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Public Employees' Benefit Board

PEBB December 2007 Newsletter
Back Pain; Myths and Facts

Three out of four adults experience back pain during their lives. If you are one of them, here are some myths and facts about back pain.  
Myth: Most back problems eventually require surgery.
Fact: Fewer than one person in 1,000 will need it. Some people who have surgery end up doing no better than people who don’t.
 
Myth: If you have back pain, you should have an MRI.
Fact: Having an MRI every time you have back pain is like having a chest X-ray every time you have a cold. It’s usually unnecessary. You may need an MRI if you’ve had pain for six weeks or have additional symptoms, such as numbness in a limb or loss of
bladder or bowel control.
 
 
Myth: Back pain is a serious problem — something to fear.
Fact: Most low back pain is caused by sprains or strains that heal on their own. Usually, your back will feel better with a short bit of rest, some simple exercises and pain medicine.
 
Myth: Back pain won’t go away and will eventually be crippling.
Fact: Of the roughly 6.5 million people treated for low back pain each day in the U.S., almost all recover completely — free of pain and disability.
 
Myth: If my back hurts, I can’t go to work or do other activities.
Fact: Inactivity is your enemy; it weakens your muscles and stiffens your joints just when you need strength and flexibility. In fact, people who remain active and engage in routine activities tend to get better faster than those who don’t.

Back Pain Resources
Your Benefit Board has asked the healths plans to make resourcs available to assist PEBB members who have back pain.
 

 Regence Back on Track phone coaches will be available 24 hours a day beginning in January to discuss your symptoms and treatment options. Look for details in the January newsletter.
 Kaiser Permanente offers special pain management clinics, and online and in-person education. Call your Kaiser provider or log in to www.my.kp.org/pebb.
The Providence Choice Medical Back Program tailors a rehabilitation plan to your specific needs. Contact your provider in your Medical Home.
Samaritan Select offers exercise and weight management classes that may help with back pain. Go online to www.samaritanselect org.
 
 

PEBB receives national award

 On Nov. 13 PEBB received the Employer Excellence in Value Based Purchasing Award from the National Business Coalition on Health. PEBB received the award for leadership in efforts to:
  • Promote employee health and wellness
  • Increase healthcare quality
  • Engage other purchasers in value-based purchasing.
The Oregon Coalition of Health Care Purchasers nominated PEBB. Coalition administrator Barbara Prowe said, "Health plan responses to PEBB have been a wake-up call to businesses in Oregon, reminding them of their role in the healthcare debate – that, as a group, they have significant power."
 

Clear out your FSA
time is money
Do you have money left in your 2007 healthcare or dependent care flexible spending account (FSA)?
If your answer is "yes," expect a letter from PEBB soon with detailed guidance on submitting claims in mid December through the first of the year.
 
The letter will assist you as PEBB transitions from the current FSA administrator, Benefit Help Solutions, to the new administrator, ASIFlex, effective Jan. 1.
 
If you want to be reimbursed as soon as possible for eligible expenses, submit any claims to BenefitHelp Solutions (BHS) by Dec. 15.
 
Don’t worry if you have dollars remaining in your 2007 account at the start of 2008. You will still be able to submit clains on your 2007 account for:
  • Eligible 2007 and 2008 expenses incurred and submitted before the end of the FSA grace period, March 15, 2008.
  • Eligible 2007 expenses submitted by the 2007 FSA deadline, March 31, 2008.
You forfeit funds only if you don’t have eligible claims to submit by the March 31, 2008, deadline.
Contact BHS at (888) 398-8057 if you have questions.

Wellness Grants
PEBB has selected proposals for Wellness Grants to state agencies. The Board created the grant program to help the agencies focus efforts on sustainable worksite wellness programs.
Grant amounts range from $500 to $15,000 depending on the number of agency employees.
The agencies will use the grants to promote wellness activities in the worksite, tailoring them to the needs of their workforce. Examples include physicial activity and nutrition programs.
 
The selected agencies are:
  • Dept. of Forestry
  • Dept. of Administrative Services
  • Liquor Control Commission
  • Commission for the Blind
  • Dept. of Education
  • Consumer and Business Services
  • Office of the State Treasurer
  • Public Safety Standards, Training
  • Department of Agriculture
  • Judicial Dept.
  • Housing & Community Services
  • Dept. of Human Services
  • Employment Dept.
  • Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
  • Dept. of Corrections

Your Benefit Board
SHARE FEEDBACK WITH YOUR BENEFIT BOARD
Your Benefit Board invites you to take an active part in discussions about your benefits.You have several ways to share your input.
 
Pebb.Connect@Oregon.Gov
 
This e-mail address is just for communication with your Board. Share what you think about your healthcare benefits and your view of the healthcare system.
 
Annual member survey

Before Dec. 15, access the annual member survey from the link at http://oregon.gov/das/pebb. It’s an opportunity to share your opinions about questions about PEBB customer service, healthcare plans and communications.
 
Public meetings
 
Your Board meets monthly, usually on the third Tuesday in the month. The Board welcomes your input during the time set aside for public commens. See schedules and agendas at
http://oregon.gov/das/pebb/members.shtml.
 
 

 
Public Employees’ Benefit Board
Board Members
Diane Lovell, Chair
Sue Nelson, Vice Chair
Peter Callero
Rocky King
Paul McKenna
Rich Peppers
Jeanene Smith, M.D.
Bret West
Advisory Members
House Member (vacant)
Senator William Morrisette
Administration
Joan Kapowich, Administrator
Lydia Lissman, Deputy Administrator

Lower your stress this season
As we try to meet age-old ideals, we feel pressure to have perfect holidays — to cook the perfect meal or buy the perfect gift. Cascade Centers, your employee assistance program (EAP), offers the following suggestions to help you make more realistic plans and have less stress during the traditional holiday season.
 
Rethink perfection
Having a holiday get together at your house?
  • Make it potluck so you don’t end up cooking it all yourself.
  • Feel that it’s OK not to invite certain relatives if you have a rocky relationship.
  • Talk with family members about dollar limits on gifts.
 
Give yourself a gift
  • Take time to relax.
  • Share the workload; let everyone play an active part.
  • Simplify. Pare down housekeeping and holiday preparations.
 
Create new traditions
 
Just because you (or your family) have always done holidays in certain ways doesn’t mean you have to continue the rituals — especially if they feel like a burden.
Engage your family in thinking up new ways to celebrate through food, activities and entertainment. Let them "own" their own part of the celebration.

Why wait for 2008?
Thinking about quitting tobacco?
New Year’s is a popular time for people to make lifestyle changes. The notorious "New Year’s Resolution" lends itself to many smokers setting their quit dates. This year, instead of waiting for the ball to drop into 2008, challenge yourself to enroll now and start your quit program.
 
Your Benefit Board sponsors the Free & Clear Quit for Life program to give you free resources — planning tools, counseling and nicotine replacement therapy — that may increase your chances of success.
 
Research shows you are six times more likely to succeed when you try to quit with help than when trying to quit "cold turkey." There is no right or wrong way to quit, but it does help to plan ahead - especially if you’ve tried before.
 

 Don’t wait for the New Year —call Free & Clear today at (866) QUIT-4-LIFE        (866-784-8454). Or enroll online at www. freeclear.com/pebb.

Not to late to get a flu shot
Flu season in Oregon ususally continues through winter. Your Board sponsors free flu-shot clinics in worksites throughout the state. Check the schedule on the PEBB Web site for flu shot clinics in December.

EAP offers online counseling
Cascade Centers now offers online counseling for PEBB members. The EAP reports that some members find this type of counseling more convenient than an office visit.
 
How do I get started?
E-mail esupport@ cascadecenter.com. Cascade Centers will contact you within 24 business hours to schedule an appointment and provide your online link. The link will open your private session with an EAP consultant. Your online session will last from 10 to 50 minutes.
 
Is it confidential?
Cascade Centers protects your data at the same level of security as online banks. All your communication is protected by a user name and a password that only you know. If you are concerned about your privacy in using this service, write esupport@cascadecenter.com or call (800) 433-2320.