tpaT day
a publication of EBMS
Symmetry
Harmony
Stability
Equilibrium
Clarity
July
August 2012
Synergy
Rhythm
In This Issue:
Kamas Joins EBMS p3
Business the Beatles Way p4
Bartlett Recognized p8
EBMS Rebranding—a balancing act
Donna Paige, Sales Coordinator
The changes in logo, color and message that readers of the TPA Today are viewing in this issue are just a glimpse of the brave new
re-branding efforts created to reflect the new and evolving company that is EBMS.
The logo is the result of an “envisioning journey” for representatives from all departments. The team met to deliberate about
what makes EBMS different and considered our location, our client offering, who we are as individuals, what we believe in as
an organization, how we serve our employees and how we support the community. Then, the team contemplated the desired
direction of EBMS, believing that a new brand should sustain us as we head into the challenging future of healthcare.
It was a remarkable journey. We discovered an organization comprising of hard workers, innovators and experts—all with ties
to families and the community, and all influential in introducing healthy changes for their loved ones and neighbors. Our quest
for wellness and wellbeing for our employees and clients has helped us understand that balance between work, family and
community is paramount to maintaining good health. By encouraging and showing clients, through our own wellness-culture
example, we have become a trusted partner and leader in the industry, and more than just a third party administrator paying
claims. While we administer claims and benefits, what we really help our customers achieve is the benefit of balance in their daily
quest for healthy employees. Our goal for this journey of envisioning is to show our customers that balance equals wellbeing and
wellbeing equals EBMS.
To compliment this, we have crafted a new mission statement,
and designed a new logo:
EBMS designs strategies to transform the health and
wellbeing of individuals, companies and communities.
We think this new look reveals the innovative track that we have traveled for the past few years, while clearly communicating to
clients and prospective clients the total value achievable for them when they partner with us. We thank our employees for giving
us this inspiration through their loyalty and excellence and our clients for challenging us to become the company we are today.
Henderson Joins Executive Team
EBMS President, Kevin Larson, announced the addition of LynAnn Henderson to the Executive Team. Kevin’s
July 16 announcement read, “I am proud to announce the addition of LynAnn Henderson to EBMS’ Executive
team. A dynamic leader with nearly twenty years of marketing and management experience, LynAnn
has been an integral part of EBMS’ success since joining our team in 2005. From the development
and coordination of EBMS’ annual Health and Business Symposium, her leadership role in our
recent rebranding process, as well as her vision to create the Billings Wellbeing Institute, she has
continually focused EBMS in new strategic directions. With her addition to the Executive Team, she
will help us change the footprint of wellbeing for our organization and the clients and members we
serve.”
Congratulations on your well-deserved promotion, LynAnn!
Newsletter Staff
Alice Jagiello, Editor
Kathi Schweigert
Cori Cook
Melissa Lyon
Janean Honadel
Kerri Patterson
Stacey Loucks
Katherine Meyers
Donna Paige
Deanna Westfall
Jen Robbins
Office Locations
Montana
2075 Overland Avenue, Billings, MT 59102
Colorado
5995 Greenwood Plaza Blvd,
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Oregon
1001 SW 5th, Ste 410, Portland, OR 97204
Let’s Not Forget About HIPAA Privacy and Security!
Stacey Loucks, Compliance Officer
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is tasked with the responsibility to monitor and enforce HIPAA Privacy
and Security compliance by Covered Entities and their Business Associates. Civil Monetary Penalties may be imposed
when there has been a violation of the rules. Since the passing of the HITECH Act (a part of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009), HHS has stepped up its efforts to investigate complaints, perform audits and enforce penalties
for non-compliance. Some interesting issues have come to light due to the investigations performed by HHS.
A recent ruling in June 2012 penalized the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services (AK DHHS) $1,700,000. A USB
hard drive containing Protected Health Information (PHI) of Medicaid recipients was stolen from an employee’s personal
vehicle. HHS found that AK DHHS did not have the appropriate policies and procedures in place to safeguard electronic
PHI, a risk analysis had not been completed and risk management measures had not been undertaken. As a result of the
investigation, AK DHHS must review, revise and maintain policies and procedures to comply with the rules, provide training
for all employees handling PHI, implement device and media controls and address encryption.
Phoenix Cardiac Surgery (PCS) was fined $100,000 on April 13, 2012, and ordered to implement policies and procedures to
safeguard PHI. PCS physicians posted clinical and surgical appointments for patients on an internet-based calendar that
was publicly accessible. HHS found that PCS had few policies and procedures in place, no documentation of employee
training, no identified security official and no Business Associate Agreements with the internet-based e-mail and calendar
service.
On March 13, 2012, HHS imposed a $1,500,000 penalty to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee (BCBST), along with requiring
robust employee training and the implementation of a corrective action plan to address gaps in BCBST’s HIPAA compliance
program. BCBST reported that 57 unencrypted computer hard drives were stolen from a leased facility which contained the
PHI of over one million individuals, including names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth and diagnosis codes. HHS
discovered that BCBST had not completed a security evaluation of the leased facility and no appropriate physical safeguards
were implemented.
The UCLA Health System was ordered to perform regular and robust employee training, impose sanctions on employees
violating the privacy rules and pay a fine of $865,000 in July of 2011. This situation revolved around employees who
repeatedly and without permission accessed the PHI of two celebrity patients.
The largest Civil Monetary Penalty of $4,300,000 was imposed on Cignet Health of Prince George’s County, Maryland
(Cignet). Cignet denied 41 patients access to their own medical records and failed to cooperate with the HHS investigation.
HHS found that Cignet had acted with willful neglect.
Rite Aid and CVS Pharmacies were both involved in TV media investigations which videotaped pharmacy employees disposing of
prescriptions and labeled pill bottles in trash containers accessible to the public in various cities across the U.S. The companies
were each found to have insufficient policies and procedures to protect PHI during the disposal process, not providing adequate
training to employees on the disposal process, and no sanctions policy for employees who fail to properly dispose of PHI. Rite
Aid received a $1,000,000 fine in July of 2010 and CVS Pharmacy received a $2,250,000 fine in July of 2009.
We must all be cognizant of how we are handling PHI including accessing information, disposing of information, storing
information and transporting information. All EBMS employees are regularly trained on these important aspects of HIPAA
privacy and security.
Regular and updated training is required pursuant to the privacy and security rules. Remember to document all training
received by employees! Coming September 12 and 18: EBMS will offer refresher and/or new employee HIPAA training for all
of our clients. Look for detailed information in the near future!
Kamas to Join EBMS Team
Gregg Kamas is the new Chief Health Officer at EBMS. Gregg provides experienced
leadership in integrated health and benefit management solutions, having spent 20
years leading employer-based wellness, self-care, and clinical management programs
in managed care and physician care delivery systems.
Gregg comes to EBMS with a vast array of experiences. He was formerly the Vice President of
Health Risk Management for IMA Financial Group, an insurance and employee benefit consulting
and broker organization, based in Denver, Colorado. Other experiences include Physician Health
Partners, a Physician Management services company and TPA, where he served as the Director
of Care Management. There, he led the prior authorization and medical necessity review, inpatient
concurrent review, hospital census, complex case management, disease management and pharmacy
management functions. Prior to that, Gregg was a corporate director for health services at Pacificare, where
he was involved with disease management, health care quality and health informatics as well as managing the
Colorado NCQA effort.
Over the years, Gregg has also served on the CDC’s (Center for Disease Control) Council for Physical Activity and Nutrition and
on AHCPR’s (Agency for Health Care Policy and Research) advisory group on patient informatics, and as an ACSM (American
College of Sports Medicine) certification examiner. Gregg is currently a Strategic Advisory Board member of the Center for Health
Value Innovation, a leader in ‘value based benefits,’ and the Center’s co-author of “Leveraging Health: A decision matrix for valuebased design” white paper.
Gregg has been a frequent speaker at national conferences and has recently published articles or abstracts in journals for
American Public Health Association, Gerentological Society of America, and Disease Management Association of America.
He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and his graduate degree in Community Health
Education from the University of Northern Colorado School of Public Health.
Gregg lives in an old Denver neighborhood; his house turned 100 years old recently. He says he always has a home improvement
project to do in his spare time. Gregg is an avid cyclist and used to race (road racing) but now it’s just for fun and fitness. He also likes
(yes, likes) to go to the gym and run a little. He enjoys hiking in the Rocky Mountains with his girlfriend and his 13 year old daughter.
“Being a dad is the most important thing I’ve ever done,” he said. During the winter months, he enjoys skiing and snowshoeing. And if
that’s not keeping him busy, he’s also learning to play the guitar and is going to try yoga.
Gregg officially began work at EBMS on September 4. We are glad to have Gregg on board.
Strategic Planning Continues
Strategic Planning continues to be a high priority for the Executive Committee. The Leadership Team met June 26 to review and
revise the Strategic Plan. The day long meeting included identifying accomplishments, non-accomplishments, and what the team
has learned since the last review in November. They also identified any major changes that warrant a change in the plan. After
determining what they could accomplish to reach closure on the goals—Enhance client focus, Elevate financial focus, Improve
internal business processes and Cultivate learning and
growth—a review and revision process was completed. Action
steps are reviewed monthly in the Directors’ meetings and
report-outs are presented to the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee will hold a two-day planning session
in October. In November, the goals and initial key results
measures for 2013 will be presented to the Leadership Team.
New action steps will be developed at that time.
p3
Business the Beatles Way
Client Appreciation Events
p4
The 19th annual EBMS Client Appreciation events, which included the Health and
Business Symposium, golf tournament and alternative trip, were a success.
WOW Awards!
The 2012 Health and Business Symposium brought together national thought
leaders to discuss business strategy and health innovations, with specific
attention on holistic strategies that transform the wellbeing of individuals,
organizations and communities. Keynote and nationally-known entertainer and
speaker Bill Stainton shared “The 5 Best Decisions the Beatles Ever Made. . .and
Why You Should Make Them Too.” Each presentation leading up to Bill’s keynote
focused on one of the Beatles decisions.
WOW awards are given
for great customer service. Kudos
given by our external customers—
our clients, brokers, members,
providers—are the basis for the
awards. The most recent recipient
of the award is Cheryl Lewis, RN
Case Manager.
Cyndy Nayer, Founder of the Center for Health Value Innovation, spoke to
Shake it Up! A Single, Shared Vision was addressed by Gregg Kamas, a Strategic
Health Consultant. Stephanie Sharma, Founding Partner of Lead the Difference,
addressed Play to Your Strengths. A panel including Dr. Paul Cook, President
and CEO, Rocky Mountain Health Network; Amanda Hannah, Strategic Account
Executive; and Laura Rookhuizen, Wellness Manager, offered insights on Share
the Spotlight. LynAnn Henderson, Vice President, Business Development, and Rod
Kastelitz, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, started the day with Carry the Weight.
Congratulations Cheryl!
A pre-symposium session, Forecasting ACA for Employers, was presented by
Adam Russo, Esq., Co-Founder & CEO, The Phia Group, LLC, and Cori Cook, Vice
President and General Counsel.
Promotions and
Title Changes
This year’s event was emceed by Megan Kongaika, Communications Manager.
In addition to these speakers, the symposium also provided attendees with an
opportunity to engage in valuable roundtables about industry specific topics, as
well as plenty of engagement throughout the day.
We enjoy celebrating the growth
of our professional staff at EBMS.
Please help us congratulate the
following employees on their recent
promotions and/or position/title
changes!
Jordan Drake
Mail Clerk to
Provider Services Specialist 1
The following day, attendees were invited to attend either a full day of golf or an
alternate event. According to attendee reports, a good time was had by all!
A sincere thank you goes out to all the generous sponsors who made this year’s
event possible, as well as the Client Appreciation Events Planning Committee!
We look forward to surpassing this year’s participation next year! Save the date
for July 24-26, 2013!
Sheila Hutchinson
Provider Services Support Clerk to
Provider Services Specialist 1
Camille Trudeau
Provider Services Specialist 1 to
Provider Services Support Clerk
The Beatles in action!
The belief in your vision is the key to creating your own destiny!
– Anonymous
1
2
3
6
4
5
7
8
9
10
1 Beatle Fans at the golf course. 2 Matt Hayward, Optum; Lisa Elings
and Tom Otis, EBMS; and Maureen Davey, Stillwater County, were
honored by being the last place team. 3 Cyndy Nayer and Gregg
Kamas exchange ideas during the Symposium. 4 Taking the 1st Place
Net honors were Jim Tillman, Bernard Construction; Julie Nelson, EBMS;
Kevin St. John, Choteau Public Schools; Brent Schwab, Payne Financial.
5 Bill Stainton entertaining Symposium participants. 6 Networking
during the reception at The Rex. 7 Adam Russo in the Legal Update.
8 The 2nd Place Gross winners were Megan Kongaika and Justin
Moser, EBMS; John Hatala, Seneca; and Rob Hunter, First Choice Health.
9 Andrew Thelan, EBMS; Mike Matovich, Columbus Health Mart &
Pharmacy; Vicki Tomal,Sealaska; Trevor Daer, EBMS and Alyssa Francis,
EBMS (not pictured) were the 1st Place Gross winners. 10 Participants
share insights during a roundtable.
p5
Living the Core Values
p6
Blackberry Cocktail
This cocktail combines fresh
blackberries, cucumber slices, lime juice,
gin, club soda, sugar, and fresh mint for
an ultra-summery, fruity escape.
Ingredients:
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b
b
b
b
b
b
b
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1 (0.75-oz.) package fresh mint sprigs
12 (1/4-inch-thick) cucumber slices
2 (6-oz.) packages fresh blackberries
3/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 3 limes)
8 to 12 tsp. fine sugar
1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. gin
1 cup cold club soda
Crushed ice
Garnishes: cucumber slices, fresh
blackberries, lime wedges, lemon mint
sprigs
Directions:
Place first 5 ingredients in a large
pitcher. Gently press mint leaves,
cucumbers, and blackberries against
side of pitcher with a wooden spoon to
release flavors. Stir in gin and club soda.
Serve over ice. Garnish, if desired.
Two employees were presented Living the Core Values Award for Second Quarter
at the State of EBMS Meeting held July 18. Melissa Lyon, Director of Human
Resources and Training, presented each winner a certificate, a Living the Core
Values shirt and $100 gift card.
Sherry Healy is a Client Service Representative. Her nomination read, “I am
nominating her for the core value award for demonstrating the core value of
passion. The definition of the word passion is any powerful or compelling emotion
or feeling, as love or hate. I love that she is so passionate about working at EBMS.
She makes other employees around her want to do a better job. She is always
helping her fellow employees whether it is with questions they have, or if they
have something come up and need a shift covered, she is your gal. She shows the
utmost respect to not only our members but her coworkers as well. It is people
like her that keep an organization going. And the greatest part is she always does
everything with a smile. She definitely loves her job and it shows!”
miRx Pharmacy Clinical Manager, Jamie Vashus, received the award for
commitment. The nomination said, “Jamie Vashus lives EBMS’ Core Values every
day. She is not only OUR personal pharmacist but a lot of our groups own
personal pharmacist. When you stop and think about how many lives she takes
care of with Passion, Integrity, Commitment and Excellence…the numbers are
astronomical and she is one shining amazing star. She handles not only the
prescriptions, but she also answers questions that the patients may have in
accordance to their plan document. What pharmacist does that! She handles
each and every employee’s life as a life and not a number. She is our and our
members only pharmacist here at EBMS, which I believe could be overwhelming,
and yet Jamie accomplishes the needs of every individual with Excellence,
Passion, Integrity, Commitment and a Smile!”
Congratulations, Sherry and Jamie! You both deserve the award!
1 Sherry and Melissa, 2 Jamie and Melissa
2
Berry Delicious
Summer Salad
Sweet, juicy blueberries are the stars
of this quick-toss salad, but it’s equally
good (and even more colorful) served
with a mix of summer berries. Creamy
gorgonzola cheese and walnuts
complement the perfect mix of leafy
greens. Pair with grilled beef, pork, or
chicken for a simple but elegant menu
that’s easy enough to serve anytime.
1
Ingredients:
b 8 cups mixed salad greens
b 2 cups fresh blueberries
b 1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola or blue
cheese
b 1/4 cup chopped and toasted walnuts
or pecans
b Bottled vinaigrette
Directions:
Toss together first 4 ingredients; drizzle
with desired amount of vinaigrette, tossing
gently to coat. Try Newman’s Own Light
Raspberry & Walnut vinaigrette.
The only thing that stands between a person and what they
want from life is often the will to try it and the faith to believe
it’s possible.
– Anonymous
Anniversaries
We truly value our experienced and dedicated team members! Please join us in
celebrating the following employees’ anniversaries! Happy Anniversary to all of you!
Employee Name
Start Date Department
Title
Terri Butcher
7/1/1990
Claims
Claims Examiner
Terry Kane
7/1/1998
Finance
Senior Accountant
Ellen Gernant
7/5/2001
Support Services
Support Services Lead
Karen Kimmell
7/6/2004
Consumer Reimbursement
Consumer Reimbursement Accounts Specialist
Dr. Tom James
7/6/2009
miCare
Medical Director
Cynthia Pavey
7/9/2007
Claims
Plan Design Specialist
Bev Allison
7/11/2002
Provider Services
Provider Services Specialist I
Vikki Fosjord
7/11/2005
Quality Assurance
Director Quality Assurance
Amy Hagan
7/12/2009
Marketing
Marketing Assistant
Cody Clark
7/13/2009
Account Management
Strategic Account Manager
Catherine Flynn
7/13/2009
Support Services
Mail Clerk
Dale Welzenbach
7/14/2001
Information Services
Lead IS System Administrator
Noni Ramage
7/14/2003
Claims
Stop Loss Specialist
Trevor Daer
7/15/2009
Account Management
Strategic Account Manager
Angie Niess
7/17/2006
CareLink
LPN Care Coordinator
Carrie Christensen
7/18/2007
CareLink
LPN Care Coordinator
Deborah Davidson
7/19/2010
Support Services
Scanning Technician
Stacey Crossley
7/21/2008
Client Services
Director Client Services
Erin Jimison
7/21/2008
Account Management
Strategic Account Manager
Jana Peterson
7/21/2008
Claims
Claims Examiner--Salt Lake City
Wendy Whitman
7/21/2008
Claims
Senior Claims Consultant
Steve Culbertson
7/26/2004
Sales
Regional Sales Manager
Melissa Walton
7/26/2004
CareLink
CareLink Business Analyst
Sharon Jacobs
7/27/2009
Claims
Claims Examiner
Kim Daubert
8/1/1995
Quality Assurance
Quality Assurance Specialist
Karen Morales
8/4/2008
Finance
Finance Specialist
Linda Dice
8/9/2004
CareLink
Intake Coordinator II
Lisa Heppler
8/9/2010
Provider Services
Provider Services Specialist I
Cheryl Lewis
8/9/2010
CareLink
RN Case Manager
Jacoby Lowney
8/9/2010
Client Services
Client Service Representative
Chris Haugan
8/12/1996
Claims
Stop Loss Supervisor
Andy Miller
8/14/2006
Claims
Lead Stop Loss
Jennifer Teller
8/15/2005
Claims
Claims Review Specialist
Nichole Barth
8/18/2008
Eligibility
Eligibility Administrator
Karen Laqua
8/21/2006
Eligibility
Eligibility Administrator
Brenda Witschi
8/22/1994
Eligibility
Eligibility Services Assistant
Lorelle Hummel
8/22/2001
CareLink
RN Case Manager
Jacqueline Sorrells
8/24/2009
miCare
Clinic Operation Coordinator
Lisa Rudolph
8/29/2011
CareLink
LPN Care Coordinator
Deanna Rutschke
8/30/1999
Quality Assurance
Quality Assurance Specialist
Alice Jagiello
8/30/2004
Executive
Executive Administrative Assistant
Jarrod Weenum
8/30/2004
miCare
miCare Business Operations Manager
New Employees
Devin DeBoer
Support Services
Mail Clerk
Heidi Capser
Information Systems
EDI Specialist
Connie Senecal
CareLink
Intake Coordinator 1
Brenda Specht
Support Services
Back-up Receptionist/Mail
Clerk
Andrew Thelen
Information Systems
IS Report Analyst
Charly Stone
Provider Services
Provider Services
Specialist 1
Stephanie Schaff
Client Services
Client Services
Representative
Jill Mosure
Client Services
Client Services
Representative
p7
Bartlett Recognized
p8
Grilled Whole Chicken
with Barbecue Sauce
For this all-American classic, use a great
homemade sauce and slow-cook a
whole bird for the juiciest results.
Ingredients:
b
b
b
b
1 whole(s) (4- to 4 1/2-pound) chicken
Coarse salt
Ground pepper
1/2 cup(s) Barbecue Sauce
Directions:
1. Set up grill for indirect grilling.
Rinse chicken inside and out and dry
thoroughly. Generously season inside
and out with coarse salt and ground
pepper. Clean and lightly oil hot grates.
2. Place chicken, breast side up, on
opposite side of grill from heat. Cover and
grill until cooked through, or a thermometer
inserted in the thickest part of a thigh
(avoiding bone) registers 160 degrees F,
about 1 1/2 hours, rotating halfway through
cooking (if using a charcoal grill, add a
couple of handfuls of charcoal every half
hour to maintain heat).
3. About 15 minutes before chicken
is done, brush with 1/2 cup barbecue
sauce. Let chicken rest 20 minutes
before carving.
Barbecue Sauce
The Montana Society of CPAs (MSCPA) announced that Marilyn Bartlett, CFO,
was the recipient of the first Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry Award
given by the Society.
The MSCPA Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry Award recognizes the
achievements of individual CPAs employed in business, industry, nonprofit and
government. It is awarded based upon the following criteria:
b
b
b
b
Making a significant contribution to the growth and enhancement of the
profession.
Making a significant contribution to the growth and success of his/her
employer organization or a notable entrepreneurial achievement.
Providing leadership by example and commitment within their organization,
community and profession.
Inspiring and motivating others for growth and development, while
emphasizing the ethical and excellence values of the CPA profession.
Marilyn is a past-president and much-loved member of MSCPA. This award was
presented to Ms. Bartlett because of the professionalism she has shown as well
as her many contributions to the profession. Very few CPAs are as respected or
well-known by their peers as Marilyn Bartlett.
Reidun Johnston, CPA, Missoula and chair
of the MSCPA Industry Group; who also
shared “Marilyn is an inspiration to me
and many others. She has forged the
way as a leader in a profession that,
until recently, didn’t have women
leaders. She has made a difference
for us all.”
The Montana Society of CPAs is a
professional association comprised
of 1700 members worldwide. The
mission of the Montana Society
of Certified Public Accountants is
to inspire, empower and impact
members to achieve professional
excellence.
Ingredients:
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b
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b
b
b
b
b
b
b
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1 tablespoon(s) olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
4 clove(s) garlic, minced
1 tablespoon(s) mustard powder
1 teaspoon(s) red-pepper flakes
3 tablespoon(s) light-brown sugar
2 cup(s) ketchup
1/3 cup(s) Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup(s) cider vinegar
1 tablespoon(s) molasses
1/4 teaspoon(s) ground black pepper
Directions:
1. In a medium saucepan, heat oil over
medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook,
stirring occasionally, until translucent,
about 5 minutes. Stir in mustard powder
and red-pepper flakes; cook 30 seconds.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low; stir in
sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire, vinegar,
molasses, and black pepper. Cook,
stirring occasionally, until thickened, 5
to 10 minutes.
When our memories outweigh our dreams we become old.
– Bill Clinton
Recycle—Maybe Reduce?
Kerri Patterson, Consumer Reimbursement Account Coordinator
As a lifelong resident of a state that has pioneered efforts in recycling and in “being green,” I am certainly proud of the steps that
EBMS has put into the recycling efforts in the past couple of years. Recycling is a learned behavior since many of us did not grow
up during the advent of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.”
Some of these tips might seem like common sense, but it never hurts to be reminded of the steps that we can all take to try not
only to recycle what we are using, but to reduce what we must try to recycle as well. In the long run, we will be helping the planet
as well as providing some savings for our pocketbooks!
b
Opt for bulk, concentrated products: Reducing the quantities of packaging used to wrap up your various purchases is another
way to prevent waste before it is consumed. Concentrated foods and cleaning products pack more punch for their volume
and require less total packaging. Likewise with bulk products. Just be sure that you don’t confuse genuinely bulk products
with hundreds of individual packages cello-wrapped together.
b
Avoid Styrofoam: Because this type of packaging is difficult to recycle (facilities are few and far between) and toxic from
the get-go, it’s best to avoid it whenever possible. So whether buying mushrooms or shipping a package, choose alternate
materials.
b
Choose secondhand: When you do need flooring for your new home or a suit for the office, why not try out secondhand or
consignment stores. Buying used items means you’re not consuming virgin resources, you are minimizing energy needed to
create and ship new products, and cutting your bills in the meantime.
b
Make your own: When possible, you can make your own consumable products. You can find all kinds of recipes for making
face wash, all purpose cleaner, and homemade laundry soaps by searching for homemade recipes on Google or Bing. In many
cases, DIY options require much fewer ingredients and result in lower toxicity which is a fantastic way to reduce overall
waste.
b
Sell or give old items away: You may not have a use for your old stereo or the afghan from your great aunt, but more than
likely someone else can make use of it. If you need a little extra cash, find a way to sell your things in a garage sale or online. If
not, look for charities and nonprofits that will take your old things rather than kicking them to the curb.
b
Rent or borrow larger items instead of buying them: By renting equipment you can avoid having to purchase items that
you may only use a few times. Some of the most commonly rented items are trailers, lawn care equipment, tables and
chairs, ladders, power tools, tents and tree trimming equipment. You could also borrow items from friends or family to avoid
purchasing. Example: Rent or borrow items for your family or neighborhood get-together. Churches and schools are great
resources for tables and chairs, and tents can be rented from most party rental centers. Renting reusable dishware from
banquet halls for events and gatherings can prevent waste from disposable cups, plates, and silverware.
b
This one goes against my normal perception of saving, but here it goes: Use plug-in appliances instead of those that operate
on batteries. Disposable batteries are discarded after one use. Rechargeable batteries are the largest source of cadmium in
the municipal waste stream. We talk about saving energy and thus using battery powered items, but battery recycling is still
in its infancy and many municipalities are not prepared to accept batteries for recycling.
Some of the hardest things I find to throw away are old sheets, towels and other large items made from fabric. Check with your local
pet shelter. If the items are clean, but a little threadbare, pet shelters can reuse the fabric for pet bedding. Compost organics: waste
that easily biodegrades--food scraps, yard clippings, and the like--are bad for climate change when they head to the landfill. To deal
with this organic waste, you can either start an indoor compost bin or a vermiculture container or look into backyard composting
options depending on your available space and the amount of organics you produce in an average week. I recently read an article
that described composting for apartment living! Check out www.composting101.com for more information.
These tips are just a few of the thousands easily found on the internet and in books widely available. I encourage you to keep
looking for tips that you can incorporate into your daily living.
Information in this article was mainly collected from: www.ecolife.com, www.composting101.com, www.reduce.org.
p9
Relay for Life
Katherine Meyers, Employment Coordinator
p10
Summer-Vegetable Gratin
This gratin sides well with traditional summer
fare, like chicken and grilled meats.
Ingredients
b 2 large leeks, white and light-green parts
b 1 medium zucchini, sliced diagonally 1/4
inch thick
b 1 medium yellow squash, sliced diagonally
1/4 inch thick
b 3 tablespoon(s) olive oil, plus more for
coating dish
b Salt
b Freshly ground pepper to taste
b 2 tablespoon(s) plain bread crumbs
b 2 tablespoon(s) freshly grated Parmesan
b 1 clove(s) (medium) garlic, minced
b 2 teaspoon(s) fresh thyme leaves
Directions
1. Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Brush a 9-inch
Pyrex pie plate or gratin dish with oil. Trim stem
ends of leeks; cut into 1/4-inch-thick diagonal
rounds. Place in a bowl of cold water for 5
minutes to rid them of dirt and sand. Pat dry. In a
medium bowl, gently toss leeks, zucchini, squash,
2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste.
Arrange vegetable slices in bottom of pie plate,
slightly overlapping them.
2. In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs,
Parmesan, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper
to taste. Mix in the remaining 1 tablespoon
oil until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle the
crumb mixture over vegetables, and bake
until the bread crumbs are golden brown and
vegetables are tender, about 25 minutes.
EBMS’ Relay for Life team was one of the 159 teams who participated in the
American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event at West High’s track on July 13.
This year, there were 1,583 participants and a total of $502,867 was raised for
cancer research. Our team raised just over $8,000 with a large part of those
funds raised during our successful Brewin’ up a Cure event in April and our
internal raffle. Our team of 37, as well as spouses, children, and additional EBMS
employees, all took an hour shift walking the track through the night.
The night was filled with live
music, fireworks (sponsored by
EBMS), giveaways, hair and face
painting, silent auction, yoga,
and zumba. It was a fun evening
where so many in the community
came together for the same
cause. EBMS has had a Relay for
Life team for the past nine years.
Mona McPhail, Sr. Project Manager, and Linda Miller,
Disease Management & Wellness Assistant, with their
winnings from the Relay Raffle.
Huckleberry Ice Cream
If you can’t find huckleberries for this yummy ice
cream, try substituting blueberries.
Ingredients
b
b
b
b
b
b
b
2 cup(s) half-and-half
4 eggs
1/2 cup(s) sugar
1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
1 cup(s) whipping cream
1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
2 cup(s) huckleberries, or blueberries,
blended with 3/4 cup sugar
Directions
1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together half-andhalf, eggs, sugar, and salt. Place pan over mediumhigh heat and whisk mixture until bubbly. Strain
into a large bowl and cool; then whisk in cream,
vanilla, and berries. Cover with plastic wrap and
refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.
2. Pour mixture into ice-cream maker; process
according to manufacturer instructions.
Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close
they were to success when they gave up.
– Thomas Edison
Hot enough for you?
Janean Honadel, Strategic Account Manager
The summer of 2012 will be one for the record books around the nation. The hot weather came early and has just stayed. In years
gone by, the month of August has been referred to as the dog days of summer. This year, the dog days arrived in June and are
still here! For anyone who knows me, heat and I do not mix well. During this weather I go from my air conditioned house to my air
conditioned car to my air conditioned work place--and the colder the better! I realize that I am truly fortunate to have all of this
wonderful air conditioning around me but really, life goes on and you can’t stay indoors forever.
So, how do you beat the heat? I have my own theories that I work with during the summer months--water of any kind; to play in
and to drink, helps keep the heat from overwhelming me. Early morning is nice and cool and opening the windows and doors to
give the old air conditioner a break works wonders. If you walk or run for exercise then early morning is the best time. Same goes
for your lawn; water in the early morning so the water goes into the ground and is not burned up by the heat of the day.
What do you think? How do you beat the heat?
Charly Stone, Provider Services: I have two children so we like to go to the spray parks and do water activities, we also like to
BBQ so we can keep the house nice and cool on the inside. We play outside early in the morning and come in and do activities
inside when it is really hot out such as paint, color, and make crafts.
Bob Markovich, Support Services: Drink lots of water, go to the pool--the new Oasis Water Park is awesome.
Sam Fleming, Finance: My number one helper is water. Be careful about going from working really hard outside on a hot day to
jumping in to a cold house right away; this is how may people suffer heat stroke.
Sheila Hutchinson, Provider Services: Pool party with our three-year-old grandson in the front yard. Mind you it’s the kiddie pool,
so Grandma only puts her feet in, but hey EVERY little bit helps cool us off. Under one of the trees is our picnic lunch/dinner. GREAT
times!
Cheryl Lewis, CareLink: Jeans make the heat much more tolerable.
Heidi Henriksen, Legal: Take a nap in my hammock on the shady deck; go fishing in my favorite shady spot; roll up my pants and
wade in our creek; walk early in the morning; always wear a sunhat.
Paul Pritchard, IT: I pant.
Veronica Marconi-Smith, Training: Adam and I went to Red Lodge one weekend and it was a perfect 66 degrees in the Beartooth
Mountains! When we left Billings, it was 93 degrees. It was a pleasant day to be in the wilderness and away from the heat. There
are a lot nice day hikes in and around Red lodge, great way to beat the heat!
Korin Miller, Eligibility: The kids and I sometimes go to bed with a few of the cold-packs for lunchboxes, kind of the opposite of
using a hot water bottle in the winter.
Brenna Yarina, Legal: I take the kids to Oasis Water Park.
Lisa Heppler, Provider Services: I grew up in Arizona...know a little bit about heat. My suggestion: Stay indoors between 12:00-4:00
when the sun is really beating down. If you must be outdoors at anytime when it’s hot, a quick way to cool down your head is to
dab some water on your earlobes and fan yourself if there is no breeze. Even better...rub an ice cube on your earlobes – it really
works!
Mary Bush, CareLink: If it’s a weekend, I recommend driving to the mountains (or at least higher elevation). You might have to drive
a ways, but it’s always a lot cooler! If it’s during the week, and you don’t have time to drive that far, I recommend lots of ice cream
(a Dairy Queen Blizzard is perfectly acceptable for dinner, isn’t it??).
p11
P.O. Box 21367
Billings, MT 59104-1367
www.ebms.com
P 406.245.3575
T 800.777.3575
F 406.652.5380
C R E AT I N G
COMMUNITIES,
O N E E M P LOY E R AT A T I M E
EBMS designs strategies to transform the health and wellbeing of individuals, companies, and communities.
Spotlight Employee Growth
Katherine Meyers, Employment Coordinator
Laura Rookhuizen started as an Intake Coordinator almost five years ago and is now our Wellness Manager. When Laura was in
college, she knew that she wanted to use her education to practice worksite wellness. Her senior year in college, she was required
to research a local company that could be a potential employer for someone with her degree, Heath Promotion. She did a lot of
research of local healthcare facilities, but she just couldn’t find the right fit for what she was looking to do. When she came across
EBMS, it was evident EBMS is a forward thinking company and that wellness and prevention was already a part of the culture.
After researching the company further, she was interested in pursuing employment at EBMS.
When Laura graduated from MSU-Billings with her bachelors, she applied for the open Intake Coordinator position. She brought
her Senior Internship binder on worksite wellness with her to her interview so that she could display where her interests lie.
Unbeknownst to Laura, EBMS was actually in the process of developing a wellness program
at the time and were looking for individuals with her qualifications. Six months into her
employment she moved into the Wellness Coach position. Laura then obtained her Certified
Health Education Specialist and Certified Wellness Coach designation and moved into the
Wellness Manager position in September of 2010. Laura credits her success to hard work,
taking the initiative, and the overall supportive culture of EBMS. When asked what advice
she would give to someone interested in growth at EBMS, she says to take the initiative and
seek out opportunities and advice to get you where you want to be.
Open your heart to dreams. For as long as there’s a dream,
there is hope, and as long as there is hope, there is joy in living.
– Anonymous
tpaT day
a publication of EBMS
Meet Your New Team Members
There was no time
wasted between
college and the
world of work for
Andrew Thelen. He
goes after what he
believes in. Within a
week of joining the
Andrew Thelen
EBMS team as an
IS Report Analyst in January, Andrew
was pursuing opportunities to do service
for a local charity. That was about the
time the Relay for Life Team was getting
organized for the year; he hasn’t missed
a meeting or assisting at events since.
After graduating from Mead Senior High
School in Spokane, Andrew headed for
Washington State University in Pullman.
In December 2011, he graduated Magna
Cum Laude with a degree in Management
Information Systems with a Minor in
History. An academic level of distinction
signifying his academic degree was
received “with great honor” and he
was on the President’s Honor Roll each
semester. All that and he worked while in
college. Andrew was a Student Manager
at an on campus café for four years. He
also worked construction or as a waiter
during the summers. That garnered him a
Student Manager of the Year.
Andrew’s siblings and parents live in
town and were the reason he moved
back to Billings after college. He said,
“I was gone for five years and wanted
to spend time with them.” Andrew has
two younger brothers, Anthony is 22
and Alexander is 16, and a younger
sister, Gabrielle who is 19. He lives with
Anthony right now.
What does Andrew do in his spare time?
He likes to go fishing and camping with
his dad and brothers. Recently Andrew
got back into golf. He says he’s not very
good but he really enjoys the game. He
has always been a fitness enthusiast
and really enjoys going to the gym and
remaining active. He’s a people person
and loves spending time with friends and
family. Andrew is also a Video Game nut
and reads to balance out the video game
guilt. He and his brother have gotten into
beer brewing and will hopefully have a
drinkable batch—one that they are not
embarrassed to share with friends and
family. He is also an avid Green Bay
Packers fan.
Andrew loves going to Portland and
Seattle to visit friends; he’s not a big
traveler beyond that. He really wants
to go to Europe someday to have that
experience and he also wants to go see
a Packers game at Lambeau field.
When asked if there was anything
unusual about him, Andrew replied, “The
only thing that really comes to mind
is that I am related to about half the
population of Billings; it’s hard for me to
go anywhere without seeing someone
I know.” He also states that if given an
hour, he would be awake, he’s not a fan
of sleeping and wishes he could be doing
anything else rather than sleeping.
Andrew’s goals are to get better at his job
every day and absorb all the knowledge
he can from his awesome coworkers.
He wants to keep adding skills and
knowledge and grow as an individual. His
personal goals are to remain active and
maintain a healthy lifestyle.
EBMS is glad to have you as part of our
team Andrew!
Alice Jagiello
Executive Administrative Assistant
Devin DeBoer
joined the Support
Services team
as a Mail Clerk in
February 2012.
Devin, a graduate of
North Dakota State
University, grew
Devin DeBoer
up in a Minnesota
town of just 250 people. When not
working Devin keeps busy both watching
and playing sports, a true passion
as evidenced by his participation in
the National Recreation and Parks
Association. Two of three future goals
Devin has include sports--attending a
UNC basketball game and skydiving.
The biggest part of Devin’s life is not
sports but his family and wife of nearly
one year. Devin’s wife, Michelle, is an
administrator for St. John’s Lutheran
Ministries in Laurel and Red Lodge. In
the near future Devin hopes to take his
wife to Greece where they will share a
gyro on the beach. Living each day to
the fullest without regrets and spending
time with the ones he loves is the most
important thing to Devin. If there were
a way to have more time in the day
you would find Devin spending it with
his family. Something Devin has done
that most have not is fight floods in six
different states, evidence of his desire to
live life to the fullest and his big heart.
Welcome to EBMS Devin!
Jen Robbins
Director of Provider and Support Services
Symmetry
C R E AT I N G
Harmony
Stability
Equilibrium
Clarity
COMMUNITIES,
Synergy
Rhythm
O N E E M P LOY E R AT A T I M E
Ask Charly Stone
to go for a walk,
and she will likely
take you up on your
offer. She and her
family like to walk
along the river when
time allows or cruise
Charly Stone
the neighborhood
if time is scarce. Her two children,
Acadius, 4, and Braelynn, 8 months, like
to join in the fun. Given the opportunity
of an extra hour, Charly would take
her Chihuahua, Lulu, for a walk and
enjoy having a little “me” time to enjoy
the quiet outdoors. Camping is also a
family favorite especially in the Mystic,
Woodbine and Rosebud lake areas.
Would you spend
the gift of one extra
hour a day sitting
outside drinking
coffee and watching
the sunrise? Our
new member to the
EBMS community,
Heidi Capser, would.
Charly began working in Provider
Services in January of 2012; previously,
she worked in the Hospital Service
Department for United Blood Services.
After graduating from Billings Senior
High in 2005, she attended MSUB for a
couple of years but hasn’t yet made up
her mind about a major. As for her future
at EBMS, her goal is to grow into an
administrative position.
Heidi joined EBMS in February of 2012 as
an EDI Specialist in the IS Department.
Prior to joining our EBMS community,
Heidi put her BS in Computer Science
to good use as a Business Analyst with
Apria Healthcare and a Programmer
Analyst with Computers Unlimited.
Heidi has used her professional and
educational background to analyze her
daily workload and create streamline
solutions to help improve efficiency.
Cooking and baking are also on her list
of favorite things to do, especially when
it’s cold outside. She enjoys creating
Italian main dishes and baking special
treats for her children. San Diego holds
a special place in her heart—she loved
her visit there and enjoyed 10 days of
the wonderful climate and friendly
people. She especially liked the tourist
attractions including Sea World and
took many pictures of the beautiful
scenery.
Stop by when you have the opportunity
and say hello to this valuable new EBMS
employee.
Donna Paige
Sales Coordinator
Heidi Capser
In addition to loving beautiful sunrises,
Heidi is certainly a fan of Mother Nature,
caring for her own greenhouse and
gardening in her spare time. Heidi also
loves to share her creativity and the
beauty of Mother Nature with others
by arranging flowers for weddings and
other special occasions.
As a goal to never become bored, Heidi
is also a 5-year soccer coach and when
she finds time between gardening, flower
arrangements, sunrises, soccer…she also
travels. Heidi states this is a true passion
in life for her. Heidi says it’s just the thrill
of experiencing new places and cultures
and sunrises from all over the world.
On one of her travel adventures Heidi
actually brought home to Montana a
live bot-fly specimen from Belize. Heidi
states, “The problem was...it was in my
foot.” A true fan of Mother Nature!
Welcome to EBMS Heidi!
Deanna Westfall
Consumer Reimbursement Account Lead
Brenda Specht
joined the EBMS
team as a mail
clerk and backup receptionist in
January. Brenda
joins EBMS with a
long list of customer
Brenda Specht
service experience
having worked in various customer
relations positions with Wells Fargo
Bank for 19 years. Her great skills were
recognized by them when she was
awarded a Service Excellence Award.
Away from the office, Brenda says her
favorite activity is spending time with
her niece, Ashley, and nephew, Kameron.
When she can, Brenda likes to travel and
says she has visited some of the major
cities in Canada and hopes to travel
more in the future. London is on her list
of destinations.
Brenda is also interested in Jin ShinJyutsu which is a form of oriental
medicine that encompasses body energy
work. She is also an Associate for Usana
Health Sciences, a company that sells
vitamins and skin care products that
promote a healthy natural lifestyle.
Brenda says she feels blessed to be a
part of the EBMS team. She would like
to thank everyone who has made her
transition to life at EBMS so smooth.
Thank you for your smiles and greetings
and welcome to EBMS!
Kathi Schweigert
Claims Business Analyst
tpaT day
a publication of EBMS
Meet Your New Team Members
They say lightening
never strikes the
same thing twice,
so Jill Mosure
should be safe after
already being struck
by lightening! She
lived to tell the tale
Jill Mosure
and don’t you think
that makes her pretty lucky? EBMS is
also lucky to have Jill join our team as a
Client Service Representative!
Jill joined us in January 2012 after
working for 12 years as a Medicare
Claims Specialist, Medical Coder
and Medical Biller at Billings Clinic,
Riverstone Health, and Northern Rockies
Surgery Center. She is a Certified
Professional Coder.
Family is very important to Jill. She
loves watching her nephew play hockey
all over the US. She and her husband,
Mike, have three German Shorthair
Pointers--Ruger (12), Marie (10) and
Winston (2). Flower gardening, boating,
hiking, biking, skiing, snowmobiling,
hunting, traveling and reading are
Jill’s hobbies. She has activities for all
seasons! Traveling the world is on Jill’s
bucket list and she would like to retire in
New Zealand.
Jill has a great outlook on life and
is grateful for every day she is alive
and mobile! She is also pretty lucky in
that she shares a birthday with Kenny
Chesney. Maybe one day he will come to
Billings on their birthday and play her a
special song! It’s almost as unlikely as
getting struck by lightening…
Welcome to EBMS Jill! We are happy
you are a part of our team!
Stacey Loucks
Compliance Officer
Connie Senecal
comes to EBMS
from the fine
state of Louisiana
(Mardi Gras
anyone?) where
she graduated from
high school. She is
Connie Senecal
currently receiving
an Associates Degree in Accounting
at MSUB and is excited to see what
new opportunities that may bring her.
Prior to her February start at EBMS in
the position of Intake Coordinator I,
Connie was employed by St. Vincent
Health Care where she worked in the
registration department for all areas of
the hospital.
Connie is married to Paul, who is a
Manager of Labor Relations with the
U.S. Postal Service. They have been
married for 12 years and they have four
daughters, Jordan Land (16) who will be
a junior at Skyview High School this year
and triplet girls who are 9, Eden, Mary,
and Kate, who really look alike Connie
says. Trying to keep up with those
three is a challenge in and of itself! The
triplets will be in fourth grade this year
at Alkali Creek Elementary. Oh, and then
there is Lilo, the 5-year old yellow lab,
who thinks she is a human because she
is so spoiled!
For fun, Connie enjoys internet gaming
and reading mystery books and books
on old history. She and her girls take
several escapades around the city of
Billings checking out new and different
areas. Las Vegas and Yellowstone Park
are other places that Connie and her
girls love to visit. For future travel plans,
Connie would like to see the Pacific
Coast line and the New York area.
Welcome to EBMS Connie, we’re glad
you’re here.
Janean Honadel
Strategic Account Manager
Stephanie
Schaff joined the
EBMS team on
January 30 in the
Client Services
Department as
a Client Services
Representative.
Stephanie Schaff
Stephanie
graduated from Billings West High
School with Honors and is currently
a student at MSUB with a major in
History and has an impressive GPA of
3.67. She was a cheerleader through
high school, has played soccer since
Kindergarten and proudly served as a
Student Ambassador to Washington DC
for People to People. This gave her the
opportunity to travel coast to coast,
but never out of the country…yet! She
plans to travel to Cairo, Egypt, to see
the pyramids and continue to explore
the world.
EBMS is one of Stephanie’s first
employment experiences; she has
refereed for the Yellowstone Soccer
Association and worked at Famous
Footwear as an assistant manager for
almost five years.
Currently, Stephanie and her boyfriend,
Dillon, of two years, live together with
their “family”--a two-year old Puggle
puppy named Bailey and a ten-year old
cat, Maddy. Stephanie and Dillon met at
the IHOP the morning after Graduation
and the Bear Bash; they had gone to
high school together but never ran into
each other in the halls so it was their
first time meeting each other!
Stephanie enjoys sewing, reading and
hanging out with friends. Success, travel
and happiness are in her future and
we’re happy she has chosen to spend
her time with us at EBMS.
Welcome to EBMS Stephanie, we’re glad
you’re here.
Janean Honadel
Strategic Account Manager