Chamber members had an opportunity to learn more about Hope Enterprises and the work it does in Columbia and Montour Counties on behalf of the people it serves — adults with disABILITIES — at the Chamber’s July Business After Hours, which was hosted by Hope at its Danville office. Attendees enjoyed food and drinks, including a cake donated by fellow member Danville Pharmacy, while connecting with several Hope staff members from the area. 

Hope, which has now been in the Danville and surrounding areas for 12 years, also established a separate employment services arm last year, called MaxWorx, which works directly with local employers to place its clients into task-appropriate jobs. It offers custodial and industrial services such as light manufacturing, packaging, bulk mailings, fulfillment and more. For more information, or to see if MaxWorx might be able to help your company fulfill its employee needs, call 272-202-4435 or visit MaxWorx’ website. 

Business After Hours provide regular opportunities to build business relationships while learning about the services offered by other Chamber members. The next Business After Hours will be held at Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital, located at 549 Fair St., Bloomsburg, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

From ChamberChoice

Employers and employees alike experience the headache and often significant financial surprise medical bills (balance billing from an in-network facility where the patient unknowingly receives care from out-of-network providers) present. While some states ban the practice, employers who sponsor or participate in self-funded medical coverage are generally not covered by these laws.

Surprise medical billing has become a rare bipartisan concern in Washington, and draft legislation was issued in fall of 2018 that would cover both insured and selffunded health plans. While already a relatively popular cause for health care reform advocates and subject to some news coverage, surprise medical billing received even more attention after President Trump’s May 9th, 2019 speech on surprise billing. President Trump called on Congress to enact legislation ending the practice and outlined a set of principles to be incorporated into any legislation that might eventually reach the Oval Office.

The White House’s priorities include eliminating surprise medical bills for patients visiting a hospital they believe is in-network facility where they are ultimately treated by a provider that is out-of-network. Also affected would be patients visiting an apparently innetwork for elective procedures where they are treated by out-of-network. Some of the Trump Administration’s principles do conflict with the earlier proposed legislation, including restricting binding between providers and insurers in cases where they cannot agree on the payment amount and where the patient would ordinarily face a balance or “surprise” bill.

On May 23, 2019, the Senate Health Committee proposed a new bipartisan bill called the Lower Health Care Costs Act (“LCCA”). In addition to addressing surprise medical billing, this bill addresses other healthcare cost issues including prescription drug costs and healthcare service pricing transparency. Specific proposals in this bill related to surprise billing include:

• Out-of-network providers at in-network facilities are required to accept in-network rates
• Prices for emergency services at out-of-network facilities benchmarked at median regional contract rate
• Arbitration between insurer/payer and hospital when patient receives surprise bill over $750

Given that there are already distinctions between the LCCA and the Trump Administration’s wish list for surprise billing legislation, the final version of the LCCA (assuming it reaches a vote in either chamber of Congress) will almost certainly look different. And major cost concerns including exorbitant air and ground ambulance costs, and a lack of participating providers in a given network, are still not addressed by any pending legislation or Administration proposal. Employers should monitor these developments over the coming months and years to see what relief, if any, they and their employees can expect related to surprise medical bills.

This article gives a basic overview of recent regulation as in effect on the date of the article. Please be aware that the determination of the requirements and the application of these rules to each employer may differ due to a number of variables. Nothing in this newsletter should be construed as legal advice.

Commonwealth Health – Berwick Hospital Center opened a new walk-in clinic on July 18 and less than a week later on July 24, held a ribbon cutting for the new service, which is available at its West Front St. clinic in Berwick. Open 8 am – 8 pm Monday-Saturday, the clinic does not require appointments and treats things like cold/flu, abrasions, allergies and other minor issues that require medical attention but don’t rise to the level of requiring an emergency room visit.

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in an overwhelming 419-6 vote in favor of the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019.  Supported by the PA Chamber and a broad-based nationwide coalition, the bipartisan legislation aims to repeal an impending 40 percent tax on employer-provided health care.  Dubbed the “Cadillac Tax,” this component of the Affordable Care Act has been delayed by Congress twice; however, the policy has contributed to deductibles increasing 89 percent while wage growth has remained comparatively flat.

In early June, the PA Chamber was among the signatories on a letter to Congress urging support for the bill, largely due to its impact on the nation’s middle class population.  “While this tax was intended to only hit Americans with ‘gold-plated’ plans, the reality is that very modest plans covering low-and moderate-income working families are projected to trigger the tax,” the national coalition of business, chamber and insurance groups wrote. 

The legislation, HR 748, now awaits consideration in the U.S. Senate.

• The Bucknell University Small Business Development Center will hold its annual Celebration of Small Business breakfast this Friday, July 26 at 8 a.m. This annual event celebrates entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial leaders and also features awards. There is no cost to attend. Register online or call 570-577-1249. 

• The Regional Impact Fund of the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation recently announced its second competitive grantround of $50K for projects that address current areas of unmet needs throughout the CSCF’s service area, which includes Columbia and Montour Counties. This year’s grantround will consist of an exciting new application process and opportunity for the public to get involved. Interested nonprofits will first submit a Letter of Inquiry introducing their organization, needs, service area, and budgetary request. Those proposals selected by the CSCF Grants Committee will then be invited to submit a full application and participate in The Nonprofit Narrative next Monday, July 29, at 8:30 a.m. at the Danville Area High School auditorium. The Nonprofit Narrative is a platform for these groups to share their grant requests and stories of regional impact—the joys, challenges, dreams and requests each face as they serve our neighbors, communities, and region at large. For more information on the Regional Impact Fund, competitive grantround or The Nonprofit Narrative, visit csgiving.org/rif.

• Providence Engineering is excited to announce the promotion of Bart Foreman, P.E. to manager, distribution & warehouse facilities design.
  

  Bart Foreman of Providence Engineering

  Previously, as a project manager, Bart provided exceptional design and project management services for many clients in the distribution/warehouse market. Leveraging his 12 years of professional experience, Bart will now formally lead Providence’s distribution & warehouse facilities design department. In this new role, Bart will ensure that Providence and its clients remain at the forefront of the warehouse market by blending efficient design principles with the adoption of innovative construction technology.

• The Bucknell University Small Business Development Center invites interested business in need of website development to connect with Bucknell students in the “Markets, Innovation, and Design 300” class in the Freeman College of Management. Each semester, these students make websites free of charge for local small businesses. These projects provide a hands-on learning experience for the students while bringing new ideas to these organizations. In early September, the students will be introduced to this assignment and divided into teams. Then the teams will have the liberty to choose with which businesses and organizations they would like to work. By early October, each student team will meet with their client to learn about the specific needs and goals of the organization and the purpose that the site should serve. Over the course of the semester, the students will then design and build the website with an online website software program, incorporating text and photographs provided by the organization. If your business or organization is in need of a website, or if it would benefit from a redesigned site, then please fill out this online form by Aug. 15 to ensure your organization is considered. Additional information is available on this form. 

• Each year at the Little League World Series, Beiter’s Home Center, located right across the street from the Little League Complex in South Williamsport, allows a nonprofit organization to manage its parking lot, with the nonprofit keeping the proceeds from the parking fees. For the next two years beginning with next month’s event, Beiter’s has selected the Ronald McDonald House of Danville to be the nonprofit beneficiary. RMHD is in need of several volunteers to help run and manage the parking lot for the entirety of the event, which runs Aug. 15-25. There are several shifts available on each day of the event. If you would be interested in volunteering at the LLWS to help benefit the RMHD, please call Michael Jacobs at 570-214-1792 for more information. Volunteers must be 18 or older. 

• Wild For Salmon will holds its annual Fishtival on Saturday, Aug. 24, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at its retail store at 521 Montour Blvd. (Rt. 11) in Bloomsburg. The annual event, which welcomes back the fishermen from a successful fishing season in Alaska, features an assortment of delicious dishes with the signature sockeye salmon and other fish and seafood, as well as several other vendors. There is no cost to attend. 

• Camp Victory will host its annual Community Open House on Sunday, Sept. 8, from 12-3 p.m. This free afternoon of family fun includes its rock climbing wall, zip line and paddle boats on the pond as well as hot dogs, ice cream, drinks, an arts and crafts project, a moon bounce, wagon rides and live music. at 1 p.m., there will also be a ribbon cutting to celebrate the recent expansion of the Welcome Center. 

The Foundation of the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce has received a $4,100 grant from the PPL Foundation. These funds will be used to support Classroom in the Workplace programming, and will directly help us to provide real-world experiences to area high school students.  This grant will provide funds for two of the Foundation’s Keystone programs, Classroom in Healthcare and Classroom on Main Street. 

“Thanks to the support of PPL, the Foundation will once again be able to offer students the opportunity to get first-hand experience and knowledge about two of our key local economic drivers, healthcare and, small business and entrepreneurship,” states Jeff Emanuel, Foundation of CMCC director. 

Through strategic partnerships, the PPL Foundation will support organizations that are working to create vibrant, sustainable communities and empowering each citizen to fulfill her or his potential. The PPL Foundation contributes more than $3 million annually to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations in north and central Pennsylvania.

Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc. (DBI), invites everyone interested in the Main Street business district to meet the design team of the Miller Avenue Improvement Project.

DBI has undertaken the redevelopment of a block of Miller Avenue into a multi-use, pedestrian friendly asset for the downtown; this block connects Fog & Flame coffee shop on the Main Street end and Rose Marie’s restaurant on the Pine Avenue end. After a request for proposals and a rigorous evaluation process by DBI board members, DBI chose Larson Design Group to draw up plans and manage the project’s construction; with an expectation of ground breaking in early 2020.

The meeting will take place on Monday, Aug. 5, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Greenly Center, 50 East Main Street in Bloomsburg, with representatives of DBI and Larson Design present. No reservations are necessary.

As one of the most important thoroughfares between Main Street and Pine Avenue, Miller Avenue sees heavy pedestrians traffic; once it closes permanently to cars and trucks, users will see a significant increase in safety. In addition, tables and chairs from the eateries at both ends, as well as other seating, will welcome citizens and visitors alike into an “outdoor living room”, complete with artwork, plantings, and attractive lighting.

DBI’s investment in the downtown comes from donations and money raised at events including the Easter and Santa train rides. DBI also received matching funds through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program, for which DBI acts as the Town of Bloomsburg’s designated agent.

For any questions about the project, contact DBI board member Oren B. Helbok, executive director of The Exchange, at 570-317-2596 or email.

Program summary

Penn National Insurance will return almost $900,000 in dividends for the seventh program year of the ChamberChoice Business Insurance program. Members of the ChamberChoice Business Insurance Program, who placed their insurance coverage with Penn National Insurance during the 2016/2017 program year and remained chamber members and policyholders through the end of the program year, will receive a dividend equal to 3% of their total business insurance premium (excluding Umbrella premium). Over the past six years, Penn National Insurance has returned an average of 7% in dividends and a total of over $9.7 million to the business community.

Columbia Montour Chamber members enrolled in the program received an aggregate total of $9,604 back in dividends. Over the last seven years, Columbia Montour Chamber members have now received over $240,000 in dividends.

“This program is not only a great benefit to our members, but has made a significant economic impact by putting dollars back into our local community and member businesses,” said Columbia Montour Chamber president Fred Gaffney.

An important aspect of this group insurance program is preventing loss and controlling claims costs. Because dividends are based on the group’s collective loss experience, a business that may have had a significant loss may still be eligible to receive a dividend.

The program is sold exclusively through local, independent agents who can offer chamber members a variety of coverages and pricing on property and casualty insurance, including business owners, commercial auto, general liability, inland marine and workers’ compensation. Dividends are paid on all of these coverages. In addition, through safety consulting, Penn National Insurance and local independent insurance agencies encourage member businesses to develop safety practices to substantially reduce or eliminate workplace injuries.

To see if this program could be a good fit for your business, contact Chamber members Associated Insurance Management at 570-275-0100, Hutchison Insurance Agency at 570-784-5550, or Henry Dunn Insurance at 570-416-0044 for a no-obligation quote. 

From ChamberChoice

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) imposes a fee on health insurance issuers and plan sponsors of self-insured health plans to help fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. The fee, called the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee, is calculated based on the average number of lives covered under the policy or plan.

PCORI fees are reported and paid annually using IRS Form 720 (Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return). These fees are due each year by July 31 of the year following the last day of the plan year. This means that, for plan years ending in 2018, the PCORI fees are due by July 31, 2019. The IRS instructions for filing form 720 include information on reporting and paying the PCORI fees.

The links to the ACA Overview below provides further information on reporting and paying the PCORI fees. Please contact JRG Advisors for more information.

Reporting & Paying the PCORI Fees (pdf)
Coverage Subject to PCORI Fees (pdf)
FAQs on PCORI Fees (pdf)

From MePush

Late in 2018, we sent out a notice similar to this one discussing the end of life for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008R2, which is scheduled to occur on January 14, 2020.

Given that the end of life date is now less than six months away, we wanted to take one final opportunity to remind everyone of the above mentioned date. If you are a MePush customer and haven’t heard from us regarding your workstations over the past 7-8 months, please reply and let us know so that we can ensure you are set going in to 2020. 

It you could use help with this or other information technology issues, contact MePush or another Chamber member in the Computer/IT/Internet Services category.