Newsroom - ClaimLinx

Tom Quigley Breaks Down Employee Expectations for Benefits

by Whitney FaberMay 28, 2015November 15, 20191 Comment

Americans are living through what is arguably the most volatile time in healthcare in history.

Every day, there are more changes in insurance carrier networks, updates in standards of coverage and confusing messages being broadcast about all of it.

Through it all, ClaimLinx is working to educate people about the health insurance industry. That’s why we started our podcast Cutting-Edge Benefits by ClaimLinx, during which National Business Consultant, Tom Quigley, breaks down the unknown information about health care.

Listen to the most recent episode, which goes over employees’ changing expectations for their benefits packages. The Great Recession has taught citizens a lot about security and worst-case scenarios. Study shows, more and more, employees place a higher value on benefits when looking at job opportunities.

That is why it is so important for owners to be looking at their benefits offerings and ensuring they do not decrease benefits in the coming years. There are always unique solutions for providing enhanced benefits while still remaining within the company’s budget.

Subscribe to the show for continuous updates on upcoming topics. Questions are welcome during each episode. Listeners can also be a part of the conversation on Twitter using #CLVoice.

Online Tool Helps Consumers Compare Hospitals

by Whitney FaberMay 21, 2015November 15, 2019Leave a comment

When preparing for an elective surgery, it’s important to research which hospital provides the best care for that particular procedure. Thanks to U.S. News and World Report, that just got a little easier.

This month, it released the “Best Hospitals for Common Care” tool, which provides ratings for 4,600 hospitals in the country, evaluating the facility on five common surgical procedures and medical conditions.

It evaluates three common surgeries: heart bypass surgery and hip and knee replacements. Together these procedures account for 1.4 million surgeries per year, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Also included in the evaluation are two common chronic conditions: congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. About 5.1 million Americans have heart failure and about 15 million have been diagnosed with COPD, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The tool is an encouraging step towards more transparency in hospital procedure so that consumers can make informed decisions about where they are treated.

“We are now on the cusp of being able to provide consumers with concrete, hospital, level, very specific information about volumes and performance,” Ben Harder, chief of health analysis for U.S. News and World Report, said.

According to U.S. News’ analysis, about 10% of hospitals rated in each condition were high performing, and another 10% were low performing. Only 34 hospitals received high performing ratings in all five procedures and conditions.

Harder said the next step for this tool is to expand it to include more procedures and conditions, a goal he says will be reached as soon as 2016. It’s a vital resource consumers are in immediate need of.

“If you’re going to get an elective procedure, you generally have time to do research,” Harder said. “And if you’re going to choose, you should have full information about how experienced the hospital is treating that condition and how good their performance measures are.

ClaimLinx Has Made Staffing Changes to Better Serve Clients

by Whitney FaberMay 13, 2015November 15, 20191 Comment

Our primary goal at ClaimLinx for 2015 is to improve our service. With that in mind, we brought on three new team members to make sure you’re getting everything you need for smooth benefits administration.

All three of the below positions are new roles for the company. Our biggest change to company organization is Tom Quigley, National Business Consultant, is no longer the primary contact for day-to-day sales tasks. He is now focused on the overall direction of the ClaimLinx Solution. Any new sales opportunities should now come to our Vice President of Sales, Clarice Hoffer.

We have also added two client services managers, who will be the primary contacts for company owners and administrators. A good rule, when in doubt, is to contact your region’s client services manager first with questions or issues with your plan. He or she can then distribute this task among the other ClaimLinx administrators.

Our new staff:

Clarice Hoffer — Vice President of Sales

Clarice has 30 years of experience in sales and client service. Now for ClaimLinx, she is focused on increasing business and improving current relationships with clients and partners. She oversees both the sales and service departments and is the primary point of contact for incoming prospects, referrals and partnership opportunities. Clients are also encouraged to contact her with any other issues not currently being addressed. Email her at choffer@claimlinx.com.

Tara Brown — Client Services Manager, Midwest Region

Tara’s background is in building customer relationships. At ClaimLinx, she is the client services manager for all companies in the Midwest region. Any problems, plan changes, member additions or terminations can now be brought to her, and she will make sure the task is completed. The client service manager is a good first point of contact for any issue you may be having. Email her at tbrown@claimlinx.com.

Christopher Roach — Client Services Manager, Northeast Region

Christopher’s past experience is in the insurance industry in general. Now at ClaimLinx, he is the client services manager for the New England region. He is the primary contact for any issues, plan changes, member additions or terminations for any company in that region. Contact Christopher any time you have questions or concerns about your healthcare plan, and he would be happy to help. He can also assist if you would like to share the ClaimLinx strategy with any colleagues or friends. Email him at croach@claimlinx.com.

5 Ways to Improve Blood Pressure This Month

by Whitney FaberMay 12, 2015November 15, 20191 Comment

It’s a serious problem millions of Americans – 67 million, to be exact — are facing: high blood pressure.

Blood pressure is the force of blood on the walls of blood vessels as it flows through them. High blood pressure makes a person’s heart work harder and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Many people have high blood pressure, but do not experience symptoms. That is why it is sometimes called the silent killer.

This month, for National Blood Pressure Awareness Month, see your doctor about your current blood pressure level. You can also try these five methods of lowering your blood pressure naturally:

Power Up with Power Walks – Exercise helps the heart use oxygen more efficiently, so it doesn’t work as hard to pump blood.

Just Breathe – Slow breathing and meditation decrease stress hormones, which can raise blood pressure. Integrate five minutes of relaxation twice per day into your routine for the best results.

Pick Potassium – Load up on potassium-rich foods, like sweet potatoes, tomatoes, orange juice and bananas to help lower your blood pressure. Reaching about 2,000 to 4,000 mg per day is recommended by doctors.

Smarten Up About Salt – Sodium, or salt, takes a major toll on blood pressure, but it doesn’t just come from that pesky salt shaker. A typical American diet includes a lot processed foods, packed with sodium. Be aware of your intake when making diet decisions.

Work (a bit) less – Working more than 41 hours per week raises the risk of hypertension by 15%, according to research. It can be tough to leave the office early, but it’s important for your health to have time to exercise and cook a healthy meal.

For more information on how to lower blood pressure naturally, read the article on Prevention.com the tips above were taken from.

ClaimLinx Tees Off at Fairways for Airways Event

by Whitney FaberMay 7, 2015November 15, 20191 Comment

ClaimLinx is getting out and getting involved.

This month, our staff participated in the 4th annual Fairways for Airways Celebrity Golf Classic to benefit the Jovante Woods Foundation.

National Business Consultant, Tom Quigley, played in the tournament along with a local client and Benefits Consultants Andrew Cutter and Ken Kavensky.

As a hole sponsor, the Claimlinx staff also enjoyed playing with local celebrity and professional poker player Bill Kohler.

Proceeds from the event went towards the Jovante Woods Foundation to help fund research for asthma and raise awareness about the disease in the community.

Cincinnati Bengals star fullback Ickey Woods started the foundation after his son died at 16 years old from complications following an asthma attack.

It’s estimated about 6.8 million children and 18.7 million adults in America have asthma. It also accounts for 1.8 million visits to the emergency room each year, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The foundation aims to fund research to find ways to better manage or cure the disease. A primary focus is also to bring more attention to its dangers, as asthma attacks can be fatal without the proper care or treatment.

Donate to the Jovante Woods Foundation now to help the cause.