Category: Healthcare

Long-Term Disability open enrollment begins August 1

July 1, 2016 SMART Transportation Division has partnered with MetLife to bring our Rail and Bus members the most comprehensive and cost-effective Voluntary Long-Term Disability plans. VLTD insurance helps you protect your income if you suddenly have to stop working due to an accident or i [...]

Tags MetLife, open enrollment, VLTD, Voluntary Long-Term Disability Insurance

Member Health and Welfare contributions to increase

June 29, 2016 Effective July 1, 2016, rail employees covered under The NRC/UTU Health and Welfare Plan and The Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan will see their monthly Health and Welfare contribution increased from the current $198.00 per month, to $228.89 per month. Why [...]

Tags healthcare, national rail agreement, NRC/UTU H&W plan

Risch, Harrison testify at Sleep Apnea hearing

May 12, 2016 National Legislative Director John Risch and Local 759 (Newark, N.J.) Secretary and Treasurer Craig Harrison testified at a public hearing today before the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) about Obstructive Slee [...]

Tags Craig Harrison, FMCSA, FRA, John Risch, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Sleep Apnea

FRA, FMCSA to host listening sessions on Obstructive Sleep Apnea

May 3, 2016 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will host three public listening sessions to solicit information on the prevalence of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among individuals occupying safety sens [...]

Tags FMCSA, FRA, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, OSA, Sleep Apnea

Effective April 1: New administrator for STD & new provider for LTD

March 31, 2016 Benefits, Premiums stay the same! On Friday, April 1, 2016, a new insurance administrator for Short Term Disability (STD) and a new insurance provider for Long Term Disability (LTD) will be in place for all Bus and Rail members. Effective on and after April 1, 2016 STD for B [...]

Obama delays tax on high-cost group health plans

December 22, 2015 The Portland Business Journal reported that President Obama has signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 into law. This officially delays the 40 percent excise tax on group health plans. Unions and other organizations that provide strong benefit packages for members w [...]

Tags Consolidated Appropriations Act, healthcare reform

Medicare Part B premium costs for 2016

December 2, 2015 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the 2016 Part B premium and deductible costs for 2016. Railroad Medicare processes claims for Part B services. The 2016 monthly premiums will remain unchanged for approximately 70 percent of Medicare benefic [...]

Tags CMS, Medicare, Medicare Part B, Palmetto GBA

Medicare Part B premiums for 2016

November 19, 2015 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced that the standard monthly Part B premium will be $121.80 in 2016. However, most Medicare beneficiaries will not see an increase in their monthly Part B premiums because of a “hold harmless” provision in the law. U [...]

Tags Medicare, Medicare Part B, Railroad Retirement Board, RRB, SSA

FMCSA, FRA begin work on sleep apnea rulemaking

October 21, 2015 WASHINGTON – If left untreated, sleep apnea poses serious risks to anyone who sits behind the wheel of a commercial motor vehicle or climbs into the cab of a locomotive. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) rece [...]

Tags FMCSA, FRA, Sleep Apnea, U.S. DOT

Palmetto GBA: when a doctor’s notes are not readable

October 15, 2015 We all know the joke: if you have poor penmanship, you should become a doctor. Unfortunately, poor penmanship on patient notes and records can lead to claim denials, because if Medicare can’t read what the doctor wrote, we can’t know if the services were reasonable and neces [...]

Tags Medicare, Medicare Summary Notice, Palmetto GBA