Programs to Keep You Healthy Many health problems can be prevented by making positive changes to your lifestyle, including exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and not smoking. As a member, you can take advantage of our wellness programs at no additional cost. We offer wellness programs to our members from time to time. These programs include, but are not limited to: • online and in-person educational programs; • health assessments; • coaching; • biometric screenings, such as cholesterol or body mass index; • discounts We may provide incentives for you to participate in these programs. These incentives may include credits toward premium, and a reduction or waiver of deductible and/or copayments for certain covered healthcare services, as permitted by applicable state and federal law. For the subscriber of the plan, wellness incentives may also include rewards, which may take the form of cash or cash equivalents such as gift cards, discounts, and others. These rewards may be taxable income. Additional information is available on our website. Your participation in a wellness program may make your employer eligible for a group wellness incentive award. Your participation in our wellness programs is voluntary. We reserve the right to end wellness programs at any time. From time to time, we may offer you coupons, discounts, or other incentives as part of our member incentives program. These coupons, discounts and incentives are not benefits and do not change or affect your benefits under this plan. You must be a member to be eligible for member incentives. Restrictions may apply to these incentives, and we reserve the right to change or stop providing member incentives at any time. Care coordination gives you access to dedicated BCBSRI healthcare professionals, including nurses, dietitians, behavioral health providers, and community resources specialists. These care coordinators can help you set and meet your health goals. You can receive support for many health issues, including, but not limited to: • making the most of your physician’s visits; • navigating through the healthcare system; • managing medications or addressing side effects; • better understanding new or pre-existing medical conditions; • completing preventive screenings; • losing weight. Care Coordination is a personalized service that is part of your existing healthcare coverage and is available at no additional cost to you. For more information, please call (000) 000-XXXX (2273) or visit our website. If you have a chronic condition such as asthma, coronary heart disease, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, we’re here to help. Our tools and information can help you manage your condition and improve your health. You may also be eligible to receive help through our care coordination program. This voluntary program is available at no additional cost you. To learn more about disease management, please call (000) 000-0000 or 0-000-000-0000. Our entire contract with you consists of this agreement and our contract with your employer. Your ID card will identify you as a member when you receive the healthcare services covered under this agreement. By presenting your ID card to receive covered healthcare services, you are agreeing to abide by the rules and obligations of this agreement. Your eligibility for benefits is determined under the provisions of this agreement. Your right to appeal and take action is described in Appeals in Section 5. This agreement describes the benefits, exclusions, conditions and limitations provided under your plan. It shall be construed under and shall be governed by the applicable laws and regulations of the State of Rhode Island and federal law as amended from time to time. It replaces any agreement previously issued to you. If this agreement changes, an amendment or new agreement will be provided.
Catastrophic Leave Program Leave credits, as defined below, may be transferred from one (1) or more employees to another employee, on an hour-for-hour basis, in accordance with departmental policies upon the request of both the receiving employee and the transferring employee and upon approval of the employee's appointing authority, under the following conditions: A. The receiving employee is required to be absent from work due to injury or the prolonged illness of the employee, employee's spouse, registered domestic partner, a domestic partner listed on an “Affidavit for Enrollment of Domestic Partners,” submitted to employee benefits, parent or child, has exhausted all earned leave credits, including but not limited to sick leave, compensatory time, holiday credits and disability leave and is therefore facing financial hardship. B. The transfers must be for a minimum of four (4) hours and in whole hour increments thereafter. C. Transfers shall be allowed to cross-departmental lines in accordance with the policies of the receiving department. D. The total maximum leave credits received by an employee shall normally not exceed five hundred twenty (520) hours; however, if approved by his/her appointing authority, the total leave credits may be up to one thousand forty (1,040) hours. Total leave credits in excess of one thousand forty (1,040) hours will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the appointing authority subject to the approval of the Chief Administrative Officer. E. The transfers are irrevocable, and will be indistinguishable from other leave credits belonging to the receiving employee. Transfers will be subject to all taxes required by law. F. Leave credits that may be transferred under this program are defined as the transferring employee’s vacation credits or up to twenty-four (24) hours of sick leave per fiscal year. G. Transfers shall be administered according to the rules and regulations of the Auditor and Controller, and made on a form prescribed by the Auditor and Controller. Approvals of the receiving and donating employee, the donating employee's appointing authority and the receiving employee's appointing authority (in the case of an interdepartmental transfer) will be provided for on such form. H. This program is not subject to the Grievance Procedure of this Agreement.