Employer News articles

2024

Embedded and buy-up cancer care solutions help support employees’ care journey and contain costs

A cancer diagnosis can disrupt every aspect of a patient’s life. As the costs of treatment continue to rise, our comprehensive approach to cancer care provides tools to support employees through their care journey and contain your costs.

How we’re supporting Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) gag clause attestation

We’re attesting to our compliance with the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 gag clause prohibition rule for fully insured and self-funded groups for 2024.

Covered drug list and formulary changes for 2025

Updating our formulary each year ensures we offer the safest, highest-quality and most cost-effective prescription drugs on our pharmacy plans. Learn about the updates happening effective Jan. 1, 2025.

SMS feature enables employees to get their member ID card faster

To help employees receive their member ID card faster, our SMS ID card feature puts a digital copy in their hands days before the physical card arrives in the mail.

Resources for employer groups to get a fast start on 2025 preventive care

While the year draws to a close, there’s still time for employees to take advantage of valuable 2024 wellness benefits. Plus, it’s not too early to start planning—and for small groups to start thinking about earning premium discounts—for 2025.

How we’re collecting employees’ race, ethnicity and language data for renewing groups using 834 files

Health equity requires a deeper understanding of our members via data. During open enrollment, employees whose groups enroll online can share race, ethnicity and language data. If you enroll using 834 files can share this data any time.

Diabetes and hypertension solutions now available for large (101+) and self-funded groups

Research shows people with diabetes account for about one of every four health care dollars spent the U.S. Solutions available to large (101+) and ASO groups can help make those dollars count more toward improved outcomes.

Benefits updates for 2025 in compliance with the ACA Section 1557 final rule

We’re updating our benefits and nondiscrimination disclosures in accordance with Affordable Care Act (ACA) Section 1557 final rule issued this year.

We’re emailing your 2025 benefit booklets

To reduce paper usage, we’re emailing digital benefit booklets to employer groups beginning with Jan. 1, 2025, renewal effective dates.

Doctor On Demand telehealth solution adds Virtual Primary Care option for large (51+) and ASO groups

Virtual Primary Care from Doctor On Demand makes accessing primary care convenient for employees and affordable for employers.

Dental4Health program will improve employees’ health and lower their cost of care in 2025

Our dental plans deliver an expanded network, comprehensive coverage, affordability and no out-of-pocket costs for preventive care. In 2025, our Dental4Health program will improve employees’ oral and physical health and lower their cost of care.

Health equity: Collecting more member data to improve members’ health

Health equity means achieving fair access to health care for everyone. Learn how members’ sharing more data about themselves enables us to advance equity and support a more personalized health care journey for each individual.

Creditable coverage: How we’re supporting groups for 2025

Employers must notify Medicare-eligible members of their plans’ creditable coverage status by Oct. 15. Read how we’re supporting groups whose plans fail the creditability test so they can offer creditable coverage to affected employees.

Need help? Chatbot now augmenting support for all employees’ customer service inquiries

Since we launched our chatbot in 2022 to support fully insured employees’ Customer Service needs, its functionality has continued to grow. The chatbot is efficient and available 24/7 to handle many of employees’ most frequently asked questions.

How we support RxDC reporting for groups that terminate in 2024

We support 2024 RxDC reporting for groups after they terminate coverage with us during the year. Review the information that we’ll need in order to submit RxDC reporting on your behalf.

Pre-authorization requirement expansion for ABA therapy

To help support our members’ health and help them avoid unnecessary care, we’re expanding the pre-authorization requirement for ABA therapy to members under 18.

Look into the facts and impacts if Oregon Ballot Measure 118 passes this November

Oregon Ballot Measure 118 (M118) seeks to add a new tax on companies’ gross sales in Oregon in excess of $25 million. If it passes, the measure will significantly affect what consumers pay for everyday goods and services, including health care.

HDHP definitions and HSA contribution limits updated for 2025

The IRS has issued updated definitions for high-deductible health plans and set new contribution limits on health savings accounts for 2025.

2025 product updates for midsize and large (51+) groups

We’re pleased to announce highlights of our midsize (51-100) and large (101+) group product and benefits updates, which deliver an enhanced experience and improved employee health in 2025.

Small group plan, product and benefit updates for 2025

Check out our small (1-50; 2-50 in Idaho) group plan, product and benefit updates for 2025. For the coming year, we’re focused on delivering a complete experience with innovative health plan options to fit the needs of each employer.

We’re expanding access to convenient in-home urgent medical care for employees in Salt Lake County

DispatchHealth, an in-network provider of on-call, at-home medical care, is a convenient way for employees to get urgent, in-person medical care at home. Effective July 11, it’s expanding service into Salt Lake County.

Midyear preventive care checkup

Midyear is a good time to remind employees to use the zero-cost in-network preventive care included in their health plan. Plus, read about the importance of primary care and why behavioral health is being integrated into it.

Multifactor authentication required for accessing private and secure emails

To secure employees’ private information, we’ve added multifactor authentication to our secure mail exchange. When sending or receiving secure emails, users will need to verify their identity via a code sent to their cell (SMS) or email.

Help employees access in-network care while traveling

Whether your employees are traveling for vacation or business, encourage them to plan ahead and know how to access in-network care for peace of mind wherever they go.

Text messaging campaign targets employees’ diabetes screening needs

To increase important screenings for people with diabetes and hypertension, we’re launching a text messaging campaign in Q2. The campaign includes personalized messages to eligible employees who’ve not maintained their screening regimen.

New EAP offers employees mental health and emotional support

We've partnered with a new EAP provider, ComPsych®. A global EAP leader, they offer an improved member intake experience with expert advice from master’s-level clinicians and a wider network of participating providers.

Submit your 2023 RxDC reporting information to us by April 30, 2024

For us to submit required 2023 RxDC reporting to CMS on behalf of all employers, we need to collect information from you that we don’t hold in our systems. Learn how to complete your RxDC reporting form by April 30.

Research reinforces the efficacy of telehealth for employees’ mental health care needs

Telehealth use for mental health and substance abuse care increased sharply during the pandemic and remains high today. A new study gives high grades to our telehealth partners MDLIVE and Doctor On Demand.

Tools for encouraging employees to seek mental health care

We’ve updated our tools for Mental Health Awareness Month to encourage use of your plan’s care options and guide employees to providers. Share these resources so your employees know how and where to access care when they need it.

How we’re supporting your 2023 RxDC reporting

We’ve launched a data collection form on Employer Center to collect the data we need from employers to submit 2023 RxDC reporting to CMS. Make sure you have an Employer Center account and submit your data to us by April, 30, 2024.

New resource to inform employees about dental benefits

Good oral health is critical to good overall health, but people frequently skip routine covered dental visits. Our new employee dental flyer can help explain why your dental coverage is so important.

End of Q1- Time for a preventive care checkup

The beginning of spring marks a good time to remind employees to take advantage of zero-cost in-network preventive care. These services help detect problems earlier, when they’re easier and less costly to treat.

Pelago tobacco cessation program available to self-funded groups in 2025

Tobacco use increases employers’ health care costs and causes lost productivity. To help self-funded groups avoid unnecessary cost and provide employees an effective way to quit tobacco, we’re offering Pelago as a buy-up option for 2025.

The SMS member ID card feature provides subscribers opportunity to get their card faster

To help our subscribers receive their member ID card information faster, we launched our SMS member ID card feature. Now they can receive a digital copy of their card before they receive their physical card in the mail.

Expanding our member demographic capabilities for 2024

Accurate data is essential to our work of addressing health disparities and improving outcomes. For 2024, we’ve begun offering more members the option to self-report their race, ethnicity, language (REL) and nonbinary gender.

Text-messaging campaign targets employees’ breast, cervical & colon cancer screening needs

To help increase adoption of potentially life-saving breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings in Q1, 2024, we’re launching a text-messaging campaign with personalized messages to eligible employees. Learn more.

How we’re supporting employer groups’ RxDC reporting for 2023

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) requires us to report health care costs each year to CMS. Learn how we’ll be supporting employer groups with collecting data necessary to submit reporting for calendar year 2023.

Help familiarize employees with all their benefits for 2024

Now’s the best time of year to help your employees learn about their 2024 benefits and care options. Encourage them to create an account on our website or download the app so they can unlock the features included with their plan.

American Heart Month: Resources and info to share with employees; plus, new heart-health solutions for ASO groups

American Heart Month is a time for families and communities to focus on preventing heart disease and stroke, the number-one killer of Americans. Share heart-health resources with your employees; plus, discover new solutions for ASO groups.

2023

Update on our new enhanced dental experience for 2024

A better standard of care, larger local and national dental provider networks, more plan options and better value. It all adds up to an enhanced dental experience for your employees and you.

Regence aiming to tackle health care affordability in Utah as employers do in other states

When S.B. 184 was defeated during this year’s legislative session, it was a powerful statement about slowing rising health care costs. We’re continuing to advocate for affordability. Learn how you can get involved and help support our efforts.

Covered drug list and formulary changes for 2024

Updating our formulary each year ensures we offer the safest, highest-quality and most cost-effective prescription drugs on our pharmacy plans. Learn about the updates happening effective Jan. 1, 2024.

New EAP partner to provide improved employee experience and enhanced capabilities effective Jan. 1, 2024

Our EAP offers mental health support and life-balance tools to help employees address minor health concerns before they cause major problems. Learn how changing EAP providers will help us improve that support in 2024.

Make sure employees 45+ get screened for colon cancer: Resources in English and Spanish

Colorectal cancer is highly detectable and treatable when caught early. Yet screening rates are low, particularly among the Latinx population. Share our resources in English and Spanish with employees age 45+ and encourage them to get screened.

Hinge Health may help reduce opioid misuse, improve care outcomes and cost savings

Digital MSK Clinic enables employees to receive effective, guided exercise therapy at home, helping relieve chronic pain and reducing the need for costly surgeries and opioid prescriptions.

We’re making advanced imaging safer and more cost effective

To help ensure employees receive safe, appropriate care in the right setting, we’ve added a pre-authorization (PA) requirement for nuclear imaging services to our Advanced Imaging Authorization program.

Explore our comprehensive approach to cancer care

Cancer costs continue to rise and failing to meet employees’ care needs leads to poorer health outcomes and, often, avoidable expenses. See how our comprehensive approach to cancer care provides tools to help contain costs and improve outcomes.

Coverage for GLP-1 drugs effective Oct. 1, 2023

To help groups manage financial exposure, effective Oct. 1, 2023, we’ll require pre-authorization to ensure GLP-1 drugs are used for diabetes only. Also, we’ve added two Humira biosimilars to our formulary to broaden choice for members.

2024 product updates for midsize and large (51+) groups

We’re pleased to announce highlights of our midsize (51-100) and large (101+) group product and benefits updates to deliver an enhanced experience and improved employee health in 2024.

DispatchHealth: delivering the right care at the right time—in the right setting

In-network provider DispatchHealth can bring on-call care to most employees’ homes throughout the Boise, Portland, Seattle/Tacoma and Spokane metro areas, saving unnecessary trips to the ER.

How our COVID-19 coverage for commercial members will change as the public health emergency ends

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we temporarily expanded benefits to ease access to care. With the public health emergency set to end at 11:59 p.m. on May 11, 2023, we’re making changes to COVID-19 coverage.

New tools for guiding employees to care for Mental Health Awareness Month (May)

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we’ve prepared new tools to encourage use of your plan’s mental health care resources, and to guide employees to the best care for their needs. Check out the resources and share them with your workforce.

How Medicaid redetermination may impact you and your employees

With states redetermining Medicaid beneficiaries’ eligibility, many employees are expected to enroll in employer-sponsored health plans. Read how this may impact your business and how to help these employees maintain access to health care.

Immunizations are good preventive medicine for infants, and nearly everybody else

National Infant Immunization Week offers a good reminder about why it’s important for young children, and everyone else, to keep up to date on immunizations. Learn more.

Employer advocacy is critical for driving use of behavioral health solutions

Employers play a critical role in supporting the use of behavioral health solutions by connecting employees to available care and services.

Help your employees get a healthy start to the new year

Help employees get the most from their health plan. Encourage them to create an account to better understand their benefits, search for providers, unlock savings, find well-being tools and more in 2023.

Mandatory Site-of-Care program effective Apr. 1, 2023

Effective Apr. 1, 2023, ASO groups can add or renew the Mandatory Site-of-Care program to their benefits. The program delivers savings by requiring employees to obtain specialty drug infusions at approved sites rather than hospital settings.

2022

Help your employees get a healthy start to the new year

Help employees get the most from their health plan. Encourage them to create an account to better understand their benefits, search for providers, unlock savings, find well-being tools and more in 2023.

Change to group delinquency notifications

To avoid USPS delays and make it easier for us to reach customers working remotely, we’re changing the way we notify groups about late payments. Starting Nov. 1, we’re sending second and third past-due notices to groups only via email.

National Diabetes Month: A reminder to keep up on preventive care

November is National Diabetes Month—an ideal time to make sure employees are staying on top of vaccinations, routine care and annual exams, which can help prevent costly health concerns like diabetes before they become problematic.

We’re continuing to expand our behavioral health network and resources

We’re adding AbleTo—an evidence-based behavioral health provider—to our network. Available to all members ages 18 and older, AbleTo’s unique eight-week therapy program can reduce depression, anxiety and stress.

Pre-authorization being added for specific cardiac services on fully insured plans beginning Jan. 1, 2023

Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, we’re requiring pre-authorization (PA) for coverage of some cardiac procedures for employees on fully insured plans. Adding PA helps ensure providers follow the standard of care and avoid unnecessary invasive procedures.

Pharmacy updates for 2023: Formulary, drug tier changes and cost savings with biosimilars

Updating our formulary each year ensures we offer the safest, highest quality and most cost-effective prescription drugs on our pharmacy plans. Plus, learn about our drug tier changes and how biosimilars can save money for groups and employees.

New chatbot answers common customer service questions for fully insured group members

When employees have questions, they want quick answers. Our new chatbot for fully insured members speeds answers to common questions 24/7. And during normal customer service hours, employees can transfer from chat to a live agent.

2023 product updates: midsize and large (51+) groups

For 2023, we’ve made enhancements to our midsize and large group (51+) plans to maximize the value of the benefits you offer. New solutions focus on virtual care, increased wellness incentives and more ways for employees to get affordable care.

Improved provider search tool makes it easier for employees to find care

Our online provider search tool is getting an upgrade. The new, intuitive design will make it easier than ever for employees to quickly find the provider who’s the best fit for them and get cost estimates for receiving care.

2022 health plan benchmarking reports

We analyze thousands of our group plans to gain insights on the biggest trends in plan design. Want to know how your plan benefits measure up? With our new reports, you can compare your plan with similar businesses by state, size and industry.

Exploring the efficacy of virtual care for behavioral health

Virtual care, also known as telehealth, is a convenient and cost-effective way for employees to get care quickly wherever they are. Did you know that it can also be just as effective as an in-person visit for mental health treatment?

Improve workforce health and cost savings with Regence EAP

Counseling through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can help your employees address minor mental health concerns before they become bigger issues. The EAP helps workforce productivity and saves you money. Share this with your employees.

Action needed for groups using AutoPay or making online payments

If you use AutoPay or make one-time premium payments online and have an ACH block for fraud protection on your bank account, you’ll need to update your account to allow JP Morgan Chase to make withdrawals.

New national lifeline for suicide prevention launches

A new three-digit code launched in July connects people across the U.S. to counselors as part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. Read how our corporate foundation supports community-based organizations who help people in crisis.

Help your employees save money on health care: Here’s how

To help your employees fight inflation, offering affordable and comprehensive health care benefits is just the beginning. Be sure to check out the top-five money-saving strategies, and share them with your employees.

Benefits update: Changes to pre-authorization for chiropractic, acupuncture and massage (CAM) care

To help ease access to care, we eliminated pre-authorization for most chiropractic, acupuncture and massage care on fully insured plans. PA is still required for physical, occupational and speech therapies.

Updates to preventive care effective May 1, 2022

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated its recommendations for prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and healthy weight during pregnancy. We’ve updated our benefits and preventive care brochures to meet these new recommendations.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, discover and share resources for accessing care

Each May is National Mental Health Awareness Month—an important time to remind employees to take care of their mental health like they do their physical health. Make sure you're sharing with employees all the tools and resources available.

New toolkits help employees get more from their health plan

Getting employees to use benefits helps everyone get the most out of their plan. Our toolkits help you get your employees engaged, starting with regence.com and app. Plus, MDLIVE conducted its quarterly member engagement campaign.

New digital experience includes nurse chat, making it easier for small group employees to get care and advice

We’ve recently added nurse chat functionality for small group members. If employees have a health-related question or concern, they can chat with a nurse to get answers or guidance. It’s quick, convenient and no extra cost to members.

Behavioral health resources are expanding to address employee needs

We’re expanding our capacity and offering members greater access to the behavioral health care they need. Be sure to familiarize yourself with all of the resources that come with your health plan.

Act now to start saving on medical premiums

Small groups on metallic plans: When your enrolled employees submit their Health Assessment and complete a biometric screening in the first few months of their plan year, you can save on medical premiums for every enrolled employee submission.

Up-to-date vaccine status and attention to behavioral health can help lessen impact of COVID-19

Helping members keep up to date on vaccines will protect them from becoming seriously ill from COVID-19. Staying on top of other mental and physical health needs is another important strategy to manage many of the pandemic’s long-term effects.

Help your employees get a healthy start to the new year

Are your employees getting the most out of their health plan? When your enrolled employees create an account with us online or through the app, they can access our enhanced digital experience and tools to help with all their health needs.

2021

2020