3 ways to offer competitive benefits with (almost) zero costs

By Alex Frommeyer - The Great Resignation may be slowing down, but we’re still in a tight labor market. Top talent remains in high demand, and many employers have beefed up their benefits programs in hopes of wooing potential hires and retaining the workers they have. The problem? With a recession looming, employers are likely wary of further increasing their remote work allowance or health insurance contribution. Instead, they’re looking for ways to offer competitive benefits without additional costs. Read Full Article…

VBA Article Summary

1. Add voluntary benefits: Many employees are financially stressed, lacking emergency savings. By offering voluntary benefits such as vision, dental, life, disability, and supplemental health insurance, employers can provide attractive group rates at no additional cost. Partnering with a benefits provider that offers multiple lines of coverage can streamline the process for employees.

2. Shift contribution levels: Employer-funded benefits are valuable for recruitment and retention. Instead of eliminating them during a downturn, adjust contribution levels to align with the average percentage contribution for each benefit. For example, if a company currently offers a 4-6% 401(k) match, reducing it slightly can generate cost savings while still exceeding the national average.

3. Encourage benefits engagement: Employees need to understand and appreciate the value of the benefits program. Invest in a tech-forward benefits partner that provides a user-friendly platform for easy access and enrollment. Conduct regular education sessions to demystify complex benefits and remind employees of available options. Relate benefits to real-life scenarios to demonstrate their impact. Additionally, gather feedback through surveys and collaborate with the benefits partner to address concerns and improve the program.

The top 10 nonprofit health systems by 2022 operating revenue

By Dave Muoio - Early operations disruptions and months of rising expenses made 2022 a tough nut for the hospital industry to crack. Whereas government support and a gradual return of volumes helped many hospitals sustain revenues during 2021, a January spike in omicron cases left certain regions with an influx of high-acuity patients and few spare beds. As many of their limited staff were also incapacitated by illness, some organizations were forced to reduce capacity and tap pricey contract labor in order to keep the wheels spinning. Read Full Article… 

VBA Article Summary

1. Challenging year for hospitals: Early operations disruptions and months of rising expenses made 2022 a tough year for the hospital industry. A spike in omicron cases in January led to high-acuity patients and limited staff availability, forcing hospitals to reduce capacity and rely on costly contract labor.

2. Ongoing shortage of clinical labor: The industry faced an ongoing shortage of clinical labor, which was exacerbated by the early-year spike in COVID-19 cases. Hospitals continued hiring initiatives throughout the year to maintain full capacity operations, leading to increased expenses.

3. Financial struggles: Hospitals experienced negative operating margins and financial challenges in 2022. Approximately half of U.S. hospitals closed the year with a negative margin, making it the worst financial year since the start of the pandemic. Rising expenses, investment losses, and macro-level economic trends like inflation contributed to the industrywide financial struggles.

Protections for Troops Booted over COVID Vaccine Mandate Added to House Defense Bill

By Rebecca Kheel - House Republicans moved Wednesday to protect former service members who were discharged over the military's now-defunct COVID-19 vaccine mandate, including easing their path to reinstatement. Read Full Article…

VBA Article Summary

1. House Republicans have moved to protect former service members who were discharged due to the military's now-defunct COVID-19 vaccine mandate. These protections include easing their path to reinstatement. Troops discharged for refusing the vaccine could be reinstated at their previous rank, with the discharge not affecting future career advancement. This move was part of a series of amendments related to the vaccine mandate approved by the House Armed Services Committee​¹​.

2. The amendments also stipulate that discharge review boards must consider requests to upgrade discharges for those dismissed solely over vaccine refusal. They mandate the Pentagon to reach out to discharged troops about their reinstatement application process. In addition, service academy students who weren't commissioned because they refused the vaccine are exempted from having to repay their taxpayer-funded tuition. The Pentagon is also directed to study the costs of giving the discharged troops back pay and a $15,000 bonus​¹​.

3. Representative Jim Banks, who sponsored two of the vaccine-related amendments, stated that these measures offer a "fair, equitable, and honorable option" for the service members who were wrongly separated. He emphasized that this proposal is particularly crucial now, given the significant recruiting crisis the military is facing since the establishment of the all-volunteer force​¹​. The five vaccine-related amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) largely passed along party lines, although a few Democrats voted in favor of the amendments​¹​.

Big health insurers are using Washington-based trade group the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) to bankroll ad campaigns in the DC area

By Wendell Potter - I wrote a few days ago that CVS/Aetna’s chief financial officer told wealthy investors not to fret about the growing momentum in Congress to crack down on profiteering by pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies, one of the largest of which is owned by CVS. His message to shareholders: We’ve got your back. Read Full Article…

VBA Article Summary

1. Insurer/PBM companies prioritize profit margins: The CFO's comments indicate that insurer/PBM companies prioritize maintaining their profit margins above all else. They are confident in their ability to offset any potential loss of profits from legislation by shifting the burden onto employers, government customers, patients, and taxpayers. Higher premiums and out-of-pocket requirements are some ways in which they plan to compensate for potential revenue losses.

2. Dominance of big insurers and PBMs: CVS/Aetna, Cigna, and UnitedHealth, the three largest insurers in the United States, now own the country's three biggest PBMs. Collectively, these companies control 80% of the multi-billion-dollar drug middleman market. Despite the availability of alternatives, many employers feel compelled to work with these major players, contributing to their market dominance.

3. Propaganda and lobbying efforts by insurers: The insurers are investing heavily in propaganda and lobbying campaigns to protect their business models from any disruption by lawmakers. They fund and support organizations like the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) to promote their interests. The insurance industry-funded ads aim to portray PBMs in a positive light, highlighting their supposed virtues, while concealing the industry's financial backing of the campaign.

Workplace Loneliness Has Broad Implications for Mental Health

By Kathy Gurchiek - Feeling lonely at your job? Others have been, too, even before the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of remote work. However, the "pandemic of loneliness" appears to have peaked in 2020, according to new SHRM research. That doesn't mean the problem has disappeared, though. More than one-third—38 percent—of all workers surveyed say they are lonely on the job at least monthly, according to the SHRM report released June 13 at the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo 2023. Loneliness is a problem that should still be addressed, particularly among certain age groups. Read Full Article… 

VBA Article Summary

1. Workplace loneliness remains prevalent: Despite advancements in technology and changes in work environments, loneliness persists among workers. According to a survey conducted by SHRM, 38 percent of workers report feeling lonely on the job at least once a month. This indicates that the problem of loneliness is still prevalent and needs to be addressed.

2. Generational differences in loneliness: The survey reveals clear generational patterns when it comes to loneliness at work. Millennials and members of Generation Z, especially those in their 20s and early 30s, reported higher levels of loneliness compared to older generations. This suggests that younger workers may be more susceptible to stress from balancing work and personal lives, making workplace interactions crucial for their well-being.

3. Importance of workplace interactions: The report highlights the significance of workplace interactions, particularly for younger workers. For Millennials and Generation Z employees, spontaneous interactions at work are seen as crucial for career progression. Furthermore, there is a correlation between casual interactions at the workplace and employee mental health. Those who engage in more casual interactions are more likely to report better mental health. This emphasizes the need for fostering meaningful connections and social cohesion in the workplace.

Amazon called to account – on health data

By Ben Leonard, Erin Schumaker and Carmen Paun - Two Democratic senators are concerned that Amazon’s virtual care platform is “harvesting” patient health data. In a letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy that Ben obtained exclusively, Sens. Peter Welch of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts point to recent reporting in The Washington Post that Amazon Clinic requires patients to sign a form that gives the company “complete” access to their consumer health information. Read Full Article… 

VBA Article Summary

1. Sens. Peter Welch of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts have expressed concern over Amazon's virtual care platform, claiming that it is "harvesting" patient health data. They refer to a Washington Post report stating that Amazon Clinic requires patients to sign a form granting the company complete access to their consumer health information.

2. The senators argue that Amazon should clarify why it collects health care data and how it is used. They are requesting Amazon to provide a sample contract with third-party providers offering care to Amazon Clinic enrollees, disclose the data it shares, and explain if and how it is used to sell Amazon products or services.

3. Amazon claims to comply with HIPAA and other applicable laws and regulations, stating that it shares data with health providers to ensure proper patient care. The company emphasizes its commitment to customer data protection and privacy, citing stringent customer privacy policies.

Part 3: AI & Risk to Empathy, Compassion and Trust in Healthcare

By Joanne Byron - As AI is integrated into patient care and medical coding, billing and accounts receivable management, will we risk the human connection of empathy and compassion which builds trust in the physician-patient relationship? I embarked on a short research project to explore this topic and share my findings with AIHC members and affiliates. Read Full Article… 

VBA Article Summary

1. AI in healthcare offers promising advancements in efficiency and patient care, but there are concerns about its potential to risk the human connection of empathy and compassion, which is fundamental to the patient-centered, relational model of health care. An abstract posted to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in June 2023 highlighted these concerns, emphasizing that while AI can aid in the delivery of healthcare, it cannot replicate a physician's knowledge and understanding of the patient as a person. Therefore, provider-patient communication will remain paramount for safe and effective healthcare​¹​.

2. The article suggests we may be on the verge of a paradigm shift in healthcare, where the doctor-patient relationship could potentially evolve into a triad involving AI. This raises ethical questions about the influence of AI on doctor-patient communication and the need to consider both doctors' and patients' autonomy in the context of AI implementation. However, using AI tools in an assistive role and adapting medical education could have a positive impact on person-centered doctor-patient relationships​¹​.

3. There have been successful implementations of AI in patient-centered outcomes. For instance, a project by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) in September 2021 utilized AI in generating high-quality training datasets for a chronic kidney disease use case, which involved predicting mortality within the first 90 days of dialysis. This case incorporated joint clinician-patient informed decision making and demonstrated how AI can enhance patient-centered outcomes research infrastructure​¹​.

In conclusion, as we move forward with integrating AI into healthcare, it's crucial to continually re-evaluate how empathy, compassion, and trust can be incorporated and practiced within a healthcare system where AI is increasingly used​¹​.