Health Reform Policy and Implementation Update

We were very pleased to have Michael Bertaut, Healthcare Economist/Exchange Coordinator for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, with a group of our clients in our new office this afternoon.  He provided an extremely timely update on the state of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (better known as PPACA or Health Reform).

This was a great review of the key elements of Health Reform as we prepare for next month’s Supreme Court decisions regarding the Constitutionality of the Individual Mandate.  He provides understandable answers to these questions: Where are we now? How did we get here? Where are we (or may we be) going?

Benefit Advisory Group Is Your Local ProSential Group Office

Transforming HR & Benefits

We are now part of ProSential Group, an innovative HR, benefits and payroll services company that is transforming the marketplace with solutions designed to meet the needs of growing small to mid-sized companies.  As your ProSential Pro, we work in your local community, helping businesses grow by saving time and money while eliminating risk.

Today’s businesses, like yours, need a better, more efficient way to handle HR, benefits and payroll.  And that’s why ProSential Group was created; to offer comprehensive solutions fueled by best-in-class technology for growing businesses. 

Why Do Business with a ProSential Group Office?

Choosing a partner for your HR, benefits and payroll is an important decision. Too often, businesses default to choosing one of the giant solution providers, only to pay too much for an overly complex solution and stumble during implementation while failing to get the answers or local attention they need. ProSential Group is different.

• We are local. Local, accountable service means you have a responsible, accessible partner who understands your specific needs because we have a strong working relationship. Because we know your company, brand, market and culture, we can bring the right solutions at the right price.
• We simplify. Our technology, services and advice help simplify your human capital management, handle payroll efficiently, eliminate compliance risk, and move your company ahead.
• We bring it all together. Our comprehensive approach combines payroll, HR, benefits time and attendance, and more in one automated solution that’s easy to use and manage.
• We help you empower your employees. We help you implement new services in the way that works best for your organization.
• We’re committed to businesses like yours. By focusing exclusively on the under-served small to mid-sized business market, we offer solutions with the right capabilities for you.
• We save your business time and money. Our advanced but affordable solutions are designed to be cost-effective—as well as easy to implement and manage.

Learn More.

If your would like to learn more, simply have questions or need information information, please contact us at:

Benefit Advisory Group

935 Gravier Street, Suite 1610

(504) 273-5960

Recaps, Conversations and Light Bulb Moments

Reblogged from Louisiana SHRM:

It’s been close to a month since the Louisiana SHRM State Conference came to a successful conclusion and in the last few weeks there has been some more online content generated.  Check out a few more blog posts:

Louisiana SHRM Conference 2012: Recap (Day 2) – by Christine Assaf

Creating a Culture of “We” – An Engaging Conversation from #LASHRM12…

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The Final News from #LASHRM12 – from the Social Media Trenches

Reblogged from Louisiana SHRM:

The Louisiana SHRM State Conference on Human Resources is in the record books – highest attendance in years, lots of social engagement, packed session rooms and a lively Exhibit Hall/HR Solutions Center. We were fortunate to have a group of speakers and attendees who kept the twitter stream very active (#lashrm12 and #lashrm) who also wrote a number of blog posts before, during and after the conference. 

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Great information as always!

Louisiana House Bill 989 (Claims Transparency) Passed!

Louisiana House Bill 989, Authored by Representative Mike Huval, an Insurance Agent passed the Senate Floor without opposition.  Senator Adley voluntarily deferred his bill and presented HB 989 for final passage.  The bill is now headed to the Governors desk.

This bill passed with a combination of effort from the Louisiana Association of Health Underwriters, The National Federation of Independent Business, The Louisiana Business Group on Health and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.

I am anxious to see how this will impact group insurance pricing in our market – particularly the small group market (see:  Texas HB 2015: How Healthcare Transparency Can Save You Money).  I am also anxious to be able to bring some much requested utilization information to our clients with under 100 employees.  This kind of information can be extremely valuable for an employer in making plan design and funding decisions – including the decision to NOT offer group insurance.

I hope to be a valued part of the discussion for employer groups who are grappling with decisions like this.

Going Deep Part 2......Solutions to the Uninsured

Reblogged from Bertaut On Healthcare:

Today, almost all of the people in the U.S. who have private health insurance get it through their job.  Ever wonder why that is?  Simply put, there are two big reasons:

1. Health insurance is (because healthCARE is) pretty expensive.  Employers are nice enough to subsidize coverage for their employees, often to the tune of 80 or 90% of the premiums required for the employee. 

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Always great insight from Mr. Bertaut!

Should Pregnant Women Be Accommodated in the Workplace?

Reblogged from Healthland:

Earlier this week, a coalition of legislators introduced the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, designed to encourage employers to make nice to their pregnant employees. If they need extra bathroom breaks or help lifting heavy things or a chair to sit in, employers shouldn’t balk.

But many are. Complaints about pregnancy-related work discrimination have soared 50% since 2000. Consider the case of Angie, a train conductor in Mississippi whose employer wouldn’t agree to accommodate her when she presented a doctor’s note limiting the amount of weight she should lift.

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Benefit Advisory Group – Sample Deliverables Prezi

As someone who presents to audiences of all kinds regularly, I just had to see what all of the Prezi buzz was about.  Now, having used the platform for myself, I must admit I am a huge fan.

Below is my first Prezi – Benefit Advisory Group’s Sample Deliverables.  It is one of our most common presentations – my attempt to show clients and prospective clients what it is we do – not as easy as it sounds in the world of intangible insurance products (basically we sell promises).  I love the way Prezi allows you to develop a visual flow of information to reinforce what is being presented.

Take a look and feel free to share.

Louisiana House Bill 989 – Pending House Floor Action

Today, Louisiana House Bill 989 was passed unanimously (with some amendments) by the House Committee on Insurance and is currently pending House Floor Action.  As this piece of legislation makes its way through the legislature, I am watching closely.  I am also eagerly anticipating its passing.  I am excited about the potential impact this legislation will have on my employer clients and my relationship with them.

From 2005 to 2010, I lived in Austin, Texas.  In that time, I developed and have maintained a number of employer clients based in Texas while maintaining and growing my Louisiana-based employer clients.  In January of 2008, Texas passed HB 2015, and I was able to see first hand the positive impact that this legislation had on the small group market in particular.  For the first time, as an adviser, I was able to help my under 100-employee clients access extremely valuable claims utilization for their plans.  This information, when properly analyzed, shed some much needed light on plan utilization – giving employers additional information to evaluate alternate plan designs and funding strategies.  The results, for my clients, have been extremely positive.

I look forward to this evolution in the service and advisory role we enjoy with our employer clients.

Justices Expected To Reject Postponing Ruling On Healthcare Reform Challenge

Reblogged from Mike Braun Health Insurance Blog:

The Supreme Court’s hearing Monday on whether it is proper for the justices to rule on the Affordable Care Act at this time generated extensive television, print and online coverage. Media analysts last night and this morning largely agree that the case will almost certainly move forward, as both the Administration and the plaintiffs have requested. While the three networks devoted more time to the hearing than any other topic — more than 12 minutes in total — the Trayvon Martin case was the chief topic of debate during the primetime hours on the cable news channels last night.

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Great post!