Content about Employment compensation

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., and Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., last week introduced the Family Health Care Flexibility Act, repealing restrictions placed on health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts in the President’s healthcare law. A provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, already in effect today, prohibits HSA and FSA participants from using their account dollars to purchase over the counter medicines without a prescription.  

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Nearly 80% of office workers polled come to work even when they know they are sick — an increase of 20% over last year — according to the third annual "Flu Season Survey" from Staples. 

Currently there are two overarching legislative issues that either threaten to place greater restrictions on certain over-the-counter medicines or fail to restore access to an OTC benefit that once played a significant role in helping develop interest in the flexible spending account plans available today.


WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — This is one of the tweaks health reform needs to make it meaningful and to appropriately align all of the incentives in the right direction — and that's toward overall healthcare cost reduction. Because mandating a prescription in order that nonprescription medicines would be eligible expenses under either flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts just never made sense, intuitive or otherwise.

DEERFIELD, Ill. and WATERTOWN, Mass. — Take Care Health Systems, which is owned by Walgreens, and Tufts Health Plan have announced the opening of a workplace health center called the BeWell Center, which offers wellness and preventive care, symptom care and laboratory services to Tufts Health Plan employees and contractors.

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Thursday announced that four of the UFCW/multi-employer pension funds to which the company contributes will merge into a new fund, effective Jan. 1. This new arrangement is expected to reduce Kroger's annual pension contribution expense and will secure the pension benefits of more than 65,000 Kroger associates.

BOSTON — If employers want to best manage the health and productivity of their employees, they need to continue company-sponsored health plans — that was a key message that Troyen Brennan, EVP and chief medical officer of CVS Caremark, had for attendees at the National Business Group on Health's annual meeting on Thursday.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Self-care saves cents. It's really that simple. As a nation, if we're going to get serious about reversing escalating healthcare costs, it starts by gaining a better appreciation for the value nonprescription remedies can bring to the overall healthcare table. It starts by removing counterintuitive regulations that serve as a disincentive against employing self-care options as the first line of treatment. It starts with passing bills like the Medical Flexible Spending Account Improvement Act (S.

WASHINGTON — The Health Choices Coalition sent a letter to members of Congress, urging them to repeal legislation that limits coverage of over-the-counter medicines.

The coalition is looking to Congress to repeal a provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that prevents consumers from using their flexible spending accounts to purchase OTCs without first getting a doctor's prescription. Members of the Health Choices Coalition are urging Congress to take action in order to allow consumers to use their FSAs for OTCs.

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association may not be painting pink Pepto-Bismol mustaches on a group of Hollywood celebrities and professional athletes as part of the new campaign it plans to fully unveil in June, but the goal is more or less the same as the “Got Milk?” ads.

“Got milk?” has become ubiquitous. There is 100% clarity of message. The milk mustache says it all: Milk is an essential food and an integral part of a healthy diet; it HAS TO BE in your refrigerator, on your breakfast table and in your lunch box.

SAN FRANCISCO — Walmart’s U.S. VP benefits, Chris McSwain, was elected chairman of the Integrated Benefits Institute, the organization announced Monday.

“Chris McSwain has played an important leadership role in the health benefits community, and we look forward to his continued leadership with IBI,” said Thomas Parry, president of the nonprofit health and productivity research organization.