This week, I had the pleasure of spending 3 days in the Longboat Key Corporate Headquarters of Charles Nechtem Associates, Inc., the nation’s 10th largest EAP by covered lives, 5th largest by revenue according to Business Insurance Magazine.
CNA contracts with employers to provide mental and behavioral health services to their employees and their dependents with very impressive results. Their phones are manned 24/7/365 by counselors with a minimum of Masters level education and 5 years of experience. There is no triage. The phones are answered within 3 rings.
Mental Health is a really hot topic for employers right now because of the Mental Health Parity law which became effective this year. It mandates that mental health benefits must match benefits offered for any medical conditions. For people with serious mental health illness, this is a wonderful thing. On the other hand, it can also be abused.
Some of CNA’s clients chose to amend their Plan Documents to reflect this change one year ago. It was expected that their mental and nervous claims would increase at least 10%. This did not happen. The claims costs remained constant and in one case, the claims dropped by 8%.
How is this possible? CNA’s interventions are very effective. Many issues are resolved entirely over the phone. When face to face sessions are indicated, they are conducted by professionals with a track record for their effectiveness.
Want more information? Call Chuck at Charles Nechtem Associates and tell him I sent you.
