Working Well: Bringing You Employee Benefits News + Mental Health Resources

Knowledge is power; let's share it! A note on what's to come

As you may know, I am deeply passionate about promoting employee wellness and mental and behavioral health. Over the past decade, I have collected hundreds of resources catering to our community's populations. I want to share these resources on a broader scale to help reduce the stigma associated with these issues and increase awareness of available resources. My objective is to assist those who need it most, including:

• Employees who are unaware of available resources?
• Individuals who could use a helping hand but are unsure where to turn
• Under-served populations in our neighborhoods
• Employers, HR professionals, and group administrators interested in promoting employee health and well-being in the workplace
• Members of our community, including parents looking to support their children and teens, young adults, caregivers, loved ones, survivors, people with disabilities, veterans, and individuals struggling with mental health
• Employees who would appreciate assistance navigating resources or who may feel hesitant to ask for help?

As employee benefits professionals, employers, group administrators, and community members, we must openly discuss resources supporting employee health and well-being.

Along with delving into specific mental & behavioral health and community resources, I strive to keep the employee benefits community and the businesses we serve informed about legislative updates, trends, and the latest news related to benefits and employee wellness. We are looking forward to an exciting chapter ahead!

Let's grow together,?

Kait

What's happening on the hill?

Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Action to Increase Naloxone Access in Federal Facilities Across the Nation

The Biden-Harris Administration recently urged all federal facilities nationwide to incorporate overdose reversal medications, like naloxone, in safety stations, aligning with President Biden's Unity Agenda to combat the overdose epidemic. The updated guidelines introduce "safety stations" within federal facilities, expanding on automated external defibrillator (AED) programs to ensure quick access during emergencies. The recommendation emphasizes integrating opioid reversal agents or hemorrhagic control components in these stations. Over the past three years, the administration has invested significantly in the State Opioid Response grant program, distributing nearly 9 million naloxone kits and reversing over 500,000 overdoses. This initiative aims to make overdose reversal medications as accessible as fire extinguishers in public spaces, reflecting the administration's commitment to a whole-of-society response. The announcement aligns with President Biden's Unity Agenda, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to address the public health crisis and reduce the stigma surrounding addiction.

Newsom Advocates for March Ballot Initiative Aimed at Transforming California's Mental Health System

To improve the mental health services in California, Governor Gavin Newsom is advocating for significant reform and increased funding. The governor is pushing for changes in how mental health care is financed, focusing on redirecting resources towards community-based mental health programs. This move aims to create a more comprehensive and effective mental health care system that caters to the diverse needs of Californians. This push for reform comes at a crucial time when mental health issues are on the rise in California, and many residents are struggling to access quality mental health care. With these reforms, the goal is that the state can better serve its residents and provide them with the support they need to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

These reforms re-focus billions of dollars in existing funds to prioritize Californians with the deepest mental health needs, living in encampments, or suffering the worst substance use issues. The $6.38 billion bond will provide funding to build more than 11,150 new behavioral health beds and housing and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots – capacity that will touch many tens of thousands of people’s lives every year – filling critical needs across the state for homeless Californians with severe behavioral health issues, to kids suffering from depression, and everyone in between. Recent polling from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found an overwhelming majority (87%) of Californians say there is a mental health crisis in the United States.

Congress returns on January 9 with a ticking clock

Congress is set to return in full on January 9, with only ten days left to avoid a partial government shutdown. A?continuing resolution?was passed in late November, which funds many government programs through January 19, but the remaining programs will expire on February 3, including Health and Human Services (HHS) programs. Lawmakers must still establish top-line discretionary spending caps for government funding bills that expire soon.

Trends for the mental health landscape in 2024

Calm?facilitated a fantastic panel discussion at the end of the year on Workplace Mental Health, the future of work, and their 2023 Health Trends Report. Here were the top takeaways:

1. Family mental health is now a top workplace priority?- 1/3 of parents said their kids are constantly feeling anxious and stressed. They also found that family mental health care responsibilities tend to fall more on women.
2. Younger generations want more mental health support, and every generation needs sleep?- Gen Zero and Millennials report the most stress and anxiousness among all generations and would like more help reducing anxiousness. It's also clear that we need to have a deeper conversation about sleep health & hygiene!
3. Mental Health is not equal: neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, Hispanic, and low-income employees feel unsupported?- Spend some time connecting with these populations of employees. They would appreciate additional resources and support.?(Neurodivergent employees might have ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or dyslexia, for example!)
4. In the new world of work, hybrid employees are taking the most care of their mental health?- Loneliness and lack of movement are challenges in the new world of work. Calm found that movement can significantly boost your mood, so encourage employees to take a break and exercise! They also found that hybrid workers are the least stressed, happiest population of employees. They also do the most independently to improve mental health and support a healthy mind.
5. While some industries are doing better than others, all industries have more work to do?- Calm provided an insightful overview of sectors including Hospitality, manufacturing, education, healthcare, retail, government, technology, and finance. Of the industries reviewed, Hospitality reflected high mental health needs, with 90% of employees feeling that they're on their own when it comes to their mental health. In addition, only 23% of manufacturing employees said their workplace has company-wide conversations about mental health.

If you still need to check out?Calm's 2023 Health Trends report, I recommend looking—the report shares general insight and meaningful feedback specifically for HR / Benefits Leaders.

Other Industry News

Price hikes from drug makers, including Pfizer, Sanofi, and Takeda loom on the horizon

In January, drug manufacturers such as Pfizer, Sanofi, and Takeda will increase prices on over 500 drugs, with Pfizer leading the way by hiking prices on 124 drugs. These adjustments affect various formulations and doses and are solely based on list prices without accounting for rebates or discounts. Despite the Biden administration's ongoing efforts to control drug costs, the industry faces challenges such as inflation and higher manufacturing expenses. Moreover, the increases coincide with concerns regarding potential disruptions to supply chains due to the Middle East conflict. However, three companies are expected to lower prices on at least 15 drugs in January. GlaxoSmithKline has announced plans to?lower prices?on certain drugs in 2024, following the trend set by several companies to?reduce insulin prices?in compliance with the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act and avoid penalties linked to Medicaid rebates. Overall, drugmakers raised prices on 1,425 drugs in 2023, a slight decline from 2022.

Marriage and Family Therapists & Mental Health Counselors Now Eligible to Enroll as Medicare Providers

Starting from January 1, 2024, Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) and Mental Health Counselors (MHCs) will be recognized as eligible providers for Medicare. This means that these professionals will be able to independently bill Medicare for their services, which include diagnosis and treatment of mental health and substance use disorder challenges. For further details, read more from?the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The Oura Ring is now FSA + HSA eligible

The Oura Ring is now covered under Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA), allowing users to use their FSA/HSA card for eligible purchases. Healthcare providers recognize the importance of sleep in preventive healthcare, and the Oura Ring enables tracking of various metrics such as heart rate and respiratory rate. The coverage of the Oura Ring under FSA/HSA is presented as an opportunity to invest in long-term health and wellness through better sleep management and data-driven insights. Users can purchase the Oura Ring online using their FSA/HSA card and submit recent purchases for reimbursement from their FSA/HSA.

Pro Tip:?Order the sizing kit when purchasing! Your Oura ring size may differ from your typical ring size due to the sensors in the band.

Want to read more?

To read the full stories that provide a deeper understanding of the topics we have covered today and give you additional insights on what to watch in the coming months, please check out the links below.