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Brace Yourself for More from the Opioid Addiction Crisis

Just as the first cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) made their way into New York City in March, I wrote about efforts made by dental insurers and medical carriers to address the opioid epidemic in our country. The COVID-19 pandemic started tearing its way through the world soon after. Flash forward to summer, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported nearly 71,000 American drug overdose deaths in 2019 according to preliminary data – a new record that predates the COVID-19 crisis and was primarily driven by fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, cocaine and methamphetamine. For more …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/brace-yourself-for-more-from-the-opioid-addiction-crisis/

Don’t Let COVID-19 Stop Your Preventive Dental Care

COVID-19 has significantly impacted dental care in America. A 2018 study by Guardian shows that even before this pandemic, one in four Americans with employer-provided dental insurance hadn’t had a dental cleaning in the prior 12 months and almost 50 million had not visited a dentist in the prior 24 months. During the current crisis, dental care has screeched to a halt. In the best of times, a dental visit is avoided by many. In the worst of times, Americans don’t seem to feel it’s worth the risk of exposure to the virus. Viewpoints from …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/dont-let-covid-19-stop-your-preventive-dental-care/

EPIC Adds Nancy Webster

Addition further strengthens EPIC’s Employee Benefits Operation in the Southwest Region EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that Nancy Webster has joined the firm as Senior Principal. Webster will report to KJ Wagner, President of the Southwest Region. In her new position, Webster is responsible for new business development, and the design, placement, and management of employee benefits insurance programs and solutions for mid-market and large clients. Webster joins EPIC from Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., where she spent 18 years of her career and became Area …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/epic-adds-nancy-webster/

Looking Back at the Year and Forward to Family Benefits

… COVID-19 and are rising to the occasion to improve racial equality. Shifting daily operational policies, implementing paid leave benefits, all while having difficult conversations about racism, has not been easy. Still, I truly believe the hard work will yield great results for years to come. As we move into employee benefits open enrollment season and decisions are being made for the year ahead, human resources leaders should do an audit and proactively make enhancements to their family benefits packages. Here are three questions to consider: Does your program address racial disparities in maternity support? A tough but important question …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/looking-back-at-the-year-and-forward-to-family-benefits/

Harris Moves Healthcare Politics to the Left

Viewpoints from Craig Hasday Kamala Harris retracted her support for Medicare for All during her recent presidential election campaign – but she is definitely left-leaning. She had been a co-sponsor of Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All bill, but the headwinds were too fierce. Now, Vice Presidential Candidate Harris has a new opportunity to move healthcare even further to the left than Biden’s public option. In addition to advocating single-payer, Harris had suggested that the government actually set drug prices. The lobbyists are pulling out their big guns. Consolidation is moving quickly in this high-stakes game. Providers …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/harris-moves-healthcare-politics-to-the-left/

Covering Coronavirus: Risk Considerations Volume 1, Issue 20

EPIC Risk Advisory Bulletin Volume 1, Issue 20 The global COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic remains both dynamic and fluid. We continue to see unprecedented disruptions at home and abroad. In this issue, we take a focused look at: General Information on Coronavirus Insurance Products and Coverage Information Insights Gained from July Renewals News of Note Human Resources and Employee Benefits Liability Protection Sticking Point of Potential Virus Aid OSHA Revises Employee Medical Records Rule EPIC Team Trains 1,000 for Nationwide Event Judge Expands Virus Paid Leave Rule Presumptive Compensability Legislation Update Insights from Across the Firm The information presented …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/covering-coronavirus-risk-considerations-volume-1-issue-20/

Tobacco Cessation Pulse Survey

Tobacco Use is the #1 Cause of Preventable Death and Disability in the U.S. Second-hand tobacco smoke is also harmful to health. The most common type of tobacco product is cigarettes, but other forms of tobacco include cigars, e-cigarettes, hookah, chew, dip, and snuff. Many employers offer tobacco programming to members in the form of cessation programs or free, discounted nicotine replacement therapies, such as a nicotine patch, gum, lozenges, or prescribed medications. Take this quick survey to learn what other companies are doing to promote tobacco cessation, and how their tobacco programs are administered. All who …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/tobacco-cessation-pulse-survey/

Stealing the Show: Host Effective Open Enrollment Presentations

… stand in front of employees and gauge their reactions – read the room, if you will – but this year may be different. So how do you respond? Fortunately, it’s a topic I, along with my colleague and EPIC National Learning & Development Director, Kate Tabony Rose, spoke about at the recent “Employee Benefits University” event held for EPIC account management teams. Our guidance is centered around the three key phases of any presentation: Prepare – how you approach the presentation Design – building out the presentation Deliver – executing the presentation Prepare Before you deliver the presentation, the work ahead of you may seem …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/stealing-the-show-host-effective-open-enrollment-presentations/