Briefly

Prescription maintenance program update

Caremark recently implemented a maintenance medication program for employees enrolled in the Quality Care Health Plan, HealthLink OAP, Health Alliance Illinois and OSF Winnebago. (NOTE: Health Alliance HMO, not Health Alliance Illinois, is the plan in which most employees in this area are enrolled. This update does not impact Health Alliance HMO.) This program allows employees the option to fill 61-90 day maintenance prescriptions (three-month supply) by mail (using Caremark’s Mail Service Pharmacy) or at retail, when using pharmacies participating in the Retail Maintenance Network, at the reduced rate of two co-payments.

Participating Pharmacies List. This Web site is updated as new pharmacies join the Retail Maintenance Network.

Currently, Carbondale does not have any participating pharmacies. Human Resources has also been notified that Murphysboro Hometown Pharmacy, currently listed as a participating pharmacy, has ended their contract with Caremark for the 90-day maintenance medication prescriptions at the reduced rate.

If you have specific questions about or problems with filling your prescriptions, please call CareMark at 1-866-212-4751 or the Member Services department at Central Management Services (CMS) at 1-800-442-1300, option #1, #1, #2.

Maximum contributions increased Jan. 1

The maximum contributions to Tax Deferred Annuities (403b) and Deferred Compensation (457) plans increased on Jan. 1. The maximum contribution will be $14,000, and if you are over age 50 you can contribute an additional $4,000. Both plans allow for other “catch-up” contributions. To see if you qualify for additional contributions and to increase your contribution for 2005, you should contact your Tax Deferred Annuity vendor. To increase your TIAA-CREF contribution or your Deferred Compensation contribution, you should make an appointment through the Benefits Office at 453-6668.

Payroll Office processing W-2s

The Payroll Office will process and mail W-2s for tax year 2004 at the end of January. Please be on the alert for information that was distributed by the Payroll Office via the Fiscal Officer List Serv and a memo distributed to all campus mail drops last week. If you need to change your mailing address, it is important to follow the steps immediately. You may need to contact your department representative for a copy of the information.

Assistantship applications due Feb. 25

All University departments can apply for undergraduate assistantship positions for the 2005-06 school year. The deadline to submit applications is Feb. 25.

This innovative program provides undergraduate students with a paraprofessional employment opportunity. Students must work directly with a faculty member or professional level staff person in a position that is related to their career/academic discipline. Additional information is available at Financial Aid.

Positions funded for the current school year are not automatically approved for the 2005-06 school year. The application and position description form is available on the AIS E-Forms Web site at AIS E-Forms.

After Feb. 25, a committee will review the applications and select the positions to be funded for next school year. Approved positions will be posted to the Financial Aid office Web site in April. If you have questions, e-mail them to ugrada@siu.edu.