Benefits Bulletin
These newsletters are emailed to clients free of cost. If
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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