Fighting Back Against Chronic Condition Costs… Physical AND Financial
The cost of five major chronic conditions, in physical and financial terms: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States, and cost the U.S. $407.3 billion between 2018 to 2019.Between 2017 and 2020, 10% of adults age 20 or...
More Gene Therapies Available, But Cost Remains a Concern
Back in late 2022, MedBen spotlighted the growth of gene therapy, a transformative medical approach that potentially cures genetic disorders by correcting or replacing an individual's DNA. As we noted, these therapies go beyond treatment to literally "solving the...
How Many of Your ER Visits Are Avoidable?
For MedBen clients in 2023, 16% of emergency room visits were potentially avoidable… typically for conditions that could have been better managed in a more cost-effective setting. A visit to an urgent care facility or family doctor cost, on average, $1,582 less than...
Reduce Your Vision Loss Risk through Regular Eye Exams
As we get older it's not unusual for our eyesight to get a little fuzzy... but a form of partial sight loss known as "low vision" is less common and can't be corrected by standard glasses or surgery. However, simple preventive actions can help reduce your risk for eye...
Comparative Effectiveness Maximizes Drug Savings by Maximizing Clinical Value
At January's Benefits Advisory Conference, MedBen President & CEO Kurt Harden observed that when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluates a new drug to be approved for sale, it has to be safe and effective, but not necessarily superior to what's already on...
Have You RSVPed for Your MBU Roundtable Yet?
Invitations to two upcoming MedBen University (MBU) events have been emailed... the Municipality & Public Employer Roundtable on Wednesday, April 3, or the Private Employer Roundtable on Thursday, April 11. If you haven't received an invite to your event yet,...
MedBen Connect Simplifies the Member Health Care Experience
Want to make the health care experience easier for your plan members? There's an app for that. Actually, MedBen Connect is more than an app... it's a leading-edge navigation platform that reduces health care costs and improves outcomes by increasing member engagement....
Take Defensive Measures Against Spring Asthma Triggers
Spring can be a particularly problematic time of year for people who suffer from asthma. As people spend more time outdoors, pollen and other allergen triggers can exacerbate the condition, making it more difficult to breathe. Air pollution and temperature changes can...
MBU Employer Roundtables Spotlight Service Innovations
MedBen University (MBU) is in session, so mark your calendar! As we mentioned in the last e-briefs, MBU launched its 23rd season last month with the Benefits Advisory Conference for brokers... and this Spring, MBU will be conducting two employer roundtables:...
Drugmaker Sued for Mismanaging Rx Plan
Leading drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson is being sued for mismanagement of the company's pharmacy plan. The lawsuit, which also names J&J’s pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) as a defendant, accuses the company of massively overpaying the PBM for generic...
Remind Your Members the FSA Grace Period Ends Soon!
If your health plan offers a grace period for members to use any remaining 2023 flexible spending account (FSA) funds, you’ll want to remind them that those funds will no longer be available after March 15, 2024. Any claims submitted before that date will...
“Don’t” Miss Out on the Benefits of Preventive Dental Care
A recent list of list of dental “don'ts” identified nine things dentists say they never do... they don't chew ice, they don't use their teeth to open bags and bottles, they don't smoke, and so forth. And the last dental “don't” on the list: They don’t miss dentist...