Empire Plan enrollees: Procurement updates for 2014 Empire Plan Prescription Drug Program The current Empire Plan Prescription Drug Program is insured and administered by United HealthCare/ Express Scripts (Medco). During 2012, New York state performed a request for proposal (RFP) process to determine the prescription drug Program administrator beginning in 2014. CVS/Caremark was awarded a five-year contract for the Empire Plan Prescription Drug Program with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2014. Under the new contract, the program will be administered on a self-funded basis. Empire Plan Medicare Rx (for Medicare primary enrollees) will be administered by SilverScripts, a Caremark company. In November 2013, Empire Plan enrollees will be sent a temporary prescription drug card which will contain the BIN number and TIN number for CVS/Caremark required by pharmacies to process claims effective Jan. 1, 2014. Empire Plan Mental Health and Substance Abuse Program A request for proposal (RFP) was released in February 2013, for the Empire Plan Mental Health and Substance Abuse Program (currently insured and administered by United Health Care/Optum Behavioral Health). The RFP was to determine the Mental Health/Substance Abuse Program administrator beginning in 2014. Value Options was awarded a five-year contract to administer the Empire Plan Mental Health/Substance Abuse Program beginning Jan. 1, 2014. Under the new contract, the program will be administered on a self-funded basis. Enrollees with questions about whether their provider will participate under Value Options can contact the Empire Plan at 1-877-769-7447. Participating Provider Directory postcards The state Department of Civil Service is again distributing Participating Provider Directory postcards to all Empire Plan enrollees across the United States and Puerto Rico. This is a green initiative designed to reduce production costs and save trees by sending directories only to those who request them. Enrollees looking for an Empire Plan Participating Provider Directory can tear off the postcard they receive, attach a postcard stamp and return it to make their request. The requested directory will be sent in 4-6 weeks. Enrollees can also call The Empire Plan toll free at 1-877-769- 7447 or visit online at https://www.cs.ny.gov/ebd (follow the prompts to log in, then select find a provider). NYSHIP health insurance opt-out program enrollees must re-elect opt-out participation The New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) will again offer NYSHIP Option Code #700 (the Opt-Out Program) to New York state active employees represented by CSEA for calendar year 2014. The Opt-Out Program will allow eligible employees who have other employer-sponsored group health insurance to opt out of their NYSHIP coverage in exchange for an incentive payment. State employees who currently participate in the Opt-Out Program will be required to resubmit completed PS-404 and PS-409 forms to the health benefits administrator during the annual option transfer period to continue participation in 2014. Employees interested in participating in the Opt-Out Program for 2014 should see their agency health benefits administrator during the annual option transfer period for a copy of the October 2013 edition of Planning for Option Transfer, which includes specific details, plan requirements and deadlines. How DOMA affects NYSHIP enrollees On Aug. 29, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service released Revenue Ruling 2013-17, which provided guidance relative to the taxation of the value of employersponsored group health plan coverage (imputed income) for employees providing coverage for a same sex spouse. The New York state Department of Civil Service, along with the state Office of the State Comptroller, has taken the following actions to immediately comply with this guidance for affected NYSHIP enrollees: • Imputed income adjustments will stop by the end of September 2013. • Applicable retroactive imputed income refunds/tax adjustments for tax year 2013 will be processed by the state Office of the State Comptroller in October 2013. Questions about your paycheck should be referred to the Bureau of State Payroll Services Tax and Compliance mailbox at taxandcompliance@ osc.state.ny.us. Questions about the Revenue Ruling and its impact on married employees should be directed to your agency health benefits administrator or the Department of Civil Service’s Employee Benefits Division at 1-800-833- 4344. Questions about your paycheck should be referred to the Bureau of State Payroll Services Tax and Compliance mailbox at taxandcompliance@osc.state.ny.us. Questions about the Revenue Ruling and its impact on married employees should be directed to your agency health benefits administrator or the Department of Civil Service’s Employee Benefits Division at 1-800-833-4344. 18 The Work Force November 2013
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