Phia Group

Empowering Plans Segment 04 - Attack of the Killer Savings

On March 13, 2017
Join The Phia Group's CEO, Adam V. Russo, and Sr. VP, Ron E. Peck, as they describe how The Phia Group identifies facilities that provide the best outcomes for the least cost, and encourage plan participants to visit those facilities.

Empowering Plans Segment 03 - The Journey Continues

On February 28, 2017
Once again The Phia Group’s CEO, Adam V. Russo, and Sr. VP, Ron E. Peck, delve into what makes their own company’s health benefit plan unique, and share tips employers (and those that service them) can use to improve their own plan’s performance.

Top Miscues Employers Make When It Comes To Their Health Plans ... And What We All Can Do To Become Health Plan Heroes

On February 15, 2017
Employers who self-fund their health plan act as a traditional employer, a plan sponsor, and a plan administrator. Juggling this many roles, conflicts and contradictions are bound to happen. For instance, an employee handbook’s handling of disability leave may conflict with the health plan document as it relates to employment and plan coverage.

Empowering Plans Segment 02 - The Next Episode

On February 12, 2017
In this second installment of The Phia Group's official podcast, our hosts begin sharing what makes their own health plan a source of savings for the employer and benefits employees love.

Empowering Plans Segment 01 - The Maiden Voyage

On January 31, 2017
Welcome to the maiden voyage of "Empowering Plans," a new Podcast by The Phia Group where our hosts will review the purpose of this new series of Podcasts, reveal what the next few episodes will be about, and open the forum to our partners for comments and ideas.

Back to The Self-Funding Future – Which Echoes of 2016 Will Continue to Impact Self-Funding in 2017

On January 19, 2017
The past decade has ushered in both outrage and opportunity for self-funded plans, and 2016 was no different. The characteristics of self-funded plans continued to alter in concert with new laws and regulations. While these bureaucratic efforts often hindered our ability to self-fund, for those daring enough to change with the times, we saw increased growth and prosperity. We will no doubt see these issues and opportunities continue to evolve in 2017, and only those that prepare will thrive.

The Phia Group's 1st Quarter 2017 Newsletter

On January 17, 2017
2016 has been a busy year here at The Phia Group! Read our newsletter to get acquainted with some of the goings-on in our neck of the woods.

The Stacks - 4th quarter 2016

On January 3, 2017
This is "The Stacks" from The Phia Group's 4th Quarter 2016 newsletter.

The Phia Group Appoints Tim Callender, Esq. as Vice President of Sales & Marketing

On January 3, 2017
Braintree, MA – The Phia Group, LLC is pleased to announce the appointment of Attorney Tim Callender to the role of Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

List of Self-Funded Industry Acronyms

On December 15, 2016
By popular demand, The Phia Group has published a list of common or helpful industry acronyms. This list has historically been used this as a training tool for The Phia Group's own employees, but it is being provided here in the hopes that it is found informative. The Phia Group thanks you for sharing its common goal of reducing health care costs and helping the self-funded industry grow.

2017 Phia Forecast

On December 13, 2016
2016 has been another huge year for self-funding, and a year of significant change for healthcare in general – and with the results of the recent presidential election, 2017 is slated to be an exciting year as well. 2016 has played host to all sorts of new federal regulations, state laws, market trends, and cost-containment options, and we expect 2017 to be even more unpredictable…but still great for self-funding.

Independent Consultation & Evaluation

On November 22, 2016
The Phia Group has for more than a decade been a source of document review, claim analysis, and regulatory compliance consultation for the health benefits industry. Today, statutory changes are occurring with greater frequency, and the industry needs objective analysis and expert consultation now more than ever before. With an ICE subscription fee, clients can preemptively budget for and share the cost of this invaluable resource – allowing The Phia Group and their clients to focus on what is really important – results.

The First 100 Days: President-elect Donald Trump, Healthcare, and Self-Funding

On November 21, 2016
The election is behind us, and no matter who you supported, it was one of the most divisive in recent history. Regarding the contentious topic of healthcare, President-elect Donald Trump has promised to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with a better, more efficient system. The future of our industry is sure to change.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly – Ethics: Simple Mistakes vs. Breach

On November 15, 2016
As the Department of Labor hones in on what is ethical (or unethical) and what constitutes fiduciary liability, plan administrators, third party administrators, brokers, and various advisors who service self-funded plans must make a renewed effort to ensure that their actions are in compliance with current legal and ethical standards. All self-funded entities must take steps to avoid actions that may be deemed unethical or in violation of their considerable responsibilities - and even when exercising good faith, it is still possible to act unethically.

How Low Can You Go? Managing Specialty Drugs, Reducing Overall Pharmacy Spend, and Unraveling the Mystery Behind PBMs

On October 27, 2016
Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or PBMs, are an important factor in the cost and value of self-funding - yet many TPAs, brokers, and plan sponsors feel it is impractical to even look into changing the status quo. Self-funded plans and those who service them, however, should be constantly on the lookout for effective alternatives to their current procedures - especially in this aggressive economic and legal climate.