loss Carriers and MGUs Adopting the Standardized Form
The list below represents an estimated $3 Billion in stop loss premium. Assuming a medical self-funded community stop loss market of $4 Billion, then over 75% of the market has adopted the form.
If you are a stop loss carrier or MGU that has adopted the standard disclosure form, please let us know at Info@MyHealthGuide.com.
Latest Survey Results Recommending Adoption
Respondents from the self-funded community have voted 86% in favor of adoption of the standard form for stop loss disclosure. For all survey results, see www.MyHealthGuide.com/disclosures.htm.
Standard Form Adoption May Not Mean Standardization
While surveyed members (n=112) from the self-funded community voted 86% in favor of adoption of the standard form for stop loss disclosure and a majority of the stop loss market has adopted the form, complete standardization is still a goal.
LaRea Albert of Health First TPA (Tyler, TX ) complains, "The Standard Stop Loss Employer Disclosure Form is not standard, we are getting a different standard from various MGUs and carriers." Another colleague at Health First, said, "Each stop loss source requires enough 'extras' that Health First concludes the form should not be called, "Standard."
"These comments show that, at least down at the operating level, many underwriters
and their managers 'don't get it'! If the form is 'approved', but insist on the
unique information carrier by carrier, then that's not accepting the standard, "
says John Lord, Vice President-Specialty Zurich Specialty Health, and a member
of the Industry Study Group which developed the Standard Disclosure Form.
"Clearly we have work to do to get the message out to all the right people."
Disclosure Form, Codes, White Paper, Available
The following draft documents may be downloaded and viewed at www.myhealthguide.com/disclosures.htm.
About Employer Disclosure
The Employer Disclosure, required by most stop loss carriers and MGUs, has grown in sophistication and use. Today, most stop loss sources require an employer disclosure before a new or renewal quote is offered. Ideally, the Employer Disclosure lists all known high cost claims, claims that have exceed a given dollar threshold, or patient/employees with certain diagnoses. Failure to disclose these individuals can later lead to claim denials. For the past several years, an industry study group has worked on "standardizing" the reporting process with the objective that all insurers would come to accept the reporting system/form as an industry standard.
May 12-14, 2008
10th Annual Self-Insured Workers’ Compensation Executive Forum
presented by presented by Self-Insurance Institute of America
(SIIA). Compensation programs, including group
self-insured Workers’ Compensation funds, consistently attracts
more than 150 senior-level executives from across the nation. Features:
Conference is for self-insured Workers’ Compensation programs, including group self-insured Workers’ Compensation funds. Excess insurance and risk management strategies. SIG-specific Educational. Newport Beach, CA. Conference registration is $750 for SIIA members and $995 for others. Registration: Michiale Machado, mmachado@siia.org, 800-851-7789. www.SIIA.org
May 19-22, 2008
17th Annual WEDI National Conference presented by
Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI).
Contact Patti Brown at pbrown@wedi.org.
www.WEDI.org
June 10-12, 2008
SIIA
International Conference presented by presented by
Self-Insurance Institute of America (SIIA).
Keynote speakers:
Tom Sackville, CEO of the International Federation of Health Plans, and
Ernst Csiszar, renowned expert on global financial services.
World's leading companies involved in the
self-insurance/alternative risk transfer marketplace will be
featured including Willis Re, Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Aspen Re,
Aetna Global, Swiss Re, Towers Perrin, Generali International and National
Insurance Academy, India. Risk managers and professional service providers will be introduced
to self-insurance/ART strategies and coverage concepts, markets and
service resources available in other countries.
Hilton Barcelona Hotel,
Spain. Registration: Michiale Machado,
mmachado@siia.org,
800-851-7789. www.SIIA.org
July 16-18, 2008
HCAA 6th Annual TPA University presented by Health Care Administrators Association.
Hotel Nikko, San Francisco. Hotel reservations: (800) 248-3308 or (415) 394-1111.
Reference "Health Care Administrators Association" to receive the group rate of
$245. Information: Jaime Nolan, CAE, Executive Director, (888) 637-1605,
hcaainfo@hcaa.org and
www.hcaa.org.
June 17-18, 2008
Fifth Annual Mid-Year Executive Forum presented by The South Carolina
Captive Insurance Association, Inc. (SCCIA). Education sessions on South
Carolina captive insurance industry. Westin Poinsett Hotel in downtown Greenville,
SC. Contact Tonya Severance at 888-267-2296,
tseverance@sccia.org and visit
www.sccia.org.
August 19-21, 2008
Third Annual Conference presented by The Montana Captive
Insurance Association, Inc. (MCIA).
Grouse Mountain Lodge. Whitefish, MT. Contact Tonya Severance
at 866-388-6242,
tseverance@mtcaptives.org and visit
www.mtcaptives.org.
September 8-9, 2008
TABA Annual Fall Conference & Exhibition presented by
Texas Association of Benefit Administrators. Dallas Marriott Solana Hotel, Westlake,
TX (Just west of DFW Airport). Contact Laura Firestone at
laura.firestone@worldnet.att.net.
Registration: www.tpbaa.com.
October 5-8, 2008
SIIA’s 28th Annual National Educational Conference & Expo
presented by Self-Insurance Institute of America (SIIA).
Features: World’s
largest event dedicated exclusively to the
self-insurance/alternative risk transfer industry. Educational programs.
Networking opportunities. World-class
tradeshow of industry product and service
providers. JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, Phoenix,
AZ. Registration: Michiale Machado,
mmachado@siia.org,
800-851-7789. www.SIIA.org
October 27-29, 2008
SPBA Fall 2008 Meeting - Members Only presented by Society of Professional
Benefit Administrators, Minneapolis, MN – Hyatt Regency,
www.SPBATPA.org
November 17-20, 2008
WEDI 2008 Fall Conference presented by Workgroup
for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI). Topics will cover HIPAA Implementation, including
Transactions, NPI, Attachments, Privacy and Security; Interoperability
issues; Health Savings Accounts; EHRs; HIE and more.
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa (800-446-9875), Indian Wells, CA.
Contact Patti Brown at pbrown@wedi.org.
www.WEDI.org
December 8-10, 2008
The National Conference On Health Care Consumerism
presented by Consumer Health World. Features: Employers'
Best Health Care Practices, Wellness & Prevention Strategies to
Improve Employees' Health & Corporate Performance, the Next
Generation of Health Web Based Applications and the Connection
of U.S. and International Health Care Stakeholders in the Global
Marketplace. Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia.
Registration: Gary Karp,
Director of Sales,
804-266-7422 ext. 7407and www.consumerhealthworld.com.
December 10-12, 2008
9th Annual Executive Educational Conference and Membership Meeting
presented by The South Carolina Captive Insurance Association, Inc. (SCCIA).
Education sessions on South Carolina captive insurance industry. Charleston
Place Hotel in Charleston, SC. Contact Tonya Severance at 888-267-2296,
tseverance@sccia.org and visit
www.sccia.org.
Editorial Notes, Disclaimers & Disclosures
Articles are edited for length and clarity.
Articles are selected based on relevance and diversity.
No content in this Newsletter should be construed as legal advice. All legal questions should be directed to your own personal or corporate legal resource.
Internet links are tested at the time of publication. However, links change or expire often.
Articles do not necessarily reflect views held by the Publisher.
Disclosure: MyHealthGuide is associated with CareHere, LLC® and LabInsight®.
Ernie Clevenger
President & Publisher
MyHealthGuide, LLC
Clevenger@MyHealthGuide.com