SMU Partnership With Compass Professional Health Services

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Holly Carter
 

More Information About Compass!

As announced in a BenefitsU email on March 27, SMU is partnering with Compass Professional Health Services to provide a service that will enable you to identify high-quality doctors, hospitals, imaging centers, etc., and make choices that can significantly reduce your expenses.  

This service is paid by SMU at no cost to you.  Your health information will not be shared with BCBSTX, your doctor, or anyone else – without your personal consent.  Your health information will never be shared with SMU.

Compass Webinars
The employee meetings scheduled for April 9 and 16 are now completely booked so we have made arrangements for two one-hour interactive webinars.

The webinars will be held on Tuesday, April 17 at 9.30 a.m. and Friday, April 20 at 2.00 p.m.  You will have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have.  Click one of the links below to access the dial-in instructions for your webinar.

Dial-in instructions for the webinar on Tuesday, April 17 at 9:30am

Dial-in instructions for the webinar on Friday, April 20 at 2:00pm

Note:  HR received several calls from employees who missed the March 27 Benefits U email announcement, and were concerned when they received an email yesterday from a Compass Health Pro, Jeremy Garrett.  This email is legitimate!

 

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UT Southwestern Mobile Mammography Unit on East Campus June 7

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Lorea Seidel

When: June 7, 2012
Time: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: East Campus All University Parking Lot (Just east of Expressway Tower)

Pre-register by calling 214-645-2560 or Toll Free 1-866-277-0710

 

MAMMOGRAPHY BENEFIT COVERAGE FOR SMU STAFF/FACULTY

As an added benefit to employees covered by the SMU Health and Wellness medical plan administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), SMU will cover all routine annual mammogram charges for women age 40 and above. Have your insurance information available when you call. BCBSTX will process the claim and SMU will pay it at 100%.

You may use this benefit with your own physician or medical provider in the community, so if you prefer to make an appointment elsewhere, please do!

If you participate in insurance plans outside of SMU, please inquire about other billing arrangements when you pre-register.

WELLPOWER CREDITS

Don’t forget you may enter 1 Body credit for this screening. You may also enter 1 Body credit each for a full physical, dental exam, eye exam, gynecological checkup, and for getting your flu shot.

GUIDELINES FOR MAMMOGRAM SCREENING

• The mobile unit is designed for routine screening only. If you have any known breast problems, please consult your physician.

• Screening is recommended for women age 40 and older. Check out the BCBSTX preventive care guidelines for more information.

• Most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover the cost of screening once a year.

If it has been a year or more since your last mammogram, please call to schedule your appointment.

INFORMATION YOU WILL NEED WHEN YOU CALL TO PRE-REGISTER

• Personal information (age, date of birth, Social Security number, etc.)

• Insurance information; if you are covered by your spouse’s plan, they will also need your spouse’s name, date of birth, and social security number

• Doctor’s name, address, phone number – if you want a report sent to your doctor

• Emergency contact name and phone number

• When and where you had your last mammogram

• Please let them know if you have had breast augmentation

Please bring your ID and your insurance card to your appointment.

214-645-2560 or toll free 866-277-0710

 

 

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Looking For Ways To Reduce Your Health Care Expenses?

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Holly Carter

New Service Sponsored By SMU Human Resources
Can Help You Reduce Your Health Care Expenses 

Did you know that the cost of medical services can vary by as much as 300%, even within the BCBSTX network?  For example, one in-network facility might charge $500 for a CT scan and another facility might charge $1,500.  These cost variances also apply to surgical, anesthesia, and hospital room & board charges.

Medical TestWith that in mind, the SMU Department of Human Resources is partnering with Compass Professional Health Services, to provide a service that will enable you to identify high-quality doctors, hospitals, imaging centers, etc., and make choices that can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. 

Compass services will be available April 1, 2011 to faculty and staff enrolled in one of SMU’s BCBSTX medical options.  This service is paid by SMU, at no cost to you.

Compass provides unbiased guidance because they are not affiliated with any insurance company, doctor’s office, or hospital.  Your health information will never be shared with SMU, your insurance company, your doctor, or anyone else — without your personal consent. 

For more information, watch for an information packet to arrive at your home address on or before April 1, 2012.

RSVP for an on-campus Employee Meeting to learn more about the service and how to access it.

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Upcoming Tuition Benefits Deadlines

Posted on March 26, 2012 by

Are you or a family member a tuition benefits recipient?  If so, the upcoming deadlines are very important for processing future tuition benefits requests.

Request Deadline                    Terms

March 26, 2012                         May Term 2012 (Counseling/Dispute Resolution Program)

April 30, 2012                           Summer Term 2012

June 25, 2012                           Academic Year  2012-2013 (Fall 2012 – Summer 2013)

These dates have been set to help enable the processing of tuition benefits requests before the Bursar’s payment deadlines. You can view your requests for May or Summer terms at Access.SMU > Self-Service > Benefits > Tuition Benefits Requests > Review Summary.

Reminder:  The academic year 2012-2013 is comprised of the following terms: Fall 2012, Jan Term 2013, Spring 2013, May Term 2013, and Summer Term 2013.

If you have any changes to a prior request, send your change of hours to tuitionbenefits@smu.edu and include your SMU ID number in the subject line.

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Good Things Come with Age – A Special Offer from SMU’s EAP Program

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Rebecca Sampson

Did you know that you can get a free membership?  SMU’s Employee Assistance Program is providing a one-year AARP Membership to you at no cost!

SMU is committed to offering you benefits that promote health, wellness, and financial security. Now, we are pleased to offer you a special offer – a one-year AARP membership at no cost through SMU’s Employee Assistance Program administered by Magellan Health Services.  Not yet 50?  You may share this gift with a friend or family member who is!

AARP is the nation’s leading organization for people age 50 and older. AARP membership gives you access to a wealth of valuable benefits designed to help you live your best life.

It includes:

• Trusted information and resources, like AARP The Magazine
• Everyday discounts on travel, hearing, entertainment, vision care, dining, and more
• Tools to help with everything from finances to healthy living
• Volunteer opportunities in your community

Already an AARP member? Registration extends your membership for an additional year.

Not 50 years old yet? AARP’s sign-up page allows you to pass-along a one-year membership to someone you know aged 50+.

We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. There is no cost to you, and no obligation to continue your membership once your complimentary year of membership expires.

To get started, log on to www.MagellanHealth.com/member and access the AARP link on the Welcome Page.

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Starting a Workout Program? Invest in a Good Pair of Workout Shoes!

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Mary Stall

The birds are chirping and the tulips are blooming…this is a time when many of us are getting serious about our wellness efforts! Making the decision is the first step. Making it a priority in your lifestyle is another. If you are getting ready to spring into action with an exercise program, did you know that one of the best strategies to help you get started is to invest in a good pair of workout shoes?

Announcing an Educational Partnership with Luke’s Locker.
Just in time to support your wellness goals, Wellpower is partnering with Luke’s Locker to offer two Lunch and Learn sessions.

Join Kerry Little from Luke’s Locker as she covers the following topics:

• Workout Shoes: How do you know  you’ve got the right pair and what are the clues when it’s the wrong pair? What should you look for in workout clothing and what’s important about different materials and clothing style.

• Hydration, Nutrition, and Stretching: general guidelines on nutrition and the importance of pre and post stretching as well as good nutrition.

• Goal Setting for Training: the terrible twos of walking and running, training in Texas weather extremes, and how to set reasonable and achievable goals.

Wednesday, March 21              OR                   Thurs, March 22
Noon – 1:00 pm                                                   Noon – 1:00 pm
HR Training Room                                              HTSC Forum room
Expressway Tower #208                                   Lower Level

Feel free to enjoy your lunch during the session and bring your questions to ask at the end!  While we are not requiring that you sign up for a session, knowing that you are coming will help us be prepared.  So please take a moment to RSVP.

Resources to Support Your Efforts:

  • Wellpower’s One Step at a Time Step Challenge
    Deadline to sign up is March 16!
    Jump right into your wellness goals by creating a team of 4 and challenging yourselves by the pace set by Provost Ludden’s academic all-star team in the “One Step at a Time” walking challenge which starts on March 26 and goes through April 22.
  • Wellpower Walks
    To support your walking efforts we’ve scheduled two Wellpower Walks on campus.  Enjoy our beautiful campus, the gorgeous spring weather, and your SMU colleagues on these dates:
    March 30, 2012 at 12 noon – meet on the steps of Dallas Hall.
    April 20, 2012 at 12 noon – meet on the steps of Dallas Hall.
    Register for Wellpower Walks

Questions?  Email us at wellpower@smu.edu.

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Room to Breathe – Focusing on Priorities

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Rebecca Sampson

It seems like there are more moving parts to life than ever before. Often we feel the need to get lots of things done – and done quickly. Messages on portable devices can reach us anytime, anywhere. We feel the need to be available 24/7.  The constant, plugged-in rush to achieve can be harmful. It can lead to stress, illness, depression, and strain on the relationships that matter most to us.

The good news is that it is not necessary to do it all. You have the power to reach a healthier work-life balance. Develop your own personal strategy for gaining more control.

You might start by tracking everything you do for one week. This includes work-related and personal activities. You may be surprised to see the areas where time is getting away from you. Try to “unplug” where possible.

It is not realistic to think you can do everything in life all of the time. To combat unrealistic expectations, try these strategies:

  • Take stock of activities that aren’t helping your career or personal life, and try to reduce the time you spend on them.
  • Say no to requests; don’t feel guilty if you need to decline a request at times.
  • Try to see where your priorities have shifted too far in one direction or another, and then do something about it.

By clearing some of the extra tasks, you may find that you have more room in your life for fun activities.

Your SMU Magellan Employee Assistance member website has helpful tools. These include work-life balance tips, quizzes, exercises, and articles. They can help you to identify areas of life that you can reorganize to save time and energy. Log into www.MagellanHealth.com  to learn more.

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March 30 Wellpower Walk to Feature Garden Tour

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Lorea Seidel

Kevin Dillard, SMU’s Landscape Resource Manager, will give an informal tour of the SMU gardens on our walk, Friday, March 30. We are celebrating “Start Walking Day” at SMU in partnership with the American Heart Association. SMU boasts some of the most beautiful landscaping in the metroplex, so take this opportunity to get some exercise and learn what plants and flowers might work for you at home, in your backyard, or on your patio.

We will meet at noon on the steps of Dallas Hall. In case of rain, walkers may meet on the track at Dedman Center and we’ll schedule another walk featuring the garden tour.

This Wellpower Walk rounds out the first week of our “One Step at a Time” walking challenge, giving team and individual participants an opportunity to get in some additional steps and come together in support of walking and wellness at SMU. The deadline for registering your team for the walking challenge is Friday, March 16, 2012. The four-week walking challenge will begin on Monday, March 26, 2012.

Wellpower will also feature a final walk at noon on April 20. Participants will walk to the groundbreaking for the new Residential Commons to be held at Doak Walker Plaza. Walkers are encouraged to come a few minutes early as we will depart Dallas Hall at noon and take a “scenic route” to the groundbreaking.

Sign up for our Wellpower Walks

Questions? Email: wellpower@smu.edu

 

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Welcome to Our New Employees Who Attended SMU & YOU on Feb 21

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Mary Stall

The following employees attended SMU & YOU on February 21, 2012.  In the session, which is an element of the Total Orientation Process for new employees, they learned about the culture, values and spirit of the SMU community. 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Top Row: Erica Anderson, Sheri MacNeil, Amy Dahmann, Nancy Simmons, Dustin Cornwell
Bottom Row: Francine Simpson, Supathi Pandurangan, Lynda Casey, Susanne Mayon

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Work Life Balance Is Within Reach

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Rebecca Sampson

Balance is harder than ever to achieve these days. In trying to stay on top of everything in both your work and personal life, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The stress of doing it all can affect your health and lead to unhealthy habits. People seem to struggle with more stress now, as technology has intruded on family time and communication.

Remember that getting balance in your life is not out of your reach. It may help to stop and look closely at everything in your daily life. Identify the activities that are causing you the most stress. Also identify the things that might be missing in your life. Then, step by step, you can begin to rearrange your life in small ways to restore some balance.

Learn how to make small changes that can help you manage your health, your work and your family life better. Ask for help. Seek advice from a mental health provider or your SMU Magellan Employee Assistance Program (EAP). These professionals can help you find solutions to work-life challenges. Log into www.MagellanHealth.com to access helpful resources including balance tips, quizzes, exercises and articles.

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