The federal government is currently challenging hospitals regarding excessive and inappropriate use of implantable cardiac devices (ICDs)... the same excessive and inappropriate use MedBen has been catching for years. According to Modern Healthcare,… more »

Today the day when providers begin using the new ICD-10 medical coding system. The rollout comes after multiple deadline extensions -- but all along, MedBen has been preparing for the changeover and is ready to handle the new codes. The new system… more »

From 2008 through 2014, average U.S. prices for the most widely used brand-name drugs jumped 128%, according to prescription benefit manager Express Scripts. Not surprisingly, part of that increase is due to expensive new drugs that can cost as much as… more »

The drumbeat to repeal the Affordable Care Act's "Cadillac tax" is growing louder... and now includes a presidential candidate. BenefitsPro reports that Independent Senator Bernie Sanders has joined seven Democrats in sponsoring a repeal measure. They… more »

Good news for those of you who got a flu shot in 2014 but still got sick: the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that this year's vaccine should be more successful in helping you battle the bug. Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the… more »

As you know, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its supporting regulations require that all employers offering health benefits to their employees report on certain health coverage information. Health coverage data collected during 2015 must be aggregated… more »

"Members of Congress from both parties [...] are calling for changes in the Affordable Care Act to prevent premium increases that are expected to affect workers at many small and midsize companies next year," The New York Times reports: "At issue is a… more »

Back in the day -- like, four years ago -- there seemed to be a growing consensus that Congress would overturn the provision of the Affordable Care Act that required a doctor's prescription to purchase over-the-counter drugs (OTCs) with FSA or HSA… more »

Older adults at high risk of heart disease could benefit from a daily aspirin, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. In a newly-released draft report, the medical organization recommends that men and women between the ages of 50 and 69… more »

Lowering your blood pressure to a healthier level can have a huge impact on your well-being, NPR reports: "Cutting blood pressure below the currently recommended target can significantly reduce the rate of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and… more »

From BenefitsPro: “A survey of 60 leading health care vendors conducted by Aon, a major human resources consulting firm, shows that the cost of prescription drugs is on pace to increase by 10 percent in the next year, up from the estimated 6.3 increase… more »

Last week, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) proposed new Affordable Care Act regulations designed to eliminate discrimination toward transgender people in the area of health care benefits, including certain gender transition… more »

What does sub-Saharan trade with the United States have to do with health care reform? Both were modified as part of the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 (TPEA), passed into law earlier this year. As part of this trade bill, Congress passed… more »

The state of health care costs in 2015, summed up in two new surveys (per Business Insurance): "Large employers are projecting health care costs before implementing plan design changes to increase an average of 6% in 2016, according to a National… more »

Dental benefits are sometimes an afterthought for employers when developing a group health care plan. But as a recent USA Today article makes clear, such coverage offers a valuable advantage -- financial as well as health-wise. According to the… more »

Turns out there's quite a number of "benefit-rich plans" out there -- that is, if you base "benefit-rich" on the Obama Administration's criteria of which employers are likely to take a financial hit when the so-called gCadillac taxh rolls out in 2018.… more »

Employee awareness is critical to the success of a company wellness program, yet many employees apparently aren't getting the message... which is why MedBen WellLiving takes an inclusive approach to worksite wellness. About 7 out of 10 employers offer… more »

Government statistics indicated that the maximum amount employees will be able to contribute to their flexible spending accounts in 2016 is expected to remain unchanged, reports Business Insurance. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the… more »

Back in June, the ERISA Industry Committee, an employer lobbying group, asked the Obama administration to eliminate the "embedded" maximum out-of-pocket limit, a controversial Affordable Care Act regulation. And now, members of the GOP have chimed in on… more »

MedBen was named Business of the Year by the Licking County Chamber of Commerce at the Chamber's 12th Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration on August 11. MedBen received the award based, in part, on its excellent record of customer service as well as… more »