Healthcare Strategies for Small Business - September 23, 2004

Rick Rebel, a licensed health insurance consultant and a 25 year veteran in the business, will discuss many problems in the current system at the next Columbia Gorge Employer Council seminar on October 27, 2004. In addition to the trends and cost drivers, he'll share information that business owners and HR managers should be talking about with their staff, along with some possible solutions to the major issues we'll face in the future.

Rick is a Licensed Insurance Consultant and co-owner of Albany Agency of Insurance in Albany, Oregon. He acts as the agent of record for employee benefits for many small business' and some of the Albany area's larger employers, including the largest local employer. He works closely with union members in collectively bargained plans (OPEU, AFL-CIO, AFSCME to name a few) to make sure they obtain the best plan for the benefit dollar.

Rick has been active in health care reform in Oregon since 1987. He's testified before the Oregon State Senate Bio-Ethics committee on health care, participated in a working group that developed Oregon's most recent health insurance reform via passage of SB 152 and more recently testified before both senate and house state subcommittees on health reform in 2001.

Rick is co-chair of the task force developing the NAHU Refundable Health Insurance Tax Credit and addressed Senate and House staffers in Washington D.C. on that topic in April 1999. Rick has addressed many business and insurance groups, across the United States, on the subject of refundable tax credits.

Rick has been a featured speaker at many health insurance related events at the state and national level. He's also spoken to a variety of service clubs (Rotary and Chamber of Commerce meetings) and professional organizations, including The Society of Human Resource Managers, and The American Payroll Association.

The October seminar will be held at the Discovery Center's theater. The registration deadline is October 20, 2004. Cost of the seminar is $40.00 per person or if two or more persons attend from a business, the fee is $30.00 per person. The fee includes the seminar, materials and a continental breakfast. The seminar is slated from 8 am to noon.

Besides Rick Rebel, Leslie Weaver, The Partners Group, LTD in Bend, will follow with what employers can do to save money on healthcare benefits. Both Rebel and Weaver come highly recommended from the Central Oregon Employer Council. Both speakers gave presentations in Bend several months ago.

A representative from the state's Family Health Insurance Assistance Program (FHIAP) will also take part in the half-day seminar.

Wrapping up the morning seminar, local healthcare experts Suzanne Cross MPH, Mid-Columbia Occupational Health Services, and Connie Thomasian, Mid-Columbia Wellness Coordinator will share wellness tips with employers to assist them and their employees maintaining good health.

Employers interested in learning more about the local Oregon Employer Council or the upcoming seminar are encouraged to contact Laura Sauter at the Oregon Employment Department at (541) 296-5435 ext 225 or via email at Laura.L.Sauter@state.or.us Registration deadline is October 20, 2004.

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