Phia GroupPhia Group Mediahttps://www.phiagroup.com/Media/PostsMarty Walsh Goes to Bat for NHL Retireeshttps://www.phiagroup.com/Media/Posts/PostId/1237/marty-walsh-goes-to-bat-for-nhl-retireesBlog,Health Insurance,Healthcare CostsTue, 11 Apr 2023 13:52:28 GMT<p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">By: David Ostrowsky</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The National Hockey League’s collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”) is not set to expire until September of 2026, but it was still a hot topic during NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh’s introductory media conference last month in Toronto. In particular, there were several questions directed to the erstwhile Boston mayor and US Secretary of Labor about the union’s plans for managing the health benefits of retired players. Judging by his response, he didn’t appear to be blindsided. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“I had lunch the other day with Glenn Healey [former NHL goaltender and current </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="color:#202122">Executive Director/President of the NHL Alumni Association] and I’ve talked to Kelly Chase [NHL Alumni Association Chairman] and certainly that was pretty much—you must have been at the next table—because the topic of conversation was about the mental health of older hockey players and their physical health</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">,” said Walsh in response to a question from The Phia Group about his plans for potentially altering the physical and mental health benefits offered to former skaters. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“I’m looking forward to continuing that dialogue and moving that dialogue forward because that’s an important issue.” </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">It’s a timely one, too.  </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:21.0pt; margin-left:0in; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="color:black">It was merely a little over a half-decade ago, in 2017, that the <i>Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry</i> published the sobering results from a comprehensive neuropsychological study of former hockey players that made it abundantly clear that years of sustained head trauma equated to a heightened rate of psychiatric disorders. Consider that of the 33 retired NHL players examined over a four-year period, an alarming 59 percent showed signs of experiencing mental health disorders, including depression, uncontrollable anxiety, and substance use disorder issues. Although many former NHL players return home to Canada where there is universal healthcare coverage available to them, those who retire in the United States are often saddled with exorbitant healthcare costs in attempting to manage a litany of mental health issues, not to mention physical ailments from years of jarring forechecks and on-ice collisions. </span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">While Walsh, the first of President Joe Biden’s Cabinet secretaries to depart and the latest politician to shift into sports, following the path of former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (who was recently named NCAA President), would not go into specifics about healthcare costs for retirees, which are partially subsidized by the NHL (“I can’t comment on that now. I don’t know enough about it. It’s still too early for me to comment on that”), he was quick to note that safeguarding the welfare of retired NHL players, including their access to affordable healthcare benefits, remains of the utmost importance to him and the players association. After all, as Walsh explained, he first became such an ardent supporter of union rights when, in the nascent days of his political career, he saw firsthand the struggles of those employees who did not have enough hours in to qualify for healthcare benefits.  </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></span></b></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“I represent the National Hockey League players in the current league today and someday they’re going to be alums, so we want to make sure that the transition from being a player into being an alum is a smooth transition,” added Walsh, who had a long history of championing labor rights before ascending the ranks of both regional and national politics. </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Even when the last question was asked about how players can capitalize on future business opportunities, Walsh made it a point to circle back to the many former NHL players struggling with their mental health by mentioning that he had been in talks with the league’s Health and Safety Committee regarding enhanced programs for those suffering from emotional issues, and in many cases relying on substances as a means to cope. (He also ended his conference by reminding everyone that nearly one in three people—whether they are hockey players, ink-stained reporters, or avid hockey fans—are struggling with mental health issues in the post-pandemic world.)</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Although it’s far too early to predict whether there will be a sea change in the health benefits offered to former NHL players, Walsh’s background suggests he can relate to the plight of such individuals, many of whom did not play long enough (or in the right era) to make serious money. Citing his decades-long background in union representation as a badge of honor, he knows the league is projecting nearly </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="color:#343434">$6 billion in revenue this season and that there’s plenty to go around for former league employees who find themselves in dire straits when their playing days are over. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="color:#343434"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom:0in; text-align:justify; margin:0in 0in 8pt; margin-right:0in; margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“There’s a lot we can do between now and the CBA.”</span></span></span></span></span></p> 1237Should Plans Better Address Mental Health Benefits? | The Phia Grouphttps://www.phiagroup.com/Media/Posts/PostId/1168/should-plans-better-address-mental-health-benefits-the-phia-groupPodcastsFri, 22 Jul 2022 13:34:13 GMT<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vLesZF9OCao" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has announced that we are facing another crisis – one on mental health. Participants are clamoring for more access to mental health care than ever before. The COVID-19 pandemic only highlighted the lack of availability of mental health care in the US, including care that is covered by plans. Ron Peck, Chief Legal Officer, and attorney Kaitlyn MacLeod are here to talk about what plans are doing to address the mental health crisis and how mental health parity comes into play for plans, patients, and providers. </span><br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLesZF9OCao" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline"><span style="color:#0563c1">Click here to check out the podcast!</span></a>  (Make sure you subscribe to our <span style="color:#0071ce"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLesZF9OCao" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline"><span style="color:#0563c1">YouTube</span></a> </span>and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-phia-groups-podcast/id1246462552?mt=2" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline"><span style="color:#0071ce">Apple Podcasts</span> </a>Channels!)</span></span></p> 1168Empowering Plans: P132 - The Enhanced DOL Enforcement Efforthttps://www.phiagroup.com/Media/Posts/PostId/1141/empowering-plans-p132-planning-for-parity-exploring-the-enhanced-dol-enforcement-effortsPodcastsFri, 01 Apr 2022 12:58:52 GMT<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KKYjpbfkJ-g" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span new="" roman="" times=""></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:16px;">The CAA, passed in part due to the rising mental health issues, added enhanced DOL enforcement mechanisms.  Join special guest Jen Berman of MZQ, and Jen McCormick, as they discuss the DOL’s evolving approach on MHPAEA which is moving from a "compliance assistance" model to a "proactive enforcement" model.  This approach puts a ton of pressure on plan sponsors – administrative, compliance, logistical – and plans need to be prepared. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span new="" roman="" times=""></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:16px;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span new="" roman="" times=""><a href="https://youtu.be/KKYjpbfkJ-g">Click here to check out the podcast!</a>  (Make sure you subscribe to our <span style="color:#0071ce;"><a href="https://youtu.be/KKYjpbfkJ-g">YouTube</a> </span>and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-phia-groups-podcast/id1246462552?mt=2" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline"><span style="color:#0071ce;">Apple Podcasts </span></a>Channels!)</span></span></span></p> 1141