Employee Benefit Services

Benefits Bulletin

These newsletters are emailed to clients free of cost. If you would like to receive one or more of these newsletters via email, please contact us at info@hcwbenefits.com.

October 8, 2008
UnitedHealthcare Reminding Employers about Medicare Part D Creditable Coverage Notification

September 23, 2008
UnitedHealthcare Makes No Changes to Standard PDL
(Attachment)

September 23, 2008
BCBSNC to Issue New Member ID Cards in October
(Attachment)

September 5, 2008
UnitedHealthcare to Issue New Medical ID Cards December 1

September 5, 2008
BCBSNC to Require Certification for Specified PPIs Starting October 1

August 27, 2008
UnitedHealthcare Announces Specialty Pharmacy Transition for Treatment of Certain Conditions

August 25, 2008
BCBSNC Changing Blue Points Program in 2009 for Group Members

August 6, 2008
UnitedHealthcare Network Terminates Greensboro Radiology Outpatient Services
(Attachment)

July 28, 2008
BCBSNC Announces New Dental Claims System and Website

July 23, 2008
CIGNA Announces Second Quarter 2008 Formulary Updates

July 23, 2008
BCBSNC Packs Information into Summer 2008 Benefits Management Briefs Newsletter

July 2, 2008
Aetna Recognized as Industry Leader in Several Categories

June 27, 2008
WellPath Changes Group Contracts to Comply with NC Mental Health Parity Mandates

June 27, 2008
UnitedHealthcare Changes Group Contracts to Comply with NC Mental Health Parity Mandates

June 24, 2008
UnitedHealthcare PDL Update: Three Drugs Down-Tiered

June 17, 2008
UnitedHealthcare Alters Underwriting Guidelines for Small Groups

June 17, 2008
BCBSNC Changes Dependent Coverage Age to 26

June 5, 2008
Medco Announces Availability of Generic Drug for Osteoporosis Treatment

June 4, 2008
Haywood Regional Rejoins BCBSNC Networks

May 29, 2008
UnitedHealthcare ValueMax Program Targets Additional Medication Categories

May 29, 2008
BCBSNC Offers New Wellness Resource Publication

May 8, 2008
BCBSNC Launches Phase II of Medication Dedication Program

May 5, 2008
UnitedHealthcare Mail Interchange Program Helps Members Switch to Lower Cost Medication Alternatives

April 14, 2008
Haywood Regional Suspends Contract with UnitedHealthcare

April 14, 2008
BCBSNC Launches “Million Step March” Across NC

April 4, 2008
CIGNA Announces Improved Health Risk Assessment

April 4, 2008
BCBSNC Announces Enhanced COBRA Services

March 12, 2008
UnitedHealthcare Offers Online Billing
(Attachment)

March 6, 2008
BCBSNC Update on Copayment Waiver Programs

March 4, 2008
Wake Forest University Physicians and NC Baptist Hospital Join WellPath Network

March 4, 2008
Haywood Regional Temporarily Withdraws from BCBSNC Networks

February 28, 2008
UnitedHealthcare Bases New Chemotherapy Drug Program on NCCN Compendium

February 26, 2008
UnitedHealthcare Drops Two Medications from Formulary

January 29, 2008
New BCBSNC Tool Publishes Average Healthcare Costs for Members
(Attachment)

January 22, 2008
CIGNA Helping Subscribers Comply with Massachusetts Health Care Reform Act

January 22, 2008
UnitedHealthcare Replacing EOBs with New Health Statement

January 22, 2008
BCBSNC to Offer Employers Online Member Guides as New Standard

January 11, 2008
CIGNA Reaches Agreement with ECU Physicians

January 7, 2008
CIGNA to Remove ZYRTEC® from Formulary Due to OTC Availability

January 7, 2008
BCBSNC Announces Revolutionary Pharmacy Benefit Program for Employers
(Attachment - Copay Waiver List)
(Attachment - Brandname Tier List)
(Attachment - Program FAQ)

December 20, 2007
BCBSNC Introduces Blue365 Pilot Program

December 14, 2007
BCBSNC Signs New Pharmacy Contract with Medco
(Attachment)

December 5, 2007
UnitedHealthcare to Make PDL Changes for 2008

November 30, 2007
CIGNA to Drop ECU Physicians from Network

November 19, 2007
New Payment Address for BCBSNC Group Billing

October 18, 2007
Moses Cone and BCBSNC Reach Multi-Year Agreement

October 11, 2007
BCBSNC Student Verification Deadline is October 19

October 10, 2007
CIGNA Student Verification Deadline is October 15

October 4, 2007
Moses Cone and BCBSNC Resume Negotiations

October 2, 2007
Partnership Yields Improved CIGNA Health Risk Assessment
(Attachment)

September 5, 2007
BCBSNC Increases Supply Limit for Smoking Cessation Drugs
(Attachment)

August 28, 2007
UnitedHealthcare to Make PDL Changes in September
(Attachment)

August 8, 2007
UnitedHealthcare Promotes New Pharmacy Programs

July 31, 2007
Moses Cone Cancels Contract with BCBSNC

July 17, 2007
WakeMed and UnitedHealthcare Reach Long Term Agreement

July 13, 2007
BCBSNC Goes Proactive with Colon Cancer Screening Reminders
(Attachment)

June 28, 2007
MedCost Terminates Relationship with ApolloMD

June 21, 2007
UnitedHealthcare Adds New Categories to Specialty Pharmacy Program

June 20, 2007
BCBSNC to Offer Health Risk Assessments

June 5, 2007
BCBSNC Removes Kidney Disease Management Program

June 1, 2007
WakeMed and UnitedHealthcare Continue Negotiations

May 17, 2007
UnitedHealthcare Offers Expanded Network of Radiology Services
(Attachment)

May 10, 2007
Unum Reaches Agreement on Restitution

April 30, 2007
CIGNA Tel-Drug Working to Improve Service Issues

April 17, 2007
CIGNA Introduces Prior Authorization / Step Therapy Program to Minimize Member Pharmacy Costs

March 19, 2007
UnitedHealthcare Alters PDL Tier Status of Respiratory, Migraine and Allergy-Related Medications
(Attachment)

March 8, 2007
BCBSNC Alters Stance on Eligibility of Under-65 Dependents of Medicare-Eligible Active Employees

March 5, 2007
WakeMed Offers Options for Those Affected by UnitedHealthcare Contract Termination
(Attachment)

March 1, 2007
BCBSNC Offers Prilosec Coupons to Specified Members

February 28, 2007
ProBenefits Flex Debit Card Purchases Now Automatically Adjudicated at Wal-Mart

February 26, 2007
Principal Offers Extra Dental Care to Pregnant, Diabetic and/or Heart Diseased Members
(Attachment)

February 21, 2007
MedCost Reaches Network Agreement with UNC Physicians & Associates

February 8, 2007
BCBSNC Announces Pharmacy Tier Changes, Sedative Quantity Limits

February 6, 2007
MedCost Drops UNC Physicians & Associates from Network

January 30, 2007
BCBSNC Offers Prior Plan Approval Info Cards for Out-of-State Members
(Attachment)

January 26, 2007
UnitedHealthcare Drops WakeMed Facilities from Network

January 10, 2007
BCBSNC to Require Prior Plan Approval for Diagnostic Imaging Services Starting February 15

December 21, 2006
BCBSNC Launches Specialty Drug Pharmacy Network

December 7, 2006
BCBSNC to Offer Free Generic Drug Samples in Physicians’ Offices

December 6, 2006
UHC Making Changes to Advantage PDL

November 30, 2006
BCBSNC Announces Healthy Weight Pilot Program for Children

November 9, 2006
UHC Adds Convenient Care Clinics to Network

October 5, 2006
UHC to Introduce Radiology Notification Program in December

August 31, 2006
Frye Regional Medical Center Joins WellPath Network

August 29, 2006
WellPath Alters Coverage for Allergy Injections, Serum

August 1, 2006
UHC Standard PDL Changes to Affect Nexium Users, Others

June 21, 2006
United to Move Zocor® to Tier 1 on PDL

May 30, 2006
BCBSNC Names 17 Cardiac Centers of Excellence
(Attachment)

May 19, 2006
BCBSNC Extends Generic Copay Waiver Program through Dec. 31

May 5, 2006
Generic Version of Zocor to Alter WellPath Formulary

May 4, 2006
Betsy Johnson Hospital Signs Interim Contract with UHC

April 3, 2006
New Generic Cholesterol Prescription to Replace Zocor (BCBSNC)

March 22, 2006
Durham Internal Medicine Joins BCBSNC Network

February 16, 2006
BCBSNC Updates Group Eligibility and Participation Requirements
(Attachment)

February 6, 2006
Betsy Johnson Hospital in Dunn to Exit UHC Network

January 12, 2006
BCBSNC Re-Launches Generic Copayment Waiver Program

November 15, 2005
UHC Half Tablet Program to Help Reduce Pharmacy Costs
(Attachment)

September 6, 2005
UHC Drops East Carolina System Facilities from Network

August 22, 2005
UHC Makes Changes to Prescription Drug List

July 7, 2005
Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC Provides Flu Shots to All Members While Supplies Last

May 19, 2005
New Medco Members May Experience Enrollment Delays

May 13, 2005
CIGNA Moves Injectables from Medical to Pharmacy Plan

May 9, 2005
Medications Added to/Deleted from UniCare Formulary

March 16, 2005
UnitedHealthcare Introduces New Value-Added Resource

Hill, Chesson & Woody
194 Finley Golf Course Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 403-1986 voice
(919) 913-0237 fax
info@hcwbenefits.com

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