Human Resources Updates
April 2, 2020
From the Office of Group Benefits
COVID-19 Changes
In light of COVID-19 and the recently enacted CARES ACT and LDI Emergency Rule 40, the Office of Group Benefits (OGB) will make the following changes to its benefit offerings, plans, and procedures:
1. Extend the healthcare FSA run-out period to June 30, 2020 (for Plan Year 2019);
2. Allow members to increase or decrease their dependent care contributions. Decreases cannot exceed the amount the member has already contributed to his or her dependent care FSA;
3. Include over-the-counter (OTC) medications as eligible expenses* under the healthcare FSA or HSA plans without a doctor’s prescription**. All expenses incurred after December 31, 2019 qualify, and the provision has no expiration date;
4. Menstrual care products are now considered a qualified medical expense and are eligible for payment or reimbursement through an FSA or HSA. All expenses incurred after December 31, 2019 qualify, and the provision has no expiration date;
5. HSA-qualified health plans can now cover telehealth and other remote care service expenses prior to a plan participant meeting the HDHP deductible limit, or at no or low-cost sharing, without affecting an account holder’s ability to continue contributing to their HSA. This provision will last until December 31, 2021; and
6. Halt policy cancellations (and collections) for non-payment of health or life premiums (Louisiana Department of Insurance Emergency Rule 40).
For more on the CARES Act, click here.
For more on LDI Emergency Rule 40, click here.
If you have questions, please reach out to OGB customer service at 1-800-272-8451 or OGB.customerservice@la.gov.
*At this time, the Pelican HRA 1000 plan document does not allow for coverage of OTC medications, menstrual care products, or for reimbursement of any Internal Revenue Code Section 105(b) medical expenses. This means the OTC and menstrual product coverage provisions of the CARES Act are inapplicable to Pelican HRA 1000 enrollees.
**These changes apply to pre-existing accounts.
March 26, 2020
Southern University System Coronavirus Notification Protocol and Forms
BACKGROUND
The Southern University System is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 cases are being reported in Louisiana in record numbers. COVID-19 cases without direct links to travel have been reported in the United States and sustained transmission is occurring in some U.S. communities.
Definitions Used in these Protocols
Symptoms compatible with COVID-19, for the purpose of these recommendations, include subjective or measured fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.
Self-monitoring means people should monitor themselves for fever by taking their temperatures twice a day, and remain alert for cough or difficulty breathing. If they feel feverish or develop measured fever, cough, or difficulty breathing during the self-monitoring period, they should self-isolate, limit contact with others, and seek advice by telephone from a healthcare provider or their local health department to determine whether medical evaluation is needed.
Close contact is defined as:
A.) being within approximately 6 feet (2 meters) of a COVID-19 case for a prolonged period of time; close contact can occur while caring for, living with, visiting, or sharing a healthcare waiting area or room with a COVID-19 case
– or –
B.) having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (e.g., being coughed on)
Isolation means the separation of a person or group of people known or reasonably believed to be infected with a communicable disease and potentially infectious from those who are not
infected to prevent spread of the communicable disease. Isolation for public health purposes may be voluntary or compelled by federal, state, or local public health order.
Quarantine in general means the separation of a person or group of people reasonably believed to have been exposed to a communicable disease but not yet symptomatic, from others who have not been so exposed, to prevent the possible spread of the communicable disease.
Social distancing means remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible.
EXPOSURE RISK CATEGORIES
These categories are interim and subject to change.
The CDC has established the following exposure risk categories to help guide public health management of people following potential COVID-19 exposure in jurisdictions that are not experiencing sustained community transmission. These categories may not cover all potential exposure scenarios. They should not replace an individual assessment of risk for the purpose of clinical decision making or individualized public health management.
All exposures apply to 14 days prior to assessment.
Risk Categories for Exposures associated with contact of a person who got a COVID- 19 test, family member was tested or tested positive for COVID-19 and an employee who tested positive
Risk Level Exposures Identified through Contact
Investigation
High
Living in the same household as, being an intimate partner of, or providing care in a non-healthcare setting (such as a home) for a person with symptomatic laboratory- confirmed COVID-19 infection without using recommended precautions for home care and home isolation
Medium (assumes no exposures in the high- risk category)
- Close contact with a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed
COVID-19 - On an aircraft, being seated within 6 feet (two meters) of a traveler with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection; this distance correlates approximately with 2 seats in each direction.
- Living in the same household as, an intimate partner of, or caring for a person in a non-healthcare setting (such as a home or office) to a person with symptomatic laboratory- confirmed COVID-19 infection while consistently using recommended precautions for home care and home isolation
Low (assumes no exposures in the high-risk capacity category)
- Being in the same indoor environment (e.g., a classroom, workplace or a hospital waiting room) as a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time but not meeting the definition of close contact.
- Being in the same indoor environment as a
person being tested for COVID-19.
No identifiable risk Interactions with a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection that do not meet any of the high-, medium- or low-risk conditions above, such as walking by the person or being briefly in the same
room.
Summary of CDC Recommendations for Management of Exposed Persons by Risk Level and Presence of Symptoms
Risk Level Management if
Asymptomatic Management if Symptomatic
High risk
- Quarantine (voluntary or under public health orders) in a location to be determined by public health authorities.
- No public activities.
- Daily active monitoring, if possible based on local priorities • Immediate isolation with consideration of public health orders
- Public health assessment to determine the need for medical evaluation; if medical evaluation warranted, diagnostic testing should be guided by CDC’s PUI definition
- If medical evaluation is needed, it should occur with pre-notification to the receiving HCF and EMS, if EMS transport indicated, and with all recommended infection control precautions in place.
- Controlled travel: Air travel only via air medical transport. Local travel is only allowed by medical transport (e.g., ambulance) or private vehicle while symptomatic person is wearing a face mask.
Medium risk
Close contacts in this category:
- Self-isolation
- Public health assessment to determine the need for medical evaluation; if
medical evaluation - Recommendation to
remain at home or in a comparable setting - Practice social distancing
- Active monitoring as determined by local priorities
- Recommendation to postpone long- distance travel on commercial conveyances warranted, diagnostic testing should be guided by CDC’s PUI definition
- If medical evaluation is needed, it should ideally occur with pre- notification to the receiving HCF and EMS, if EMS transport indicated, and with all recommended infection control precautions in place.
- Controlled travel: Air travel only via air medical transport. Local travel is only allowed by medical transport (e.g., ambulance) or private vehicle while symptomatic person is wearing a face mask.
Low risk
- No restriction on movement
- Self-observation
- Self-isolation
- social distancing
- Person should seek health advice to determine if medical evaluation is needed.
- If sought, medical evaluation and care should be guided by clinical presentation; diagnostic testing for COVID-19 should be guided by CDC’s PUI definition.
- Travel on commercial conveyances should be postponed until no longer symptomatic.
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM REPORTING PROTOCOLS
Based upon the above-mentioned risk and procedures for asymptomatic employees and symptomatic synoptic employees
When the manager receives notice that an employee has been affected by the COVID-19, please contact Tracie J Woods, Esq. for SUNO, SUBR, SULC and SU Ag (tracie_woods@sus.edu or 225-802-0838). Contact Wayne Bryant for SUSLA (wbryant@susla.edu).
IF AN EMPLOYEE REPORTS A FAMILY MEMBER WAS TESTED FOR COVID-19:
1. The supervisor notifies the System HR department and complete the notification form attached.
2. After the System HR department receives the notification form and documentation, the System HR department will notify all employees that may have been in contact with the affected employee.
3. The notification will be either email or in-person.
4. The System HR department will notify SUNO and the SUBR landmass and Wayne Bryant will notify SUSLA.
5. The affected employees will be advised they are in the low risk category and should self-monitor themselves. If the affected employee has underlying health, they will be encouraged to contact their doctor. These employees are at low risk.
IF AN EMPLOYEE REPORTS A FAMILY MEMBER TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19:
1. The supervisor notifies the System HR department and complete the notification form attached.
2. After the System HR department receives the notification form and documentation, the System HR department will notify all employees that may have been in contact with the affected employee.
3. The notification will be either email or in-person.
4. The System HR department will notify SUNO and the SUBR landmass and Wayne Bryant will notify SUSLA.
5. The affected employees will be advised to self-isolate themselves and monitor their symptoms regularly. If an employee develops symptoms, the employee should leave work immediately and notify their doctor. These employees are at medium risk.
IF AN EMPLOYEE REPORTS THEY ARE POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
1. The supervisor notifies the System HR department and complete the notification form attached.
2. After the System HR department receives the notification form and documentation, the System HR department will notify all employees that may have been in contact with the affected employee.
3. The notification will be either email or in-person.
4. The System HR department will notify SUNO and the SUBR landmass and Wayne Bryant will notify SUSLA.
5. The effected employees will be advised to quarantine for 14 days and monitor their symptoms regularly. If an employee develops symptoms, they should leave work and notify their doctor. These employees are classified as medium risk.
NOTE: ANY EMPLOYEE THAT TESTS POSITIVE OR DEVELOPS THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO WORK UNTIL THE SYSTEM RECEIVES NOTIFICATION FROM A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL THAT THE EMPLOYEE IS CLEARED TO RETURN TO WORK.
The System HR department will track all cases and work with campuses to follow the above- mentioned protocols. As such, please send all documentation to by email, fax or text.
Notification Forms:
SUS COVID-19 Daily Reporting for SUBR
SUS COVID-19 Daily Reporting for NON-SUBR
SUS COVID-19 Incident Report Form for SUBR
SUS COVID-19 Incident Report Form for NON-SUBR
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Tracie Woods, Associate Vice-President of Human Resources at tracie_woods@sus.edu or 225-802-0838.
March 24, 2020
Southern University Remains Open for Business
In accordance with the Governor's Proclamation Number 33 JBE 2020: Additional Measures for COVID-19 - STAY AT HOME issued on March 22, 2020, all state buildings are closed to the public, effective immediately. The Governor's proclamation has not officially closed state offices or the customary functions performed by state employees; therefore, the provisions related to official office closures as outlined in Chapter 11 and Chapter 21 of State Civil Service Rules do not apply at this time.
From the Office of Group Benefits
$0 Online Doctor Visits with BlueCare
STARTING TODAY: $0 Online Doctor Visits with BlueCare
Fever? Stomach bug? Rash? Skip the waiting room and get treated anywhere, anytime – now at no cost – with BlueCare!
BlueCare is Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana’s telehealth service for 24/7 online visits with U.S.-trained, board-certified physicians.
Effective today, March 16, Blue Cross will pay all claims associated with BlueCare online visits. This means all Blue Cross customers and any dependents covered on their plans can use BlueCare at no cost.
During this time, as everyone is focused on their health needs, Blue Cross wants to make it as easy as possible for our customers to get the care they need. BlueCare is an effective option to treat routine, non-emergency health needs like colds, bladder infections, allergies, rashes, pink eye and vomiting/diarrhea without having to go somewhere for care. Letting customers get care for these types of conditions remotely will minimize foot traffic in doctor’s offices, clinics and hospitals. BlueCare is also a good option for people who feel too ill to leave home or want to consult with a healthcare provider without going somewhere in person. Members can also use a $0 BlueCare visit to get prescriptions or refills for most drugs.
With no charge, BlueCare is a better option for care than ER or urgent care visits. BlueCare is available in all 50 states and works on any device with internet and a camera, like a smartphone, laptop, tablet or computer.
To create a BlueCare account, Blue Cross customers can go to www.BlueCareLA.comor get the “BlueCare” (one word) app for Android and Apple devices. Once they’ve created an account, they can simply log in when they need to have an online doctor’s visit. If customers already have a BlueCare account, they can use the same log in and password they already set up during registration.
For more information about what Blue Cross is doing for COVID-19, visit www.bcbsla.com/covid19.