Benefits & Resources
Well In Mind Self-Care Tip of the Week
WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF A BIT DYSREGULATED OR OVERWHELMED, A FEW OF THESE SIMPLE INTERVENTIONS CAN HELP. ASKING YOURSELF, “AM I HUNGRY, ANGRY, ANXIOUS OR OTHERWISE ACTIVATED? AM I LONELY, CAN I REACH OUT? AM I TIRED, CAN I GIVE MYSELF SOME REST OR A BREAK? DO SOMETHING RESTORATIVE FOR MY ENERGY?” WE CAN MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY MANAGE WHATEVER DIFFICULTIES MAY ARISE OVER THE COURSE OF A CHALLENGING DAY AND WEEKS AHEAD. CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR A 12 MINUTE GUIDED MEDITATION OF THE H.A.L.T PRACTICE
Advantages of Health Savings Accounts
As you start thinking about Open Enrollment this fall, you may be considering enrolling in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) for significant savings on health insurance premiums. The best part of the HDHP plan is that you are eligible for a Health Savings Account (HSA). An HSA allows you to save money for qualified medical expenses that you’re expecting, such as contact lenses or monthly prescriptions, as well as unexpected ones —now and in the future.
Why have an HSA?
You own it – The money is yours until you spend it, including Riverside’s contributions of $750-$1000 annually. You keep it, even if you change jobs, health plans or retire.
Tax savings – HSA’s help you plan, save and pay for health care, all while saving on taxes. For example, if you make an annual contribution of $1,200. The annual income tax savings could add up to $452 (25% federal | 5% state | 7.65% FICA)
- The money you deposit is federal income tax-free.
- Savings grow income tax-free.
- Withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are also income tax-free.
It’s not just for doctor visits – Once you’ve contributed to your account, you can use the funds in your HSA to pay for qualified medical expenses such as: Dental care, including extractions and braces, Vision care, including contact lenses, prescription sunglasses and LASIK surgery, Prescription medications and certain over-the-counter drugs, Chiropractic services, Acupuncture, etc.
Save for the future – Your HSA rolls over from year to year, so you can continue to grow your savings and use it in the future – even into retirement.
If you would like to know more, be sure to attend a benefit meeting during Open Enrollment for details and to have all of your questions answered.
Riverside Senior Advantage
The Senior Advantage Department is very beneficial because we assist with choosing Medicare options as this tends to be a very confusing time for individuals that are given an overabundance of information. We can simplify this time for them.
As you, your family, or your friends approach Medicare age, you can utilize our free services to learn your options. Please inform your family and friends of our approaching Open Enrollment, October 15th – December 7th to review their current Medicare plans.
COVID Vaccine Policy Update
COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Update: Frequently Asked Questions
What is being announced?
Based on the latest scientific data and research, recommendations by the CDC and guidance from our own team of experts, we have updated our COVID-19 vaccine requirements to allow employees in both patient-facing and non-patient facing roles to apply for and receive an approved medical or strongly held belief exemption. Previously, we were only allowing such exemptions for non-patient facing employees.
Why is this change being made now?
Over the past few months, we have been encouraged by a continued decline in the severity of COVID-19-related symptoms, hospitalizations and death, and we are hopeful that future variants will have even less impact on our daily lives. Our decision reflects the level of risk associated with current variants and our confidence in our ability to ease precautions while continuing to provide the highest quality of care and safest environment possible to everyone we serve. This decision was made based on the latest scientific data and research, recommendations by the CDC and guidance from our own team of experts.
Does this mean that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer required for employees?
No. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) continues to require health care workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or an approved medical or strongly held belief exemption. We will continue to comply with this requirement.
Why did Riverside initially not allow employees in patient-facing roles to get a strongly held belief exemption?
Given the high number of hospitalizations and deaths that were associated with early COVID-19 variants, we continue to believe that requiring our employees, especially those in patient-facing roles, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine allowed us to provide the highest quality of care and safest environment possible at a critical time in the pandemic.
What safety protocols will unvaccinated employees be required to follow?
Employees who receive an approved medical or strongly held belief exemption will be required to follow all state and federal regulations, including wearing a surgical mask while on Riverside Healthcare grounds. For testing protocols, please see the Riverside policy as requirements may change based on transmission rates.
Will employees who left because of the vaccine requirement be eligible for rehire?
Yes. We understood that this was a difficult decision for some of our employees, even those who chose to comply. We left the door open for our former colleagues to return if they met job qualifications and complied with our current policies. Any qualified applicant who complies with our policies, including our updated COVID-19 vaccine requirement is eligible for employment at Riverside.
Does leadership have any concerns about rehiring employees who made the decision to leave Riverside in response to its COVID-19 vaccine requirement?
No. This was a painful time for both those who made the decision to leave and those who continued working at Riverside. As the transition was made, we maintained a respectful and collegial environment, and we are confident we will continue to do so as we welcome back former colleagues who qualify for an open position and comply with our current policies.
Was this decision made to resolve litigation Riverside is facing regarding the COVID-19 vaccine mandate?
No. While we cannot discuss matters related to ongoing litigation, we can say that this decision was made based solely on the latest scientific data and research, recommendations by the CDC and guidance from our own team of experts.
Does Riverside Healthcare plan to contact former employees who left due to vaccine requirement to notify them of this change?
No. However, we look forward to welcoming any qualified applicant who will comply with our current policies, including our requirement to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or receive an approved medical or strongly held belief exemption.
Will Riverside revise its vaccine policy again in the future?
Riverside Healthcare will continue to monitor COVID-19 cases and trends. If a future COVID-19 variant appears to result in more serious illness or a higher number of hospitalizations and deaths, we may need to revise our COVID-19 vaccine policy accordingly.
A PDF version of the FAQs can be found here.
We are ONE Riverside and now offer ONE billing statement!
We are pleased to announce a change to Riverside Healthcare’s patient billing. With this change, we are combining our professional billing and hospital billing into one simple monthly payment plan or wage deduction. Did you know that any Riverside employee with a .5 FTE or higher is eligible to request to have their payment automatically deducted from your bi-weekly paycheck and applied to your balance due? If you are currently on a wage deduction for your hospital billing and your physician billing balances, they will now be automatically combined into one bi-weekly deduction.
On the new consolidated billing statement, we will bill you for both Riverside Medical Group providers, and Riverside Medical Center balances on the same billing statement. You will receive one bill and make one payment for both balances. All payments received are first applied to the oldest balance and dispersed to hospital and professional charges. If you currently have a wage deduction for either your hospital or professional bill today, you will see it on your paycheck stub as one deduction instead of two. Keep in mind with the new consolidation, we can only have a wage deduction or payment plan per guarantor. Just as before, balances are not automatically added to your wage deduction, and if new balances are incurred, you must contact Patient Financial Services to have them added. If you have any questions regarding your existing wage deduction or would like to set up a wage deduction, please call our Customer Service team at 815-935-7539 Monday-Friday from 8:30 AM-5 PM.
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