Who isn’t?

It’s hard to get away from it.  There are constant updates on the news, speculative stories in the papers and updated comparisons on blogs and social media sites like LinkedIn.

The topic is so vast and covers such a wide array of issues, it’s hard to stay up with all of it.  There are decisions that would affect large employers, small employers, physicians, employees, the Medicare population, the Medicaid population, the working underinsured, the middle class, executives, the uninsured….the list goes on and on.

Something of particular interest caught my eye the other day in terms of wellness programs.

Did you know that both the Senate Bill (H.R. 3590) and the House Bill (H.R. 3962) contain provisions regarding grants to small employers for wellness programs?  Here are some specifics between the two bills:

Senate Bill: Provides grants for up to 5 years to small employers that establish wellness programs.  Provides technical assistance and other resources to evaluate those programs.  Permits employers to offer employees rewards – in the form of premium discounts, waivers of cost-sharing requirements, for up to 30% of the cost of coverage for participating in a wellness program.

House Bill: Provides grants for up to 3 years for small employers for up to 50% of the costs incurred for a qualified wellness program.

Stay tuned!  And if I can do anything to help you be well positioned to take advantage of some of these benefits once the reform bill passes, please send me an e-mail at mmudgeriley@managedbenefits.com.

Warmly,

Dr. Mudge-Riley