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4J Benefits and Wellness Newsletter

Prepared by Mike Caley 687-3244 February 5, 2007 Issue No. 217

In this issue:

 

IMPORTANT HEALTH CARE INFORMATION FOR WOMEN (back to top)
It is required that the following information be communicated to all health plan participants:

The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA) includes important protections for breast cancer patients who choose to have breast reconstruction in connection with a mastectomy.

The coverage outlined below is included in your standard benefit plan:

  • Reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy was performed
  • Surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance
  • Prosthesis and treatment of physical complications of all stages of mastectomy, including lymphademas

The attending physician and the patient will determine together the manner of treatment.

All coverage is subject to any deductibles, co-payments, and/or coinsurance according to the provisions of your health insurance benefits and federal requirements. Please see your benefits booklet for additional information.

 

YOUR SICK LEAVE BANK —HELP IT HELP ALL OF US (back to top)
All members have received an email reminder from Paul Duchin and Merri Steele, EEA Co-Presidents about the EEA/4J Sick Leave Bank bi-annual open enrollment period from January 29 – April 6.

Each school year, your Sick Leave Bank receives requests for and grants many hundreds of hours of sick leave to our colleagues who have had the misfortune to experience long-term illnesses or injuries that have exhausted their accumulated sick leave balances. Through the generosity of EEA members, they have not had to also endure loss of salary. Now, the Sick Leave Bank needs all current members and non-members to donate hours to replenish the account balance and insure that all future qualifying requests can be granted. To receive permanent membership in the Sick Leave Bank, one must donate one day of sick leave (prorated according to FTE for part-time members). Up to two days per year can be donated by individual members when the Sick Leave Bank account balance is below its 8000 hour maximum – it is currently below that figure. Also, retiring members can donate up to 16 hours at the time of, but prior to their retirement. And remember, if retiring on PERS Money Match calculation, there is no credit given for accumulated sick leave. Contact EEA or me for a Transmittal form.

Thanks for your past generosity and thanks in advance for the support I know you will provide your Sick Leave Bank!

 

SECTION 125 FSA REIMBURSEMENTS - 2006 (back to top)
A quick reminder – The deadline for requesting reimbursements from your Flexible Spending Account for expenses incurred during the 2006 plan year is March 31, 2007. Expense receipts must be itemized so that Manley Services can determine whether or not an expense is eligible for reimbursement.

 

NEW BENEFITS COORDINATOR: JULIE WENZL (back to top)
On January 31, candidates for Licensed-Staff Benefits Coordinator were interviewed. I am pleased to announce that Julie Wenzl, currently a French teacher at Monroe Middle School, will assume the position beginning next fall. Julie has taught for many years in 4J and has held a variety of teacher advocacy and leadership positions in EEA, OEA, and NEA. She also has been a member of the Joint Benefits Committee for a number of years and has gained invaluable experience in the area of employee benefits. Join me in congratulating Julie. She will be a great asset and resource to all of us!

 

AIRBORNE – DOES IT WORK? (back to top)
Over the years, I have offered cautions about a variety of popular supplements, and herbal preparations. The claims of their manufacturers and fans have frequently been unsupported by any careful research. And, they are unregulated by the FDA. My purpose has not been to “shoot down” any particular product but rather to encourage readers to make informed decisions about the types of supplements or remedies they ingest. In some cases, studies have discovered serious side effects and interactions with prescription medications or physician-prescribed treatments.

In this article, I offer (actually pass on) a caution about cold remedies. In the most recent issue of Nutrition Action Newsletter, January/February 2007, the editors have published an article entitled, Un-Catching Colds, Do Popular Remedies Work? The article discusses the claims and research-based conclusions about such popularly embraced remedies as orange juice, vitamin C, Multibionta, Cold-fx, and Airborne. No evidence exists for any of these popular remedies that they prevent colds. There is some, but generally inconclusive, evidence that at least some of them may help reduce some of the common cold symptoms and reduce duration of the cold.

While it is not my usual strategy to question a particular brand-name product, Airborne, due to how ubiquitous it has become at every drug store or supermarket check stand, merits some special attention. What do we know about this product? According to the editors:

  • It contains a mixture of 17 vitamins, minerals, and herbs, including megadoses of vitamins A and C
  • It costs 75 cents per tablet
  • It claims that it “Boosts your immune system to help your body combat germs.” “Take at the first sign of a cold symptom or before entering crowed, potentially germ-infested environments.”
  • There is, “…no credible evidence that Airborne works.”
  • A study that Airborne funded purports to show, “…that Airborne relieved cold symptoms faster than a placebo.” “But Airborne won’t make the study public.” And in a report done by ABC News, it was stated that, “There was no clinic, no scientists, and no doctor.”
  • Any possible impact on colds might be due to its high dose of vitamin C, “But, you can easily buy 15 vitamin C pills for the price of one Airborne tablet."
  • A special caution – Taken according to the dosage recommendations on the package you would be consuming an amount of the retinol form of vitamin A above what has been shown to increase the risk of liver damage, birth defects, and hip fractures.

In short, should you decide to take Airborne, do so as the result of an informed decision, not because of it’s anecdotal evidence, testimonial hype, or advertising catch phrase, “Created By A School Teacher.”

 

Michael Caley
Licensed-Staff Benefits Coordinator
Eugene School District 4J
200 North Monroe
Eugene, OR 97402-4295
Phone: W: 541-687-3244 H: 541-485-1493
fax: 541-687-3687 e-mail: caley@4j.lane.edu

 
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, 2007 by Lutz  Eugene School District 4J Eugene School District 4J