Spotlight on Your Funds

May 2024

CVS Caremark Will Be the Benefit Funds’ New Pharmacy Benefit Manager

Effective July 1, CVS Caremark will replace Express Scripts as the Benefit Funds’ pharmacy benefit manager. The decision is part of ongoing efforts to carefully manage employer contributions and 1199SEIU benefit dollars to help ensure that members receive quality benefits with little to no out-of-pocket costs. After much consideration, we found that CVS is a better fit for our members and offers an extensive, nationwide network of pharmacies. Members will continue to follow the Benefit Funds’ maintenance drug access program, The 90-day Rx Solution, for long-term medications for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. For specialty drugs that treat conditions such as multiple sclerosis, members may access them through CVS Specialty. The Benefit Funds will inform members about the transition to CVS Caremark in the upcoming issue of the member magazine For Your Benefit and plan information will be shared later this month. Starting next month, a dedicated CVS microsite will be accessible through the Benefit Funds’ website. CVS will mail new Health Benefits ID cards in mid-June. 

Training and Employment Funds Offer Tuition Assistance and Career Information Sessions

To support 1199SEIU members applying for tuition assistance for the first time, the Training and Employment Funds provide mandatory tuition assistance information sessions, offered online via Zoom. Topics covered include eligibility requirements, the application process, online resources and more. Career-planning information sessions, held twice monthly in person at various TEF offices, include a Self-Directed Search assessment that matches members’ interests and skills with different healthcare professions, in addition to career counseling. Members may visit MyTEF to register for the May sessions, listed below, and call (844) 833-1199 for more information.

Tuition Assistance Information Sessions 

Career-planning Information Sessions

WorkForce 2000 Students Learn Life-saving Skills

On Wednesday, April 10, 17 WorkForce 2000 students in grades 10 through 12 attended a CPR and first aid training course at Funds headquarters. The students learned how to perform life-saving CPR in the event of a heart attack, practicing their skills on CPR dummies. They also received basic first aid training, learned how to respond to a person choking or seriously bleeding and were taught the different techniques required when aiding an infant, child or adult.

A year-round academic program, WorkForce 2000 is designed to help 1199SEIU members’ children ages 14 to 17 succeed in high school, prepare for college and explore career interests. The program provides leadership and development opportunities, along with academic coursework assistance on a New York City college campus on select Saturdays throughout the year. For more information, visit the WorkForce 2000 web page. 

The Institute for Continuing Education Presents Upcoming Programs

The 1199SEIU League Training and Upgrading Fund strengthens the healthcare delivery system by offering 1199SEIU members training and education programs designed to help improve patient outcomes and provide quality care. Please share these opportunities with members at your institution or facility. (The full schedule is available on the program calendar.) 

Medical Laboratory Risk Management 

Saturday, May 4 

8:45 am to 2:30 pm 

This seminar for clinical laboratory practitioners will focus on biosafety risk assessments in medical laboratories, including identifying hazards, implementing risk mitigation plans and evaluating the effectiveness of plans, as well as implementing root cause analysis for risk management.

Healthcare Workers’ Mental Health Crisis

Saturday, May 18 

8:45 am to 4:30 pm 

This interprofessional symposium will focus on the stressors healthcare workers face on their jobs, the increase of mental health issues in children and adolescents, strategies for creating a work environment that promotes mental well-being and ways to manage mental health issues with medication and nutrition.

For more information, visit the Institute for Continuing Education’s web page, call (212) 894-4390 or email Institute@1199Funds.org. 

Meet Our Featured Member

Sofia Espinoza from Staten Island University Hospital, Northwell Health

Why did Sofia Espinoza begin her health journey? Read For Your Benefit online to find out!

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1199SEIU Funds News is a monthly email produced by the 1199SEIU Funds. Copyright 2024.

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