July 16 informational meetings will address changes to OU's HMO options

As part of the 2010 open enrollment process, Oakland University will provide all non-bargained employee groups, as well as POLC and POAM members, new HMO options designed to promote healthy lifestyles.

Two informational meetings set for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 16 in the Oakland Center Banquet Rooms will address the changes.

Health Alliance Plan, Blue Care Network and Priority Health, a new vendor to OU, will offer these new plans starting January 1, 2010. Representatives from each company will give brief presentations and will be available afterward to take questions from the audience or on an individual basis.

The meetings will demonstrate how similar the benefit levels are in the new plans and in traditional HMO plans, with an emphasis on pursuing healthy lifestyles.

Each provider has slightly different compliance requirements, but all require a physician visit within the first 90 days of each calendar year to discuss how to live healthier. Additionally, a confidential health risk assessment questionnaire must be completed within the first 90 days of each year. Physicians will use this to help identify ways of improving health on an individual basis.

Strict confidentiality standards ensure that the university will not receive any information submitted on the health risk assessment form and will never interact with the HMOs regarding the status of an employee’s health. The sole objective is to establish a plan to help manage a healthy lifestyle.

These benefit plans will positively impact both the costs the university pays and the costs individuals pay to stay healthy. More importantly, they will improve the quality of life for employees by encouraging healthier ways of living.