Whitney Faber

ClaimLinx distributed its Broker Compensation Disclosure as a part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. This is statement about the funds ClaimLinx received as a health insurance broker in 2022. You can see the general statement here. If you are a client, a detailed version of the compensation disclosure is available in the Private Portal. If you are not a client and would like to request detail on specific compensation, you may request that by contacting commissions_admin@claimlinx.com.

What is the broker compensation disclosure requirement and what does it do?

The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021 was a spending and relief package for the Coronavirus but it also included an expansion of existing disclosure requirements through the Employee Retirement Income Securities Act (ERISA). Before, agencies only had to release information about retirement plans. Now, insurance agencies and brokers must disclose compensation for all group plans. Lawmakers created the provision to help address the high cost of health care and health insurance by increasing transparency.

Where can employers find the ClaimLinx Compensation Disclosure?

ClaimLinx posted its basic compensation disclosure statement on the website. The detailed Broker Compensation statement is available on the private portal under the ClaimLinx Resource Documents folder. There, clients can review specific compensation from insurance companies. You may contact commissions_admin@claimlinx.com with any questions about figures.

Do administrators need to do anything with the form after reviewing it?

No, there is no requirement for clients to do anything with the disclosure statement. On page 4 of the document, there is a section for Client Acknowledgement. Clients may sign and return the form through the portal. However a signature is not required.

What should clients know about ClaimLinx’s compensation from insurance plans?

ClaimLinx receives varying amounts for the insurance plans it implements for clients. But that does not include all plans. The primary factor when choosing plans is client savings so our Sales Team sometimes foregoes the opportunity for additional compensation from the insurance company so the plan cost stays low. Rest assured, savings remains the primary concern when choosing benefit plans for clients.

Who do I contact with questions about the disclosure?

If you have any questions, you can always start a Live Chat with a team member. Or contact the Service Team at service@claimlinx.com or (513) 677-0217.

The ClaimLinx office will be closed on Monday, July 4 to celebrate Independence Day with friends and family. All inquiries will be returned as soon as possible upon our return.

We hope all our clients and members are able to enjoy the holiday safely with loved ones. Our staff will be grilling, hanging by the pool, travelling to see family and generally trying to stay cool. What are you doing for the holiday? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram

Facts about American Independence Day

• The Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. That’s why we celebrate on that date.
• Both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed in Philadelphia.
• The first signee of the Declaration of Independence was John Hancock

Facts about Celebrating July 4th

• The oldest 4th of July Parade happens in Bristol, Rhode Island
• Massachusetts was the first state to recognize the 4th of July as a holiday
• Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show is the biggest fireworks display of the holiday.
• The 4th of July did not have common celebrations until after the War of 1812.

Fun actives to do to celebrate

• Make patriotic desserts
• Have a backyard movie with family and friends
• Go camping in your background
• Have a game night
• Make crafts with your kids
• Watch fireworks
• Spend the weekend on the water

We encourage all of our members and clients to stay safe while celebrating the holiday and we look forward to working with you again when our office is open.

Emergency departments were never meant for routine visits for people with chronic conditions, but in the absence of coordinated care, confused patients have turned to them when they don’t know where else to go.

Now, people with six common chronic conditions make up about 60 percent of all emergency room visits, according to a report released this year by Premier. Of those visits, about one third of them were likely preventable and accounted for $8.3 billion in additional costs for the industry.

This information came as no surprise to industry experts but highlights the need for the healthcare industry to rethink its service environment as a way of managing costs. Currently, about 90 percent of providers use a fee-for-service payment structure, which means that most people, especially those with chronic conditions, receive health services from a variety of providers with no single party coordinating care.

This style of care is not only confusing for patients but can also be dangerous and expensive. Fragmented care is associated with communication gaps, more hospital admissions, poorer outcomes and higher costs.

The problem only becomes worse for people with more than one chronic condition. Patients with one to two chronic conditions and highly fragmented care were 13 percent more likely to visit an emergency room and 14 percent more likely to require a hospital admission.

Fixing the issue would require a shift to a value-based model, in which a chronically ill patient receives care in a coordinate way that helps manage disease progress and promotes wellness. That way patients are guided through the management and/or treatment process rather than having to guess or piece together a picture of how ideal care would look.

“More and more providers are convinced that the future is going to be value-based payment, said Joe Damore, senior vice president of population health consulting at Premier, who produced the report.

The study looked at data from 24 million emergency department visits at 747 hospitals within Premier’s database.

Until the model changes, however, it’s important patients be their own advocates and consider the cost of an emergency room visits before going. Remember that managing a chronic condition is a learning process. There is no shame in asking questions.

We recommend to our members to ask their physicians as much as they can about what to do when a complication or issue arises. Try to remember that the emergency room was never meant to be a go-to first step in receiving care. They are set up for urgent visits when treatment is needed immediately. That can sometimes mean being proactive and aware of a provider’s regular hours.