From oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us  Wed Oct  2 10:31:06 2013
From: oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us (Business Managers-OEBB)
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2013 17:31:06 +0000
Subject: [OEBBBUSMAN] OEBB's Benefits Information Exchange (BIE) Group
 Meeting, Oct. 3rd, 10am
Message-ID: <mailman.40.1380735068.14004.oebbbusman@listsmart.osl.state.or.us>

Welcome back to another year and resuming OEBB's Benefits Information Exchange (BIE) meetings! This month, we will have two separate webinar links, one for the OEBB portion (10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.) and a second for the Towers Watson portion on Healthcare Reform/ACA (10:30 a.m. - noon). The links can be found below as well as in the attached agenda.

What: OEBB's Benefits Information Exchange (BIE) Group Meeting - agenda attached
When: Thursday, October 3, 2013 (10 a.m. - noon) - first Thursday of each month, same time
Where: Join from any computer via iLinc webinar
Who & Why: The purpose of the BIE Group is to facilitate improved communication between OEBB and participating educational entities. All interested entity representatives (business managers, benefit representatives, payroll staff, IT staff, etc.) are welcome to attend either in person or via the iLinc webinar. Please share this invitation with any appropriate coworkers who may not be on our listserv. Typical agenda items include a recap of that month's board meeting, a walk-through of one or two reports in Report Mart, and updates on upcoming MyOEBB system modifications and member communications. We also invite questions and suggestions on any topics you would like to discuss.
How:

Use this link to log into the OEBB portion of the meeting (10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.) : https://oregonconnect.ilinc.com/join/bfrysbh
After logging in, please follow the instructions and enter your name and phone number in the iLinc system. The iLinc system will call you so you can participate in the meeting.

Want to prepare your system ahead of time? https://oregonconnect.ilinc.com/systest/bfrysbh
Need technical assistance? http://www.ilinc.com/services/support

Then starting at 10:30 a.m. (this month only), use this link to log into the Towers Watson portion of the meeting:

Go to https://twmeetingcenter.webex.com/twmeetingcenter/j.php?ED=192972647&UID=498483497&PW=NZjMzODFkODIy&RT=MiM3
Provide your phone number when you join the meeting to receive a call back.


We hope you'll be able to join us.

Jackie Cowsill
Communications Coordinator
Oregon Educators Benefit Board
Voice: 503-378-5353
Fax: 503-378-5832

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From oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us  Thu Oct  3 16:33:09 2013
From: oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us (Business Managers-OEBB)
Date: Thu, 3 Oct 2013 23:33:09 +0000
Subject: [OEBBBUSMAN] =?windows-1252?q?OEBB_=96_Healthy_Team_Healthy_U_Kic?=
	=?windows-1252?q?k-off_Communications?=
Message-ID: <mailman.121.1380843191.13170.oebbbusman@listsmart.osl.state.or.us>

Dear Business Managers, Superintendents and Benefits Administrators:



NO ACTION REQUIRED

NOTICE OF MEMBER COMMUNICATION GOING OUT NEXT WEEK



As most of you know, OEBB is offering a new team-based worksite wellness program, Healthy Team Healthy U, to all educational entity employees enrolled in an OEBB medical plan as of October 1, 2013.



We wanted to let you know a few days in advance that we are planning to send out an email communication with additional information about this program to all employees who are enrolled in an OEBB medical plan and have a valid work and/or home email address in MyOEBB.  (Since HTHU is a work-site based program, we do not plan to send this message to early retirees.)



We hope to send the message pasted below on or about Tuesday, October 8, 2013.



------------------------------------------------------
Dear OEBB Member:

Congratulations!  More than half of you signed up to participate in Healthy Futures!  We just wanted to let you know that beginning October 1, 2013, you can sign up for the team-based worksite wellness program, Healthy Team Healthy U.  Healthy Team Healthy U can be used to meet BOTH of your wellness actions under Healthy Futures, but you don?t even have to participate in Healthy Futures to join Healthy Team Healthy U. Anyone enrolled in an OEBB medical plan can participate at NO COST!
You can learn more about this fun, evidence-based wellness program in the interactive PDF:

www.oregon.gov/oha/oebb/docs/2013/HTHU_flyer.pdf<http://www.oregon.gov/oha/oebb/docs/2013/HTHU_flyer.pdf>

or by visiting the OEBB Member HTHU website:

WWW.OEBBWELLNESS.COM<http://WWW.OEBBWELLNESS.COM>



Sign up now to join and/or form your own team!



------------------------------------------------------



If you have any questions about this communication scheduled for next week, please feel free to email me directly at jackie.cowsill at state.or.us<mailto:jackie.cowsill at state.or.us> or call me at 503-378-5353.



We hope you find this information helpful.


Jackie Cowsill
Communications Coordinator
Oregon Educators Benefit Board
Voice: 503-378-5353
Fax: 503-378-5832

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From oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us  Mon Oct  7 08:45:17 2013
From: oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us (Business Managers-OEBB)
Date: Mon, 7 Oct 2013 15:45:17 +0000
Subject: [OEBBBUSMAN] The Standard webinar on Workplace Possibilities Program
Message-ID: <mailman.36.1381160719.24028.oebbbusman@listsmart.osl.state.or.us>

Dear Business Managers, Superintendents and Benefit Administrators ?

We at OEBB would like to share this opportunity with you to learn more about a valuable and little-known benefit that is automatically included with disability coverage through The Standard, known as their Workplace Possibilities Program. Even if you don?t currently offer disability coverage, you are encouraged to join the session. Please see the invitation below for more details.

Jackie Cowsill
Communications Coordinator
Oregon Educators Benefit Board
________________________________

Please plan to attend The Standard?s Workplace Possibilities Program WebEx for OEBB Educational Entities on Tuesday October 15, 10-11 am or Wed October 16, 2-3 pm.

Feel free to forward invite information as everyone is welcome: HR staff, business managers, principals, supervisors, risk and safety, etc.

Log in information:

Step one: Dial-In 866-740-1260 for audio then enter this seven digit Access Code: 3218120 followed by the # key

Step Two: Web Login https://core.readytalk.com/prt?an=8667401260&ac=3218120

If you currently offer Short and/or Long Term Disability through The Standard, or are considering offering it in the future- are you aware of the covered benefits through the Workplace Possibilities Program?

The Standard?s Workplace Possibilities Program is changing the way educational entities manage absence and disability.  This unique proactive approach helps keep employees at work and helps employees return to work after a medical leave by addressing and reducing the causes of absences and disabilities.  Our Workplace Possibilities Team can:


?         Perform ergonomic evaluations,

?         Provide case management during a leave and referrals to your wellness vendors,

?         Recommend devices that adapt to employees needs,

?         Consult on accommodations for mental health conditions,

?         Train supervisors to facilitate employees staying at work or returning to work, and

?         Identify light duty for employees during recovery.

Services plus the cost of any equipment can be covered under the Reasonable Accommodation Expense Benefit in the STD/LTD polices.

Featured Speakers:

Debbi Cross, Vocational Case Manager
Debbi joined The Standard as a Vocational Case Manager in 1998.  She has worked in private rehabilitation sector since 1986 providing vocational evaluations, training plan development and monitoring, job search skills and placement services, as well as 5 years working specifically with construction and manufacturing companies on developing RTW programs i.e. identifying light-duty work, worksite modifications etc.  Debbi attended Oregon State University in Home Economics/Social Welfare.  She has a Certified Professional Disability Management (CPDM) certification through Insurance Educational Association (IEA), and has a Certified Ergonomic Evaluation Specialist (CEES) certification through Roy Matheson & Associates.  In addition, she has experience working with employers both in the public and private sectors (including school entities), as well as various industries.

Andrea Lindsey, Account Manager
Andrea joined Standard Insurance Company in 2009 as an Account Manager and is responsible for servicing the OEBB account.  Prior to her current position, Andrea worked for The Standard in the Eugene Group Office and in National Accounts as a Proposal Analyst.  Andrea is a graduate of The University of Oregon with a BA in Journalism/Public Relations.  She has also earned her Associate Customer Service (ACS) designation from Life Office Management Association Inc. (LOMA).

Mary Malone, Disability and Productivity Consultant
With more than 37 years of experience in the nursing/rehabilitation field, Mary is a Workplace Possibilities? Disability and Productivity Consultant, a position she has held since 2011. She joined The Standard in 2003 as a Nurse Case Manager, and she also served as a Workplace Possibilities Medical Lead.  She has achieved her Certified Professional Disability Management (CPDM) professional designation.  Before joining The Standard, Mary served in various nursing roles including home health care, nursing instructor, and medical-surgical and obstetrics/gynecology acute care.  She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Portland.

To learn more about The Standard?s Workplace Possibilities Program, please visit the website: http://workplacepossibilities.com
The Standard - Workplace Possibilities<http://workplacepossibilities.com/> and register for the Blog so that you will receive updates.

Thank you,

Mary Malone, RN, BSN, CPDM
Disability and Productivity Consultant | Workplace Possibilities? Program
The Standard
Standard Insurance Company
900 SW Fifth Avenue | Portland, OR 97204
Phone 971.321.5510 | 800.368.1135 | Fax 971.321.5731
mary.malone at standard.com<mailto:mary.malone at standard.com>
www.standard.com

Visit our Workplace Possibilities website http://workplacepossibilities.com/

Ensure a sustainable future ? only print when necessary.

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From oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us  Thu Oct 10 12:41:19 2013
From: oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us (Business Managers-OEBB)
Date: Thu, 10 Oct 2013 19:41:19 +0000
Subject: [OEBBBUSMAN] Watch today's OEBB Board Meeting live!
Message-ID: <mailman.57.1381434602.24460.oebbbusman@listsmart.osl.state.or.us>

You can watch today's OEBB Board Meeting live by clicking the link below.

http://benefitboards.das.state.or.us/public_folder.html?folder=7


If you have any public comments for the Board, please send to Rose.mann at state.or.us<mailto:Rose.mann at state.or.us>. Please put "public comment" in the subject line.

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From oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us  Fri Oct 11 16:26:05 2013
From: oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us (Business Managers-OEBB)
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 2013 23:26:05 +0000
Subject: [OEBBBUSMAN] OEBB Rule Change
Message-ID: <mailman.108.1381533967.32270.oebbbusman@listsmart.osl.state.or.us>

Dear Business Managers, Superintendents & Benefits Administrators:

We wanted to let you know about a rule change that may be of particular interest to you and some of your employees. Back in July, OEBB filed amendments to OAR 111-010-0015 (Definitions). Many of those amendments were needed in response to guidance we received related to how health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) were to be treated under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The guidance at that time was that an employer who contributed to an HRA that reimbursed for any qualified medical expenses could only do so if their employee was covered under a group medical plan that met the essential benefits requirement available through the employer. Our legal and consulting advisors interpreted that to mean that the employee must be covered as the primary subscriber of the employer's group medical plan.

Recently, we received further clarification and guidance from the federal government relating to permissible HRA contributions.  In reviewing this guidance, it was determined that OEBB could be more lenient in allowing an employee to opt-out of medical coverage and be eligible for a contribution into an HRA and will be filing another amendment to OAR 111-010-0015 (Definitions) as a Temporary Rule later today.  This amendment will allow an employee of an educational entity participating in the OEBB benefits program to receive a contribution into an HRA that reimburses for qualified medical expenses when opting-out of the OEBB medical coverage as the subscriber as long as the employee is covered as an eligible dependent on an OEBB medical plan.

We understand the federal guidance and definition of an integrated HRA was more lenient than what OEBB was able to be and allows employers to contribute to an HRA as long as an employee is covered under a medical plan that meets the essential benefits requirements, whether the plan is available through the employer or not.  However, under ORS 243.886(a) & (b), "A district may not provide or contract for a benefit plan unless the benefit plan is provided and administered by the Oregon Educators Benefit Board...... and " Eligible employees of a district may participate only in benefit plans provided and administered by the board." Medical plans are specifically called out under the statutory definition of a benefit plan under ORS 243.860. HRAs are considered medical plans.

As the Board looked at how to work HRAs into the OEBB definitions, it determined that HRAs could be broken into two categories - medical plans and supplemental medical plans. OEBB offers medical plans, but it does not offer supplemental medical plans at this time. Therefore, educational entities participating in OEBB cannot offer HRAs that meet the definition of a medical plan (including a Non-integrated General Purpose HRA), but can offer HRAs that meet the definition of a supplemental medical plan.  The definition of a supplemental medical plan includes a general purpose HRA when the employee is covered either as an employee or as an eligible dependent on an OEBB medical plan (i.e., an integrated HRA), a Limited Purpose HRA, a Post Separation/Retiree HRA, and a Premium Only HRA.

As this new guidance came through after the conclusion of the open enrollment period and your employees who are eligible to be covered under an OEBB medical plan as a dependent may have made a different decision had this new definition been in place prior to September 15, OEBB will allow you to contact those employees and allow those specific employees a "special change" period through the end of this month (October 31, 2013). The only changes that can be allowed under this special provision are: 1) an employee can opt-out of medical coverage; and 2) an employee can add the employee opting out as an eligible dependent under his or her medical coverage. This special change period only applies to those employees that would have "opted out" of their medical coverage and chosen to be covered as a dependent under a spouse's or domestic partner's OEBB medical plan in return for a contribution into a general purpose HRA and that employee's spouse or domestic partner.  It is important to note that this change period is "allowed" and not "required."  If your employee's spouse or domestic partner is employed by another educational entity that does not elect to allow their employees to add an eligible dependent under this special change period, OEBB cannot require the entity to do so. Any changes allowed during this special change period must be effective retroactive to October 1, 2013.

We hope this rule change and the special change period is helpful to you and any employee that might have been affected by the July 2013 amendments.  If you have any questions about this change or the special change period, please contact the OEBB Members Services Team at 1-888-469-6322.

Sincerely,

Denise L. Hall
Denise L. Hall, Deputy Administrator
Oregon Educators Benefit Board
http://egov.oregon.gov/OHA/OEBB<http://egov.oregon.gov/DAS/OEBB>

OEBB encourages all members to stay healthy and be happy!!!!     Pass it on.....
http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/OEBB/pages/welllinks.aspx




*****CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE*****

This e-mail may contain information that is privileged, confidential, or otherwise exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the addressee or it appears from the context or otherwise that you have received this e-mail in error, please advise me immediately by reply e-mail, keep the contents confidential, and immediately delete the message and any attachments from your system.

************************************

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From oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us  Wed Oct 16 10:37:27 2013
From: oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us (Business Managers-OEBB)
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2013 17:37:27 +0000
Subject: [OEBBBUSMAN] (no subject)
Message-ID: <mailman.27.1381945050.24645.oebbbusman@listsmart.osl.state.or.us>

The Benefits Information Exchange (BIE) Group will be meeting via webinar for a second time this month, tomorrow (Thursday, October 17, 10 a.m. - noon). Details below and agenda attached. We hope you will join us!

What: OEBB's Benefits Information Exchange (BIE) Group Meeting - agenda attached
When: Thursday, October 17, 2013 (10 a.m. - noon) - We normally meet the first Thursday of each month, 10 a.m. - noon. This month we have so much to share, we are meeting a second time.
Where: Join from any computer via iLinc webinar
Who & Why: The purpose of the BIE Group is to facilitate improved communication between OEBB and participating educational entities. All interested entity representatives (business managers, benefit representatives, payroll staff, IT staff, etc.) are welcome to attend either in person or via the iLinc webinar. Please share this invitation with any appropriate coworkers who may not be on our listserv. Typical agenda items include a recap of that month's board meeting, a walk-through of one or two reports in Report Mart, and updates on upcoming MyOEBB system modifications and member communications. We also invite questions and suggestions on any topics you would like to discuss.
How:

Use this link to log into the meeting: https://oregonconnect.ilinc.com/join/cjcyhbt
After logging in, please click on the "Start" tab (if it doesn't open to that tab automatically) and use the "Call Me" option for your audio. Enter your phone number and click the "Call Me" button. The iLinc system will call you.

Want to prepare your system ahead of time? https://oregonconnect.ilinc.com/systest/cjcyhbt
Need technical assistance? http://www.ilinc.com/services/support


Jackie Cowsill
Communications Coordinator
Oregon Educators Benefit Board
Voice: 503-378-5353
Fax: 503-378-5832

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From oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us  Wed Oct 16 16:10:35 2013
From: oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us (Business Managers-OEBB)
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2013 23:10:35 +0000
Subject: [OEBBBUSMAN] FTE Measurement Examples Needed
Message-ID: <mailman.71.1381965038.24645.oebbbusman@listsmart.osl.state.or.us>

Dear Business Managers & Benefits Administrators:

OEBB and Towers Watson are preparing a presentation on FTE Measurement to help Educational Entities comply with the federal healthcare reform regulations, and we need your help.

We're looking for real-life scenarios to use as examples. Would you like us to illustrate a specific example that would help you serve your entity? If so, please send your questions/scenarios to me at denise.hall at state.or.us<mailto:denise.hall at state.or.us> no later than noon on Monday, October 21, 2013.

Three or four scenarios will be featured in this presentation to OASBO conference participants in November and additional examples may be used in future webinars on this subject (dates to be determined). We may also feature examples in FAQs or other supporting documents on our website.

Thank you for your assistance in making this presentation as useful as possible for OEBB participating entities.

Sincerely,

Denise L. Hall
Denise L. Hall, Deputy Administrator
Oregon Educators Benefit Board
http://egov.oregon.gov/OHA/OEBB<http://egov.oregon.gov/DAS/OEBB>

OEBB encourages all members to stay healthy and be happy!!!!     Pass it on.....
http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/OEBB/pages/welllinks.aspx


*****CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE*****

This e-mail may contain information that is privileged, confidential, or otherwise exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the addressee or it appears from the context or otherwise that you have received this e-mail in error, please advise me immediately by reply e-mail, keep the contents confidential, and immediately delete the message and any attachments from your system.

************************************

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From oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us  Mon Oct 21 10:29:42 2013
From: oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us (Business Managers-OEBB)
Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 17:29:42 +0000
Subject: [OEBBBUSMAN] OEBB -- Proposed Filing Notice
In-Reply-To: <375DB73E0EE74F499E39BFFD7EF627AA419C547C@WPDASEXCL01.ad.state.or.us>
References: <240A2561C045C24797C3DD10A1AD893E418BEDAE@WPDASEXCL01.ad.state.or.us>
	<375DB73E0EE74F499E39BFFD7EF627AA419C547C@WPDASEXCL01.ad.state.or.us>
Message-ID: <mailman.63.1382376584.31817.oebbbusman@listsmart.osl.state.or.us>

The Oregon Educators Benefit Board filed the following proposed rules with the Secretary of State on October 15, 2013:
Division 10 - Definitions, 111-010-0015 - With the passage of House Bill 2279, new groups have the option of joining the Oregon Educators Benefit Board (OEBB). The amendments to Division 10 provide language for the implementation of new groups under House Bill 2279. In addition, an amendment was made in response to recent guidance issued relating to treatment of health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) under the Affordable Care Act  (ACA).

Division 20-Program Participation, 111-020-0001, 111-020-0005, 111-020-0010- With the passage of House Bill 2279, new groups have the option of joining the Oregon Educators Benefit Board (OEBB). The adoption and amendments to Division 20 provide language for the implementation of new groups under House Bill 2279.

Division 30 - Plan Design Development and Selection, 111-030-0050 - With the passage of House Bill 2279, new groups have the option of joining the Oregon Educators Benefit Board (OEBB). The amendments to Division 30 provide language for the implementation of new groups under House Bill 2279.
A public hearing on these rules will be held on November 20, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. in the OEBB Boardroom at the DAS General Services Building, 1225 Ferry Street SE, Salem, Oregon.
You can also provide written comments. Written comments can be emailed to April Kelly at april.kelly at state.or.us<mailto:april.kelly at state.or.us> or mailed in hard copy to: April Kelly, Oregon Educators Benefit Board, 1225 Ferry Street SE, Suite B, Salem, OR 97301.
All public comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 30, 2013  to be considered during the rulemaking process. Any comments received after November 30th will not be reviewed or considered by the Oregon Educators Benefit Board unless OEBB decides to extend the public comment period to everyone.
The notices are attached to this email. The proposed rules are posted to the OEBB website and can be found by clicking:  http://www.oregon.gov/oha/OEBB/Pages/administrativerules.aspx
Thank you,
April Kelly
Lead Benefits Analyst/Rules Coordinator
Oregon Educators Benefit Board
P: 503-378-6588; Fax: 503-378-5832
www.oregon.gov/OHA/OEBB<http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/OEBB>

PUBLIC RECORDS LAW DISCLOSURE
This e-mail is a public record of the state of Oregon and is subject to public disclosure unless exempt from disclosure under Oregon Public Records Law. This email is subject to the State Retention Schedule.

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From oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us  Mon Oct 21 11:25:10 2013
From: oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us (Business Managers-OEBB)
Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 18:25:10 +0000
Subject: [OEBBBUSMAN] OEBB -- DOMA, QSCs & Imputed Taxes
Message-ID: <mailman.74.1382379913.31817.oebbbusman@listsmart.osl.state.or.us>

Dear Business Managers, Superintendents & Benefits Administrators:

In response to the Supreme Court ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) OEBB has updated the MyOEBB system to allow same-sex spouses.

On, or around, November 1, 2013, we plan to send the attached letter to all subscribers who currently have a same-sex domestic partner listed as an eligible dependent in the MyOEBB system. The letter will include a link to the Mid-Year Change Form they can use to request to update their domestic partner's relationship status to spouse, if applicable. OEBB will allow members who were married in a state that recognizes same-sex marriages on or before September 30, 2013, to submit a change form through December 16, 2013. The change will be (must be) effective retroactively to October 1, 2013. (This is the effective date of the federal ruling guiding this change.) The "Marriage" QSC in the MyOEBB system will be temporarily expanded to allow administrators to make this change.

Members who married, or marry, a same-sex spouse in a state that recognizes same-sex marriages on or after October 1, 2013, have the 31-day change period to add the spouse to OEBB coverages.  However, we will allow an extension for those members who were married October 1 through November 15, 2013 to complete and submit the Mid-Year Change Form through December 16, 2013 as well to ensure they are allowed a 31-day window from receipt of our letter. Coverage for these new spouses must be effective the first of the month following the date of the marriage.

If you have already communicated with your members on this issue and would prefer OEBB exclude your employees and early retirees from this mailing, please send an email to Jackie Cowsill at jackie.cowsill at state.or.us<mailto:jackie.cowsill at state.or.us> requesting to be excluded by close-of-business Tuesday, October 22, 2013.

OEBB cannot provide specific tax or financial advice, so please contact your tax advisor or financial consultant with any questions regarding payroll processes, imputed tax assessments, W-2 reporting, etc. However, below is an excerpt from some guidance we received from Towers Watson.  Towers Watson gave us permission to share this with you:

*         Married people who are also Registered Domestic Partners:  treat the same as married opposite-sex couples for both federal and state purposes.
*         Married people who are NOT Registered Domestic Partners: treat the same as married opposite-sex couples for federal tax purposes. State tax treatment is still being analyzed at this time (see below).
*         Not married, but who are Registered Domestic Partners:  No change compared to all years since effective date of Oregon Family Fairness Act (February 4, 2008).
*         Not married and who are NOT Registered Domestic Partners:  No change; still considered single for federal and state purposes.

As for the Oregon state tax issues, below is a copy and paste from the Oregon Department of Revenue website (as of October 14, 2013):

We are currently waiting for guidance from the Oregon Department of Justice regarding the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act on registered domestic partners in Oregon.

We will update this webpage once we receive that guidance. We will also address same sex couples that have married in another state and moved to Oregon or have Oregon-source income.

Please continue to check this webpage for updates.

http://www.oregon.gov/dor/pertax/pages/rdp.aspx.


If you have further questions about implementing this QSC in the MyOEBB system, or the communication we plan to send to members, please call OEBB Member Services at 888-469-6322 or send an email to:  oebb.benefits at state.or.us<mailto:oebb.benefits at state.or.us>.

Sincerely,

Denise L. Hall
Denise L. Hall, Deputy Administrator
Oregon Educators Benefit Board
http://egov.oregon.gov/OHA/OEBB<http://egov.oregon.gov/DAS/OEBB>

OEBB encourages all members to stay healthy and be happy!!!!     Pass it on.....
http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/OEBB/pages/welllinks.aspx




*****CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE*****

This e-mail may contain information that is privileged, confidential, or otherwise exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the addressee or it appears from the context or otherwise that you have received this e-mail in error, please advise me immediately by reply e-mail, keep the contents confidential, and immediately delete the message and any attachments from your system.

************************************


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From oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us  Mon Oct 21 12:22:39 2013
From: oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us (Business Managers-OEBB)
Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 19:22:39 +0000
Subject: [OEBBBUSMAN] OEBB -- New Forms Online
Message-ID: <mailman.88.1382383361.31817.oebbbusman@listsmart.osl.state.or.us>

Dear Business Managers & Benefits Administrators:

Just a quick announcement to let you know we have a number of revised forms available on the OEBB website.

On the main ?Forms? page http://www.oregon.gov/oha/OEBB/Pages/forms.aspx you will now find:

2013-14 New Hire Enrollment Form<http://www.oregon.gov/oha/OEBB/docs/Form/2012/Enrollment.pdf> - revised 10/7/2013?

2013-14 Healthy Futures Participation Form<http://www.oregon.gov/oha/OEBB/docs/Form/2012/Enrollment.pdf>

Midyear Change Form<http://www.oregon.gov/oha/OEBB/docs/form/mid-year_change.pdf> - revised 10/7/2013


And on the ?Entity Forms & Reports? page http://www.oregon.gov/oha/OEBB/entity/Pages/eeforms.aspx you will find a customizable version of the enrollment form:

2013-14 Enrollment Form<http://www.oregon.gov/oha/OEBB/docs/Form/Enrollment_customizable.doc> (Customizable for your entity - Microsoft Word format)?


If you have any questions or suggestions regarding these or any other OEBB forms, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Jackie Cowsill
Communications Coordinator
Oregon Educators Benefit Board
Voice: 503-378-5353
Fax: 503-378-5832

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From oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us  Tue Oct 22 14:36:40 2013
From: oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us (Business Managers-OEBB)
Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 21:36:40 +0000
Subject: [OEBBBUSMAN] OEBB -- Notice of Upcoming Biannual Employee Survey
Message-ID: <mailman.140.1382477801.29746.oebbbusman@listsmart.osl.state.or.us>

One of the Oregon Educators Benefit Board's (OEBB's) guiding principles is to provide benefits and services that improve the overall health and wellness of its members through a variety of programs and services. A key step in developing, modifying and monitoring outcomes of such benefits and services is obtaining current data on the health status of our members.

In partnership with Oregon Public Health, OEBB will once again be conducting the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey of School Employees (BSSE) in November and December to gather information on the health and wellness of education employees including:

*       Current health status
*       Behaviors that affect health (physical activity, eating habits, etc.)
*       Worksite health and wellness support

The BSSE has been conducted biannually since 2009 and information from the survey has been used to establish benefits and programs that benefit members, such as OEBB's Weight Management Program and the elimination of substance abuse copays and deductibles when using an in-network provider. The survey is modeled after annual health status surveys conducted by the state of Oregon and the federal Centers for Disease Control.

On Monday, October 28, OEBB will be sending an email to employees who have listed email addresses in MyOEBB to announce this year's survey.  An independent survey firm will begin by contacting a very small number of the random sample of employees (around 20 or so) as early as November 4 to complete the 20-25 minute survey as part of a pilot group, and then the remainder of the sampled employees will be contacted starting November 11. (One of the reasons we are waiting until November 11 to start the BSSE is to hopefully reduce or eliminate any confusion for members the online OEBB Member Survey is scheduled for the last week of October through the first week of November.)  Employees will be contacted at home in the evening, or on weekends to complete the survey. Employees may reschedule the completion of the survey for a later date or decline to participate in the survey.

All individual responses to the survey will remain confidential. The results of the survey will be reported in aggregate and will be used to help the Board better understand the health care status and needs of OEBB members.

If you would like to forward this email to your staff as well, please feel free to do so.  If you have any questions regarding the survey, you can contact Glenn Baly at 503-378-4960 or glenn.w.baly at state.or.us<mailto:glenn.w.baly at state.or.us>.

Thank you.

Joan M. Kapowich
Administrator
Public Employees' Benefit Board
Oregon Educators Benefit Board

Denise L. Hall
Deputy Administrator
Oregon Educators Benefit Board



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From oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us  Wed Oct 23 15:19:15 2013
From: oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us (Business Managers-OEBB)
Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 22:19:15 +0000
Subject: [OEBBBUSMAN] OEBB -- Member Emails Going Out Soon
Message-ID: <mailman.87.1382566758.31024.oebbbusman@listsmart.osl.state.or.us>

Dear Business Managers & Benefits Administrators:

Just a quick "heads-up" to give you advance notice of a few emails OEBB will soon be sending to members.
1)      Tomorrow we'll be sending a short reminder about the Healthy Team Healthy U program. A copy of the message we plan to send is attached.

2)      On Monday, October 28, we'll be announcing via email our annual member survey and providing a link asking members to complete the survey no later than November 8. We also plan to send a reminder about the survey on Monday, November 4 (halfway through the two-week period it will be open) and another final reminder on the last day, Friday, November 8.


If you have any questions or concerns about these upcoming messages, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Jackie Cowsill
Communications Coordinator
Oregon Educators Benefit Board
Voice: 503-378-5353
Fax: 503-378-5832

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From oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us  Mon Oct 28 16:14:47 2013
From: oebbbusman at listsmart.osl.state.or.us (Business Managers-OEBB)
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 23:14:47 +0000
Subject: [OEBBBUSMAN] OEBB -- Date change for announcing BSSE survey
Message-ID: <mailman.126.1383002090.9697.oebbbusman@listsmart.osl.state.or.us>

Dear Business Managers and Benefit Administrators -

Just a quick note to let you know we will be waiting a couple days before sending an email to members about the BSSE phone survey. Our original notice about this communication (shown below) said we would send it today, but since we just sent a member email announcing the 2013 Annual Member Survey, we thought it best to postpone this announcement a couple days.

We plan to send our BSSE announcement email this Wednesday.

Thank you,

Jackie Cowsill
Communications Coordinator
Oregon Educators Benefit Board
Voice: 503-378-5353
Fax: 503-378-5832
________________________________

One of the Oregon Educators Benefit Board's (OEBB's) guiding principles is to provide benefits and services that improve the overall health and wellness of its members through a variety of programs and services. A key step in developing, modifying and monitoring outcomes of such benefits and services is obtaining current data on the health status of our members.

In partnership with Oregon Public Health, OEBB will once again be conducting the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey of School Employees (BSSE) in November and December to gather information on the health and wellness of education employees including:

*       Current health status
*       Behaviors that affect health (physical activity, eating habits, etc.)
*       Worksite health and wellness support

The BSSE has been conducted biannually since 2009 and information from the survey has been used to establish benefits and programs that benefit members, such as OEBB's Weight Management Program and the elimination of substance abuse copays and deductibles when using an in-network provider. The survey is modeled after annual health status surveys conducted by the state of Oregon and the federal Centers for Disease Control.

On Monday, October 28, OEBB will be sending an email to employees who have listed email addresses in MyOEBB to announce this year's survey.  An independent survey firm will begin by contacting a very small number of the random sample of employees (around 20 or so) as early as November 4 to complete the 20-25 minute survey as part of a pilot group, and then the remainder of the sampled employees will be contacted starting November 11. (One of the reasons we are waiting until November 11 to start the BSSE is to hopefully reduce or eliminate any confusion for members the online OEBB Member Survey is scheduled for the last week of October through the first week of November.)  Employees will be contacted at home in the evening, or on weekends to complete the survey. Employees may reschedule the completion of the survey for a later date or decline to participate in the survey.

All individual responses to the survey will remain confidential. The results of the survey will be reported in aggregate and will be used to help the Board better understand the health care status and needs of OEBB members.

If you would like to forward this email to your staff as well, please feel free to do so.  If you have any questions regarding the survey, you can contact Glenn Baly at 503-378-4960 or glenn.w.baly at state.or.us<mailto:glenn.w.baly at state.or.us>.

Thank you.

Joan M. Kapowich
Administrator
Public Employees' Benefit Board
Oregon Educators Benefit Board

Denise L. Hall
Deputy Administrator
Oregon Educators Benefit Board
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