For the past 14 years, the Builders Association of Northern Nevada (BANN) and Hometown Health have worked together to build a stable structure for delivering health benefits. This coverage has met the needs of employers in the building trades and their employees and families.
   In 1996 the Builders Association and Hometown Health recognized that small construction firms needed affordable health coverage for their employees. They created a pool through which small firms could join in buying group coverage as if they were one large employer group.      
   Through this program, small businesses have gained long-term stability in benefits and a standard of health coverage across the association. BANN members can provide benefits similar to their competitors, and employees who seek new opportunities can find a similar level of health benefits.
   With this firm foundation, the program has grown and adapted. We look forward to keeping coverage affordable and to provide access to the skill, expertise and technology of Renown Health and to an extensive provider network.

Health coverage solutions for challenging times

   While every business and family has felt the current economic difficulties, Hometown Health and BANN have continued to provide creative front line solutions to our members and their families. BANN members can find benefit plans and services that support healthy employees and a healthy business.
   A Hometown Health representative can help you design benefit plans with your choice of HMO and PPO plans and Health Savings Accounts. Hometown Health recognizes that many employers in the construction industry have needed to act resolutely to control their costs. Hometown Health representatives stand ready to meet with the employer, analyze the company’s situation and present options for designing a program that works for everyone.

Safe and healthy employees, on and off the job

   In addition to our work to help keep your employees healthy in their personal lives, Renown Occupational Health can assist in reducing workers’ compensation expenses by creating custom, comprehensive programs featuring:

• Pre-employment physical examinations
• Workplace Wellness, to help promote a safe, healthy workplace
• Rapid return-to-work programs
• Convenient access to more than 20 healthcare facilities throughout northern Nevada
• Prompt care from the region’s most skilled medical professionals, with less than 30 minutes to see a physician
• Results from in-house drug and alcohol testing in 30 minutes at all locations, with some locations in Reno, Sparks and Fernley open weekday evenings and on the weekend

   A new health and wellness program supports a healthy workforce by identifying categories of health risk among employees and offering solutions to reduce those risks. Employees have the opportunity to:

• Take a Health Risk Assessment online
• Attend community health fairs
• Take classes on their risk factors and learn to reduce their risks
• Receive care through Health Management Services to reduce risk or manage chronic health conditions

   Hometown Health also provides BANN members with discounts for leading northern Nevada health and wellness vendors.

Easing the administrative burden and saving you money

   Hometown Health offers the services of a COBRA administrator to support compliance and guide employers through the changes in federal COBRA regulations.
   With iChoose, the electronic enrollment service from Hometown Health, employers can enroll employees and change or delete coverage online, with less paperwork. 
   Hometown Health and BANN will continue their partnership to provide health care coverage and solutions for BANN members. In the years ahead, our creativity and experience will enhance this program and help northern Nevada builders attract and retain skilled employees. 

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(For more information on how you can save on your company’s health care coverage, while at the same time offering your valued employees a superior insurance product that protects them and their families, contact your insurance broker and ask for a quote on the Builders Association of Northern Nevada/Hometown Health program.  Additional information is available by contacting Hometown Health at 775-982-3100.  Dean Schermerhorn, owner of Concise Communications, writes on health care, finance and education, to name just a few topics. You can reach Dean by e-mail at dean.scribe@gmail.com or by calling 775-848-1867. Visit www.concisecomm.com.)