THE ANNUAL CALL FOR BENEFIT AND RATE PROPOSALS
Calling all Federal employees active and retired. This is where you can make a real difference. Each year the Office of Personnel Management sends out a Call Letter to Carriers who desire to apply or reapply to provide services to the largest workforce in the world via the Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) Program. The annual call letter articulated and set-forth a number of policy goals and initiatives for the 2015 FEHB Program. This is what OPM is prioritizing for 2015:
- Optimization of the delivery of prescription drug benefits.
- Enhancing wellness programs.
- Advancing quality of care.
- Ensuring mental health parity.
- Aligning the FEHB Program with the Affordable Care Act.
- Continuing to encourage porgrams and benefits that promote enrollment in Medicare Part B.
OPM encouraged the submission of innovative proposals for 2015 that would not simply contain cost but add value to the delivery of services promoting a quality of care to improve enrollees’ health.
Ok, this is where you come in. OPM issues the mandate of what is expected from carriers. The only real and substantial data to determine performance by carriers has to come from you. How do you rate the services you are getting from your carriers? It is important that you communicate the kind of services you are receiving from you carrier to OPM because you are ultimately the rater of your carrier’s performance. Take note of the priorities listed by OPM and maybe you have somethings you’d like to see OPM prioritize – let them know. OPM works for the Federal workforce and they do a good job at surmising what benefits you need based on the market, but you are the best resource to let OPM know what you need and what you want.
You are certain to never get what you want if you don’t have your say.
P. S. Always Remember to Share What You Know.
Dianna Tafazoli
