Report: Better Mental Health and Substance Abuse Coverage Reduces Overall Employer Costs. Employer-sponsored health coverage that limits access to mental health treatment can wind up costing employees more than such limits save, according to a new government-funded report. One reason: Health care use and costs are up to twice as high among diabetes and heart disease patients with co-morbid depression, compared to those without depression, even when accounting for other factors such as age, gender and other illnesses. Read this article Health Care Resources: Mental Health

Securing the Retiree Drug Subsidy: Eight Critical Steps to Meet Medicare Part D Requirements. Beginning in 2006, Medicare's subsidy for employers who provide retiree drug coverage could mean, on average, reaping $600 per retiree each year. What's more, the subsidy payments are tax free. Here are steps you should take now. Read this article Health Care Resources: Prescription/Over-the-Counter Drugs

HIPAA e-Security Compliance for Small Plans Looms in April 2006. On April 21, 2006, a new batch of HIPAA standards covering security for employees' electronic data take effect for data handled by small health plans—those with under $5 million in claims for self-funded plans and $5 million in premiums for fully insured plans. (Parallel standards took effect for large plans on April 21, 2005.) Here's what your health plans and their business associates need to do. Read this article Health Care Resources: HIPAA

Medical Management Shifts Focus to High-Risk Patients. Increasingly, employers are turning to medical management techniques to identify and manage those employees most likely to incur high-cost care. These include a broad array of practices, such as utilization management, case management and disease management. Here's an overview.