September Newsletter
Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), October 1 - 7, is an annual national public education campaign designed to help open the eyes of Canadians to the reality of mental illness. The week was established in 1992 by the Canadian Psychiatric Association, and is now coordinated by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH).
Mental health is about more than mental illness. It's more than being happy all the time. It's about feeling good about who you are, having balance in your life, and managing life's highs and lows. Everyone deserves to feel well, whatever their mental health experience. And we all need a support system to lean on.
For more information, click here.
As always, do not hesitate to
email
me.
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UBCM Group Benefits Newsletter
September 2018
Pacific Blue Cross Names John Crawford as next President and CEO
The Pacific Blue Cross is pleased to announce the appointment of John Crawford as President and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Blue Cross, effective immediately. See here for more information.
PBC Will Have a New Website Soon!
On October 12th 2018, the Pacific Blue Cross website
will have a new look and feel with easy access to healthy coverage, savings and service. The website will bring a range of new developments including a fully responsive design for optimal viewing on desktop, tablet or mobile.
Fast, Easy Prescription Drug Claiming
PBC has made updates to
their
online and mobile app claiming that makes it easier than ever to claim for your prescription drugs.
- Members can now submit DINs with multiple package types online and through the mobile app
- E-claims for compound drugs and high cost drugs will now be accepted online and through the mobile app
ICBC Changes and the Impact to your BC Life and PBC Plans
ICBC has recently announced changes to basic insurance for British Columbians, including significant increases to ICBC accident benefits and a shift in how benefits are administered when citizens have employer benefit plans.
Learn
how this could impact you.
Update On The Re-Establishment Of A Human Rights Commission In BC
On August 3, 2018, British Columbia announced its intention to introduce legislative amendments to the Human Rights Code this fall. The main purpose of these proposed amendments is to re-establish a human rights commissioner for British Columbia and
support progress on gender equity and LGBTQ rights. The proposed amendments will create an independent human rights commissioner who reports to the legislative assembly.
All - EI - Premium Rates
On September 13, 2018, the Canada Employment Insurance Commission (CEIC)
announced that the 2019 Employment Insurance (EI) premium rate will be $1.62 per $100 of insurable earnings (a decrease of 4 cents for employees compared to the 2018 rate and an effective decrease of 5.6 cents for employers, who pay 1.4 times the employee rate).
Among other matters, the CEIC also announced that the maximum insurable earnings for 2019 will increase to $53,100 from $51,700 in 2018.
Governments of Canada and British Columbia sign agreement to improve health-care services
The governments of Canada and British Columbia have signed a bilateral
agreement
outlining how the Province plans to invest its share of targeted federal funding. The agreement represents a shift in how the federal and provincial governments work together to advance shared health priorities.
Patient Care During Wildfires
The Province declared a provincial state of emergency on August 15, 2018, in response to the ongoing wildfires affecting the province. Wildfires are creating challenges for patients and pharmacies. For example, evacuees may have left home without their medications, may need medication when they do not have a prescription, and may not have access to a doctor.
Please refer to the Patient Care During States of Emergency and Evacuations information on the Pharmacare website for detailed instructions on submitting claims for patients affected by wildfires.
Publicly Funded Vaccines: Seasonal Influenza
For the 2018-19 influenza season, the following vaccines will be covered for eligible residents from September 1, 2018 to June 1, 2019. For information about when supplies will be available in your community, consult your local health unit or Health Authority.
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PIN
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VACCINE
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66128074
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FluMist® Quadrivalent
PharmaCare does not pay an administration fee for FluMist
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66124765
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Fluviral®
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66128073
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Fluzone® Quadrivalent
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66124777
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Influvac®
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A Lesson in Workplace Wellness
Investing in the wellness of your employees is an investment in the health of your organization which will boost engagement, productivity and health of your workforce.
Anna-Maria Wijesinghe
Nathan Roeters
Manager, Member & Association Services
Account Executive
Union of BC Municipalities
Pacific Blue Cross
Phone: 604.270.8226 (ext. 111) Phone: 604.419.2412
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