HighRoads, the industry leader in employer health care compliance and benefits communications management, and Pitney Bowes Management Services, Inc. (PBMS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pitney Bowes Inc., today announced a new, integrated service for the health care marketplace called HighRoads ACA/ERISA Communications Compliance Service, powered by PBMS. This service allows companies to seamlessly distribute their employee health care benefits communications in both digital and hard-copy formats more efficiently and effectively, and enables a significant conversion to digital delivery. 

In the wake of the passage of the ACA, self-insured employers and benefits managers are now required to provide their members with the new Summary of Benefits & Coverage (SBC) at least 60 days in advance of all plan design changes starting September 23, 2012, as well as the previously required Summary Plan Description (SPD) documents. For mid to large sized enterprises, this is a significant challenge and expense to update, manage and distribute legally required materials to plan participants and beneficiaries.

The joint HighRoads and Pitney Bowes solution automates this daunting task and supports compliance with federal regulations.  Based on HighRoads’ innovative process for standardizing and managing plan data and Pitney Bowes unrivaled expertise in customer communications management, the new service provides an end-to-end solution for benefits communications.

“HighRoads became the leader in ACA/ERISA compliance by developing innovative automation solutions to keep employers in compliance.  With the launch of our new complete distribution service, we continue to respond to the needs of our clients and the market, letting organizations focus on keeping their employees healthy, productive and informed,” said Michael Byers, president and CEO of HighRoads.  ”We have Pitney Bowes to thank for the concept both as a customer and a partner.”

“We are delighted to partner with HighRoads to deliver this innovative and timely service that helps companies better communicate and inform their employees of their health care benefits and plan options,” said Patrick Fogarty, vice president and commercial sector leader, Pitney Bowes Management Services.  “HighRoads is the leader in this area and we are very proud to leverage our expertise by teaming up to deliver this comprehensive solution that streamlines the process and reduces the overall costs of benefits communications.”