Benefit Advisors Featured on PBS Nightly Business Report

Benefit Advisors, along with its client KP Studio Architect PA, was featured on last night's Nightly Business Report Bill of Health special. To view the segment, click here.

No Time For Reading? HEAR the bill....

Don't let your busy schedule keep you from being informed! Visit www.hearthebill.org to LISTEN to the healthcare bill (HR 3200).

Preparing For Flu Season

In an article by Jim Giuliano on August 26, 2009, he describes how health experts are expecting the swine flu to return this year. As a result, the Centers for Disease Control and other agencies will offer guides that can help your company prepare, and maybe even lessen the effects on your employees and on business.

In total, there are three resources the CDC and other agencies offer: “Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to the 2009 – 2010 Influenza Season.” This document provide a list of “Actions Employers Should Take Now” including:

• Review or establish a flexible influenza pandemic plan and involve your employees in developing and reviewing your plan.
  
• Conduct a focused discussion or exercise using your plan, to find out ahead of time whether the plan has gaps or problems that need to be corrected before flu season.
  
• Have an understanding of your organization’s normal seasonal absenteeism rates and know how to monitor your personnel for any unusual increases in absenteeism through the fall and winter.
  
• Engage state and local health departments to confirm channels of communication and methods for dissemination of local outbreak information.
  
• Develop flexible leave policies to allow workers to stay home to care for themselves or sick family members or for children if schools dismiss students or child care programs close.
  
• Share best practices with other businesses in your communities (especially those in your supply chain), chambers of commerce, and associations to improve community response efforts.

The CDC, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security have provided “A Communications Toolkit for Businesses and Employers” that offers:

• Q&As about CDC’s guidance for businesses and employers to plan and respond to the 2009-2010 flu season
  
• A quick reference for business H1N1 flu planning and response
  
• Action steps to keep your business and employees healthy
  
• 8 ways you can stay healthy at work
  
• A poster for workplace entrances to remind sick employees to go home
  
• 3 template e-mails (or letters) for businesses to send to employees about the flu season and staying healthy

OSHA also has offers “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic,” which provides a number of measures to protect employees in the event of a flu pandemic, including how to tell if your workplace is at high risk.

Source: Jim Giuliano, August 26, 2009

Benefit Advisors at The Florida Association of Realtors Expo

Benefit Advisors was one of the exhibitors at the 2009 Florida Association of Realtors Expo held at The Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida on August 20 & 21. We were proud to represent UnitedHealthcare in its wellness booth as we promoted the state health care access program, Cover Florida, among other health insurance products. If you missed us at the expo, make sure to check out our Web site for the latest health care news and information.

(Pictured Above: Nicole Phoenix, Cover Florida Account Executive; Michelle DeFilipp, PR/Marketing Specialist; Stase' M. Fink, Individual Health Insurance Specialist)

Benefit Advisors Named to Top 100 Best Companies To Work For in Florida

Benefit Advisors, Inc. was recently recognized by Florida Trend Magazine as one of the Best Companies To Work For In Florida. The rankings of the 2009 Best Companies will be published in the August issue of Florida Trend and on FloridaTrend.com.

The Best Companies To Work For in Florida program was created by Florida Trend and Best Companies Group and endorsed by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals, the Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC), the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, the Florida Society of Association Executives (FSAE) and the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“Our goal is to recognize companies that strive to build even better workplaces for their employees, thereby strengthening their own as well as Florida’s competitive advantage in the national and global arenas,” says Florida Trend Publisher Bruce Faulmann.

To be considered for participation, companies or government entities had to employ at least 15 workers in Florida and be at least a year old.

Companies that chose to participate in the Best Companies To Work For in Florida process underwent a two-part survey process. The first part consisted of evaluating each company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure employee satisfaction. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration, survey and analysis process and determined the final rankings. Companies were not required to pay a participation fee to go through the online assessment process.

“We’ve highlighted the practices of companies that have established themselves as great places to work — including everything from how they train their workers to how they communicate and the kind of pay and benefits they provide. This is a great opportunity for companies in Florida to learn from each other as they go about improving their own effectiveness,” says Mark Howard, executive editor.

Averaging a total satisfaction rating of 95 percent, Benefit Advisors was honored as one of the 25 companies recognized in the small-sized business (15-24 employees) category. The complete list of rankings for small, medium and large-sized companies will be outlined in the August issue of the magazine. For a complete list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in Florida, go to www.FloridaTrend.com/BestCompanies.

Ray Strickland's Objectives for Health Care Reform

Last week, Benefit Advisors President/CEO Ray Strickland went to Washington to speak with legislators about health care reform.

On his agenda were the following objectives:

1. Guarantee the doctor and patient relationship
2. Reduce health insurance costs
3. Foster medical innovation
4. Guarantee everyone the right to purchase health insurance
5. Greater transparency of the quality and cost of health care

As you can see, Benefit Advisors is dedicated to help combat the health care issues our country is currently facing.

Stay tuned for frequent updates and information on health care reform as they unfold.

What are your thoughts on health care? Join the discussion...

Ocala, Fla. July 15, 2009 -- The Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce will hold a panel discussion over breakfast on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 7:30 a.m. at Marion County Building Industry Association to discuss the health care options for small businesses in today’s environment.

The speaker panel for the event will consists of Ray Strickland, President/CEO of Benefit Advisors, long term health insurance specialist, benefits advisor and active participant on the current administrations health care advisor team in Washington; Marsha McDaniel, Director of the Worksite Wellness program for Munroe Regional Medical Center, a health care solutions provider; and Ken Daley, President of Bernie Little Distributing, LLC, leading local businessman and 2007 Chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors.

This exciting combination of speakers is certain to be an informative panel, covering many aspects of the health care industry and concentrating on the impact of current health care on small businesses today and into the future. The effects of cost, staying competitive, risks, opportunities and possible solutions to help the small business person remain competitive, will also be discussed.

The hot, southern style breakfast buffet begins at 7:30 a.m., with the panel discussion to immediately follow from 8 to 9 a.m. at the Marion County Building Industry Association, 1400 NE 14th Street in Ocala, Fla. The event is free for Chamber Business, Premium and Legacy Trustee Members. Other members and guests are $10.
For more information, or to RSVP to this event, please contact the Ocala/Marion County Chamber at (352) 629-8051.

ABOUT THE CHAMBER: The Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit business membership organization whose mission is to improve the business climate, economy and quality of life in Ocala and Marion County. The Chamber is located at 110 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, Fla. Web site address is http://www.ocalacc.com/. Office (352) 629-8051.

MEDIA CONACTS
Jaye Baillie, President & CEO
Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce
(352) 229-2363
jaye@ocalacc.com

Elizabeth Stevens, Vice President of Membership and Strategic Development
Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce
(352) 629-8051, ext. 227 (voice)
(352) 629-7651 (fax)
Elizabeth@ocalacc.com