Media Release

Release Date: 12/19/2000
Release Number: USDL: 01-09
Contact Name: Gloria Della
Phone Number: 202.219.8921

Labor Department Unveils New Health Benefit Tools For Consumers And Small Businesses

Assistant Secretary of Labor Leslie B. Kramerich today unveiled new information and educational tools to help Americans and small businesses make informed decisions about employment-based health benefits.

Kramerich was joined in making the announcement by representatives of the National Alliance for Children and Families, the Office of Personnel Management and CHEC/EBRI, a non-profit organization started as a result of the department’s Health Benefits Education Campaign (HBEC).

The Labor Department’s Campaign, launched in December 1998, has grown to more than 70 public and private-sector partners. The Campaign is designed to identify the information needs of its varied audiences and to develop appropriate educational products to be communicated in ways consistent with the characteristics of those target audiences.

“Health benefits has been designated a top priority of the department. We are committed to help working Americans receive benefits to which they are entitled, which can ultimately lead to a financially secure retirement.

“Our data indicates a need to educate the public about health benefits. Each year the department gets tens of thousands of inquiries from the public about their health benefits and rights. Public inquiries covering the range of health laws increased by over 60% for the period 1996 to 2000, from 61,507 to 99,420 inquiries.”

The initiatives announced today were developed by the Campaign partners working through various HBEC committees and by the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA). They include the:

• Health Benefits Passport: The Passport was developed by the HBEC partners in an effort to address concerns that individuals need a reference card when emergencies occur. The product consists of a 3-fold flyer explaining the minimum information consumers need to know to use their health benefits and an attached medical emergency card with which individuals can consolidate contact telephone numbers and information about their health plans. The Passport can be obtained through PWBA’s publication hotline at 1-800-998- 7542.

• Newborns Card and Poster: The card explains the rights of mothers and newborns to hospital lengths of stay and continued health coverage following child birth or adoption. It also provides telephone numbers to contact regional PWBA offices with any questions. The 4 x 9" card has a companion poster which serves as a standup exhibit to hold the cards. Several medical and professional organizations have committed to distribute the cards, including the AMA, ACOG, American Hospital Association, American Medical Women’s Association, AFL-CIO, Consumer Federation of America, and ASPIRA Association. In addition, the Campaign is pursuing other private sector partners to distribute the cards and poster through national drugstore chains.

• Health Benefits Laws Kit: A series of nine fact sheets explain the various health benefit laws. The fact sheets were revised to reflect up-to-date changes relating to: the impact of life events on health benefit needs, general facts on health benefits for women, the Newborns Act, the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act, the Mental Health Parity Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, general health benefit requirements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and resource contacts. The fact sheets will also be available on PWBA’s website.

• Employer Quality Briefcase: This is an online briefcase of internet links to major health care websites to address concerns relating to healthcare quality and safety. The Briefcase is the ideal way to make information on health benefits more accessible to the business community, especially small employers, and the health benefits community. The Employer’s Quality Briefcase links employers to websites offering information about different issues of quality, including the Leapfrog Group, the National Business Coalition on Health, the Small Business Administration and the Chamber of Commerce, along with several others. The online service will be activated in early 2001.

• Know Your Rights Button: This is a lapel button which carries the slogan “Know Your Benefit Rights” and PWBA’s publication hotline number. It was designed and is available to provide brand recognition to the Campaign through the use of campaign colors and are available for distribution at various health events sponsored by Campaign partners. Quantities of the buttons may be obtained by contacting PWBA’s publication hotline.

The Campaign also is developing tools and information which will be unveiled in the near future. Currently under development are the Health Benefits Advisor, an interactive website designed to assist participants make informed decisions about their health benefits when faced with various life and work events, such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, and job loss, and retirement and radio public service announcements to promote products developed under the Campaign.

U.S. Department of Labor news releases are accessible on the Internet. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the Central Office for Assistive Services and Technology. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call 202.693.7773 or TTY 202.693.7775.