4J Classified Benefits Update
2005-06 
Issue No. 5
Patrick Munyon, Classified Benefits Coordinator
phone: 687-3248 email: munyon@4j.lane.edu
In this issue:
New Wellness
Classes for the New Year (back
to top)
The 4J Joint Benefit Committees are offering several wellness-related
classes that will begin in early February.
These classes are open to all benefits-eligible employees and their
dependents. The only cost is $20 for class materials, which will be
refunded upon completion of the class series.
To register for any of these classes, call Mary Joy Sahara, RN, at 744-8484.
Some of you may remember Mary Joy from our highly successful COPES program, which assists people with chronic health issues.
Flyers for all classes have been sent out via e-mail. You can also review class information online at www.4j.lane.edu/hr/rm/wellness/index.html If you’d like a paper copy of a class flyer, give me a call at x3248.
A summary of the classes:
Coping with Life
This four-class series will provide skills and tools for coping with
the stress of everyday life. The class content includes:
• How do we react to life, and what is the impact on our health?
• Applications of brief effective relaxation techniques, and why
they’re necessary
• Stress prevention for the busy and rushed
• Positive self-talk and its effect on behavioral change
The Coping with Life series will be held at the Education
Center Auditorium, 200 N. Monroe, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. All classes
are on Wednesdays: February 8, March 8, April 12,
and May 10.
Coping with Eating
This five-class series offers some common-sense, intuitive connections
to our eating habits. Some of the class content:
• How your body regulates itself
• Your eating environment, and how it can help or hinder you
• Eating for emotional reasons – what sets you off
• Healthy eating for life
• What makes a good meal – what works for you
The Coping with Eating series will be held at the North Eugene High School library, every other Wednesday, 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., on the following dates: February 15, March 1, March 15, April 5, and April 19.
Smoking Cessation
This course is designed to provide long-term support, to help you quit
smoking. Even if you’ve started one of the programs from last
month’s newsletter, feel free to join this one for additional
support.
The class provides:
• Ongoing, long-term support
• Strategies for success
• Individual case management
• Techniques for coping with stress
The Smoking Cessation series will be held at Cascade Health Solutions,
which is located near Costco (2650 Suzanne Way off Chad Drive, just
north of Coburg Road and Beltline)
All Smoking Cessation classes will be held on Thursdays, from
4:30 to 6:00 p.m. The calendar: Feb. 9, Feb. 23, March 2, March 16,
March 17, March 20, March 23, April 6, May 4, June 1, July 6, Sept.
14, Dec. 14.
Again, to register for any of these classes, call Mary Joy Sahara, RN, at 744-8484.
Sick
Leave Bank Reminder (back
to top)
Here are several reminders about the Classified Sick Leave Bank:
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In order to receive sick leave from the bank, you must have completed an Open Enrollment form in October.
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The bank is designed for the employees only.
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If you are not a member of the bank, you can join during the next Open Enrollment period, which is October 2006.
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The one exception to this would be newly hired employees.
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The bank’s function is to support long-term illnesses only.
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Regrettably, every year there are cases where someone who didn’t join the bank experienced a health crisis, which has caused financial hardship. However, the Sick Leave Bank Committee is required to follow guidelines, based on our collective bargaining agreement.
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The bank is like an insurance policy. It requires a large number of healthy people paying premiums (sick leave) to help the few who need to collect. If people only joined the bank when they needed to collect, you can see how the bank would be empty rather quickly.
The Sick Leave Bank Committee members are: Linda Warner (x3276), Jill Simmons (x3495), Debbie Phillips (x3604) and Patrick Munyon (new member at x3248)
Q & A about the 4J Wellness Clinic (back to top)
Q: Who can use the 4J Wellness Clinic?
A: All benefits-eligible employees, and their “benefits-eligible” dependents can use the Clinic.
Q: Do I have to pay to use the Clinic?
A: There are no copays, no deductibles to be met for Clinic office visits, or routine lab work ordered through Oregon Medical Laboratories. You do need to provide any insurance coverage information, since some procedures are billed to insurance to recover costs.
Q: What if I need a prescription? I’d just have to see my doctor anyway.
A: Our Clinic’s Nurse Practitioners are fully qualified to prescribe medications as needed. In many cases, they can FAX your prescription directly to the pharmacy.
Q: What kinds of services are provided at the Clinic?
A: The Clinic provides a variety of services - too many to list here. But here are a few examples:
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Preventive Care: routine physicals, annual exams, blood pressure & cholesterol monitoring, smoking cessation, nutrition counseling
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Care for illness: sore throats, colds, respiratory illness, headaches, depression
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Care for injury: minor lacerations, evaluating sprains and strains, treatment of wounds and burns
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Other services: evaluating suspicious skin lesions, removal of small warts and moles, laboratory tests as necessary
Again, these are just a few examples of how the 4J Wellness Clinic can help you and your family with health care needs. When a health care issue arises, the Clinic is a good place to start.
Q: I waive insurance, because I have coverage through my spouse. Can we use the Clinic?
A: Yes, you and any “benefits-eligible” dependents can use the clinic. Again, you would need to provide insurance information to the Clinic, but you would not be liable for copays or deductibles for office visits, or routine lab work ordered through Oregon Medical Laboratories
Q: I’ve received a bill/phone call from Oregon Medical labs stating that I owe them money for routine lab work done at the Wellness Clinic. I thought it was free. What should I do?
A: You should contact Patrick Munyon, via e-mail (munyon@4j.lane.edu) or phone at 687-3248, as soon as you receive the notification. We have a complex billing arrangement with ODS, which sometimes needs fixing. Of course, these lab bills aren’t actually free, but you do not have to pay for any routine Oregon Medical Lab work ordered through the Wellness Clinic.
The 4J Wellness Clinic is located
at the Education Center, 200 N. Monroe
TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, CALL 686-1427
The information in this newsletter has been summarized. It is presented as information --not advice or counsel. In all instances, the benefits, conditions, and limitations as outlined in the 4J Master Contracts prevail over this representation. Please refer to your Benefits booklet or the master contracts available at the District offices for additional information regarding your benefit plans.
Please send comments or questions to the 4J Web
Team.
Last updated:
February 10, 2006
by Lutz 
Eugene School District 4J