Why schools need a strategic response to Health Care Reform
Associated experts co-present with Milliman Inc. at WASB Conference
Green Bay, Wis. - January 17, 2012 - Associated Financial Group's Mardi Burns and David Flotten will co-present with Milliman Inc. at the 2012 Wisconsin Association of School Boards Conference.
Schools may need to employ strategic plans to deal with the impact of Health Care Reform (HCR) on benefit plans and how that may impact their organizations, biometric health plans and incentive-based wellness programs. Mardi Burns, SVP, Sr. Benefit Consultant, Associated Financial Group and David Flotten, JD, SPHR, Human Resources Consultant, Benefits Technical Advisor, Associated Financial Group will add to the discussion with how employers are using the information on their specific HCR financial impact to design a strategic plan for the next several years and how other public employers and many private employers are re-designing their wellness plans so that the school district can be the "employer of choice for the healthiest population of employees."
Burns has been with Associated for 25 years and specializes in large, primarily self-funded private employers who are multi-sited, and mid-to-large-sized schools in Wis. Additionally, Burns provides strategic guidance and implementation for employers to assist in the design and ongoing management of their benefit plans. She recently assisted Appleton, Wisconsin. schools in saving $3.1 million in health insurance savings through an RFP process; assisted Oshkosh, Wis. schools save in excess of $1 million in total benefit costs through an RFP process and changing carriers; and assisted Sheboygan area schools and Manitowoc schools in saving several millions over the past three years through changes in their PPO networks.
Flotten has been with Associated Financial Group for 13 years and specializes in working with employers on a wide range of human resource compliance and strategic issues, including wage and hour rules, leaves of absence, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA and other benefits compliance. Flotten has been advising employers on human resources and benefits for over 15 years, and prior to that, spent two years working in the Minnesota court system. He regularly presents seminars on leadership skills, coaching, and employee benefits including presentations at the College of Continuing Education at the University of Minnesota.
"As we transition from a focus on the immediate changes needed to comply with Federal Health Care Reform (HCR) and the 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 Legislation to the long term impact of HCR, it is imperative that school boards and school district administrators begin to build a strategic plan to minimize the financial risks of Federal HCR and maximize the opportunities it presents," said Burns. "This presentation will outline those risks and opportunities, and we'll discuss the practical application of taking the next steps."
About Associated Banc-Corp
Associated Banc-Corp (NASDAQ: ASBC) has total assets of $22 billion and is one of the top 50 financial services holding companies operating in the United States. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., Associated has approximately 270 banking locations serving more than 150 communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. The company offers a full range of banking services and other financial products and services. Associated Bank, N.A. is an Equal Housing Lender, Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. More information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at www.associatedbank.com.
Contact: Autumn M. Latimore
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414-278-1860 PHONE
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autumn.latimore@associatedbank.com
