New 988 Lifeline for Mental Health Emergencies
Please circulate this information with your staff.
The United States’ first nationwide three-digit mental health crisis lifeline went live on July 16, 2022. It is designed to be as easy to remember and use as 911, but instead of a dispatcher sending police, firefighters or paramedics, 988 will connect callers with trained mental health counselors.
The 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline transitioned to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on July 16, meaning individuals experiencing a suicide, mental health or substance use crisis can simply call, chat, or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the United States had one death by suicide every 11 minutes in 2020, when suicide was the second leading cause of death for young people aged 10-14 and 25-34; and more than 100,000 deaths from drug overdoses between April 2020 and April 2021.
View and Print the 988 Lifeline Poster.
See the FCC News Release.
Reminder: PCORI Fee Is Due July 31, 2022
The PCORI (Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute) fee is imposed on an issuer of a specified health insurance policy and a plan sponsor of an applicable plan– i.e. employer sponsored Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). Issuers and plan sponsors who are required to pay the fee, but are not required to report any other liabilities on Form 720 will be required to file Form 720 only once per year.
The fee is paid annually using Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return. The payment, paid through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), should be applied to the second quarter.
Issuers of specified health insurance policies and plan sponsors of an applicable self-insured health plan (HRAs), will file Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return annually, to report and pay the PCORI fee.
Form 720 will be due on July 31 of the year following the last day of the policy year or plan year.
Click Here to learn more about PCORI Fees.
Click Here to visit the IRS site with information and access to Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return.
Click Here for Form 720.
NEW CDHP Vendor
Effective January 1, 2023, Rehn and Associates will become WCIF’s new CDHP vendor for HSA, HRA, FSA/DCAP and Commuter Benefits.
Employers should return their CDHP Implementation Packets no later than July 31, 2022 to ensure your plans are set up properly and operational by January 1.
Rehn & Associates will be giving a presentation at WCIF’s upcoming IAC/ACE meeting, September 14 at the Double Tree Suites in Southcenter. You will have the opportunity to meet representatives and ask questions at Rehn’s vendor table.
Email info@wcif.net for more information regarding the upcoming conference.
Kaiser Permanente’s agreement with Cigna will provide more convenient access to care while traveling
Beginning in August 2022, Kaiser Permanente HMO members will have access to Cigna’s national network of physicians and providers, should they need emergency or urgent care while traveling away from home.
This new agreement with Cigna’s U.S. provider network and Kaiser’s new kp.org/getcare portal, provides 24/7 access to care by Kaiser Permanente health care professionals by phone or video.
Click Here to learn more.