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June 2018 General Revenue Report posted

EBD Alert - Open Enrollment and Rates for 2019

  • Posted Date: 06/27/2018
  • Office: ARBenefits
  • News:

    EBD Alert – June 27, 2018 
    Open Enrollment and Rates for 2019 – General Distribution

    The open enrollment period for the 2019 plan year will run October 1-31, 2018. Open enrollment applies to active employees, non-Medicare retirees and those on COBRA. Life insurance open enrollment through Securian will also be October 1-31, 2018.

    Employees are able make the following changes during open enrollment: 

    • enroll onto the plan, 
    • add/drop spouse and dependent coverage,
    • change plan levels (only choice for non-Medicare retirees and COBRA), 
    • cancel coverage completely.

    Members who do not elect any changes during open enrollment will keep their current coverage for 2019. Changes elected during open enrollment go into effect January 1, 2019. 

    For State Agency Employees (ASE) Only: 
    Open enrollment for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) will be October 1 - 31, 2018. Also, open enrollment for voluntary products through ARSEBA will run September 1 - October 31, 2018.

    During the June meeting, The State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Board approved a 0% increase for both ASE and PSE employee and retiree rates for 2019. The Board also voted to keep the wellness discount at $75 per month. 
    For PSE plans, the board lowered plan deductibles by $250. 

    Rate sheets and plan documents for 2019 will be available later this summer. 

GuidanceResources - Suicide Awareness and Intervention Webinar

  • Posted Date: 06/14/2018
  • Office: ARBenefits
  • News:


    Next week, GuidanceResources will present a live webinar called Suicide Awareness and Intervention on two separate dates.  Recent news of celebrity suicides has heightened concern and generated interest in learning more about this important subject. Newly published research reveals that suicide rates have dramatically increased in the last decade. Suicide is a profoundly disturbing event and many people respond with confusion, fear, and anger when confronting it. This webinar will demystify suicide through discussion of why it occurs, the risk factors associated with suicide, and how to intervene with those who are suicidal or potentially suicidal. 

    At the end of this workshop, you will be able to: 
    • Identify causes of suicide and the role of social contagion 
    • Recognize risk factors, including signs and symptoms of depression 
    • Describe common myths associated with suicide 
    • Describe how to intervene with someone who is expressing suicidal thoughts 
    • Identify the importance of creating a “safety plan” 
    • Describe available resources
    Click below to register for either date and time:
    Register for June 20, 2018 1:00 PM CDT at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5697888449309833218 
    Register for June 21, 2018 10:00 AM CDT at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8702489789672888834 

    EBD Communications
     

May 2018 General Revenue Report posted

General Revenue and Economic Forecast posted

DFA Director encourages Arkansans to “Skip the Trip.”

2017-2020 STOP Implementation Plan

April 2018 General Revenue Report posted

Updated Procurement Regulations

News Release - Deadline Extension to File State Taxes

March 2018 General Revenue Report posted

Change in Delivery of Notice of Direct Deposit

Governor Hutchinson announces Arkansans may now register vehicles online

EBD Alert - Online Health Assessment

  • Posted Date: 03/09/2018
  • Office: ARBenefits
  • News:

    EBD Alert – February 22, 2018 
    Online Health Assessment Now Available

    The online health assessment through the ARBenefits Member Portal is now available for members to complete. Completion of a health assessment is one of the requirements of the ARBenefitsWell program.

    The online health assessment only needs to be completed by covered employees, and covered spouses who do not participate in a checkup through Catapult Health.

    To access the assessment, members must log into their ARBenefits Member Portal account at www.ARBenefits.org and follow the instructions below. Covered spouses must log into their own ARBenefits account to complete their assessment. 

    • Scroll down in the Home tab to the ARBenefits box.
    • Click the GuidanceResources® link on the right side of the box to automatically access your GuidanceResources.com account.
    •  Inside your GuidanceResources® account, click the Health Assessment link on the left hand side, or the notification in the middle of the page. 

    The assessment must be completed by going through the ARBenefits portal. If you complete an online health assessment by going directly to www.GuidanceResources.com, it will not count towards the wellness requirements. 

    Online health assessments must be completed by 10/31/18. Any health assessments you previously completed will no longer be in the GuidanceResources® system, but those completed after 10/31/17 will receive credit for completion.

    Members who need assistance logging into their ARBenefits account can contact EBD at 1-877-815-1017x1, or by e-mail at AskEBD@dfa.arkansas.gov.

    Accessing Guidance Resources

February 2018 General Revenue Report posted

Refund Notification

Arkansas DFA Launches MyDMV Website, Offers New Online Services

State of Arkansas warns of counterfeit check scam

  • Posted Date: 02/02/2018
  • Office: All DFA, Director's Office
  • News:

    Check alleges to be payment for advertising

    The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DF&A) warns of a current counterfeit check scam that is targeting taxpayers and alleges to be a check from the State of Arkansas.

    The check is accompanied by a letter or email stating it is payment for placing advertising on your vehicle for the “Amazon Online Store” or possibly another retailer. The specific instructions are to deposit the check, keeping $500 of it and wiring the remainder to a specific account in order to receive the ads to be placed on your vehicle.

    Regarding counterfeit checks and similar scams, the Federal Trade Commission’s website explains:

    If you were to deposit the check and wire the money, your bank would soon learn that the check was a fake. And you’re out the money because the money you wired can’t be retrieved, and you’re responsible for the checks you deposit — even though you don’t know they’re fake.

    The checks that have come to the attention of DF&A are for varying amounts.

    Law enforcement has been alerted regarding these checks.

January 2018 General Revenue Report posted

December 2017 General Revenue Report posted

DF&A announces new online services are available beginning January 1, 2018

EBD Alert - Wellness Program Guidelines

  • Posted Date: 12/21/2017
  • Office: ARBenefits
  • News:

    EBD Alert – December 21, 2017 
    2019 Wellness Program Requirements 

    Attached are the requirements for the 2019 ARBenefits wellness program. 

    Both employee and covered spouse must complete a biometric screening, and a health assessment by October 31, 2018 in order to qualify for the 2019 incentive. 

    Participants can complete their biometric screening through a Catapult Health worksite checkup, or they can have their own physician complete their screening. Those that go to their own physician to complete their screening will need to have their physician complete the Primary Care Provider form. The form will be available at www.ARBenefits.org.  

    Biometric screenings must include a screening for nicotine use. Any employee or spouse, who tests positive for nicotine, can still qualify for the 2019 incentive if they enroll in the GuidanceResources® Tobacco Cessation program. 

    Members who participate in a checkup through Catapult will also complete their health assessment requirement during their appointment. Those who have their own physician complete their screening will need to complete a health assessment through the ARBenefits Member Portal. The assessment through the Member Portal will be rolled out in early 2018. 

    Thank you,
    EBD Communications

    2019 Wellness Program Requirements 

     

SS Card News Release

Van Accessible Decal Application

Notice of Rule Making and Public Hearing

Procurement Rules Marked

Procurement Rules Clean

November 2017 General Revenue Report posted

Candy, Soft Drinks, and Digital Products

General Revenue and Economic Forecast posted

IRP Online Services

EBD Alert - Phone Line Outage

  • Posted Date: 11/20/2017
  • Office: ARBenefits, Employee Benefits Division
  • News:

    EBD Alert - November 20, 2017 

    EBD Phone Line Outage – General Distribution 

    EBD phone and fax machine lines are currently down. We are working on resolving the issue. If you need assistance, e-mails can be sent to AskEBD@dfa.arkansas.gov.

    Thank you,
    EBD Communications

EBD Alert - New Wellness Program Coming Soon

  • Posted Date: 11/21/2017
  • Office: ARBenefits, Employee Benefits Division
  • News:

    EBD Alert - November 21, 2017 

    New Wellness Program Coming

    As we enter the holiday season, the Employee Benefits Division (EBD) team is thankful for the opportunity to serve each and every one of our members. From teaching to tourism, our members keep Arkansas running throughout the year. That’s why we are eager to share some exciting news regarding our wellness program.

    Please be on the lookout for this announcement next month. With these new opportunities in our wellness program coming soon, we ask that members not complete the online Health Assessment or schedule your wellness visit before this new initiative is announced (in mid-December).

    We will be sharing details regarding this innovative program soon but until then, enjoy your turkey and time off! As always, the EBD team is here to answer any questions you may have.

State Revenue Offices Open in Limited Areas

Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Notice of Available Funding

New Deadline to file Arkansas Corporate Income Taxes

Pocahontas OCSE - Temporary Office Closure

General Revenue and Economic Forecast posted

Pocahontas OCSE - Re-open

One-pager for AR Class A CDL holders

Tax-Filing Deadline Extended for State Taxpayers

Governor’s Council on DD posts request for proposals for $500,000

EASE Procurement Go-Live

Procurement Thresholds are Increasing Effective July 31, 2017

Report Misuse of Disability Parking

Request For Review & Comments: Edward Byrne Memorial (JAG) FY17

News Release - Florida Filing Extension

News Release - Texas Filing Extension

Tax Filing Deadline Extended for Georgia and Puerto Rico taxpayer

Proposed Rules for Arkansas Domestic Violence Shelter Fund

Request for Review Comment AR Domestic Violence Shelter Fund

Van Accessible Decal Application