Eugene Education Association
2815 Coburg Road • Eugene, OR 97408 • Phone 541-345-0338
4J EMPLOYEE BENEFITS OFFICE CHANGE
Janis Brew, the 4J Employee Benefits Manager since June of 2010, has left 4J to accept a position at the University of Oregon. Janis has been a tremendous asset for employees, and on a personal note, I have greatly enjoyed the chance to work with her. She will be missed but I’m confident you all join me in wishing her the best as she pursues an exciting new opportunity.
4J Human Resources is in the process of recruiting a new Employee Benefits Manager. In the meantime, Ryan Massey, 4J Risk Manager, will assume the role of acting benefits manager, and Wendy Beard will be providing temporary assistance until a permanent manager has been hired. Wendy is a 4J parent who has been working in various positions in 4J since 2008, most recently in Human Resources, so some of you may recognize her. She brings with her experience from the non-profit world as well as database, network and information systems management and has jumped right into benefits. Wendy can be reached by phone at 541-790-7675 or via e-mail at beard_w@4j.lane.edu.
NOT COMING BACK IN THE FALL?
If you are a licensed employee hired for this school year only and your hire date was before November 1, 2012, your insurance benefits will run through August. Benefits also run through August for employees planning to take an unpaid leave from 4J or who will not be returning next school year (for reasons other than retirement). The final 2012-13 paycheck will be at the end of July. If you currently have a monthly insurance premium withheld from your paycheck, please remember that you can make arrangements to have your August premium spread out over your June and July paychecks or to have it withheld from your July paycheck (in addition to your regular July premium deduction). This allows you to pay for your benefits with pre-tax dollars.
To make this arrangement, send an e-mail to the Employee Benefits Office (benefits@ 4j.lane.edu). This e-mail must be sent by May 24, 2013 in order to meet the payroll deadline. There is not a form to fill out, but you must express your wishes in writing to get this set up. Please indicate whether you wish to have your August premium spread over your June and July paychecks or withheld from just the July paycheck.
If you are retiring at the end of this school year, please refer to your copy of your Licensed Retirement Agreement, which has details about your retiree insurance elections and rates.
If you have any questions, please let me know. You can reach me by phone (541-790-7682) or e-mail (wenzl@4j.lane.edu).
OEBB OPEN ENROLLMENT CHANGES COMING
The OEBB open enrollment period will begin August 15, 2013 and will remain open through September 15, 2013. All OEBB members will be required to log onto the MyOEBB system during open enrollment to select or waive coverage for the October 1, 2013 – September 30, 2014 plan year. This is a change from years past when you could let your current enrollments carry-over. You will receive detailed information as soon as it is available – watch for updates in this newsletter, your e-mail inbox, and via US Mail over the summer.
NOTES FROM THE 4J WELLNESS CLINIC
Lora Nyburg, 4J Clinic Manager, has asked me to share the following information with you:
Cascade Health Solutions has been managing the 4J Wellness Clinic for approximately 7 months now. It has been such a pleasure to meet so many wonderful people and we look forward to continuing to serve the 4J employees.
We have had a few “bumps in the road” as we learn about the needs of the school district and their employees and as we get to know you as patients. Some of these bumps have been due to the fact that when we opened the clinic in September, we also implemented a new electronic medical record. What we have since learned from other offices that have gone through this implementation process is that it takes nine months to a year for providers and staff to really get comfortable with navigating through this system. Because of the recent changes in the delivery of healthcare, this is a process that all medical providers will be going through as there is a mandate to have electronic medical records available nationwide. What this means for patients is that providers are unable to see as many patients – national statistics indicate an average reduction in patient visits of 20% – due to the increased time for the documentation required of the provider.
In addition, when we took over the management of the clinic, we implemented a new staffing model in order to meet the budgetary needs of the school district. In the past there were two or three providers available every day to see patients, as well as four to five support staff. Due to budgetary restraints, we now have only 1 provider 3 days a week and 2 providers the other two days. This means that there just aren’t as many appointment slots available. We do keep a waiting list and when there are cancellations we make every effort to get people into those vacant spots. This is one reason it is so important to cancel an unneeded appointment rather than just not showing up. The 4J Wellness Committee has assured us that they are willing to re-evaluate staffing levels once we have been operating long enough to determine what, if any, adjustment might be needed.
Our current staff is dedicated to providing the best possible care to our patients. We value feedback and want to hear both the positive and the negative. We ask for your patience as we continue to refine our processes and look forward to continuing to work with the school district and their employees to keep the Wellness Clinic a vital and important part of the 4J District.
PROTECT YOUR FAMILY – AND OUR COMMUNITY
Lane County Health is starting to see some cases of whooping cough showing up in the area, and Heather Young, a Community/Employee Health Nurse with Lane County Public Health sent the following information:
Whooping cough (also called pertussis) is common in the United States, and it is on the rise in our community. It spreads easily and can cause violent coughing fits that can last up to 10 weeks or more. In infants and young children, the disease can be quite severe, even deadly—especially in babies younger than 6 months of age. The DTaP vaccine for babies and young children, and the Tdap vaccine for preteens, teens, and adults — including pregnant women — help prevent this potentially life-threatening illness. Protect your family—and our community—against whooping cough. Talk to your health care provider about getting yourself and your children vaccinated.
To learn more about whooping cough and the vaccines to prevent it, visit http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/or speak with your health care professional. Remember that Moda Health covers routine immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) when the immunizations are administered by a professional provider or at a participating pharmacy.
CHOLESTEROL SCREENING
The final drop-in cholesterol screening for the 2012-13 school year will occur Wednesday, July 10, 2013. Please note the change from the originally scheduled date of July 3rd.
These quarterly drop-in cholesterol screenings at the 4J Wellness Clinic are done on a first come, first-served basis from 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. and are a fasting cholesterol finger stick, with the results available in about 5 minutes. Please remember that fasting means nothing to eat or drink but plain water for at least 10-12 hours.
If you have questions about whether it is time to have your cholesterol screened, please consult your health care provider.
ODS BECOMES MODA HEALTH
By now you should have received the mailer with the information that ODS is in the process of changing its name to Moda Health. You can continue to use your current ID cards during the transition – our group number and your subscriber number will remain unchanged. Effective May 6th, replacement and new ID cards will feature the new Moda Health logo.
The Moda Health customer service numbers for OEBB members have not changed:
- Medical: 866-923-0409
- Dental: 866-923-0410
- Pharmacy: 866-923-0411
