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W@D May.09
The May 2009 issue of Working@Duke, a publication for faculty and staff of Du...
From Pgram
ENROLL INHEALTH BENEFITS
Sign up for a HealthCare ReimbursementAccount and receivea Health Care Card,which is similar to adebit card.
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ANATOMY OF A PAYSTATEMENT
Ever wonder howyour pay gets to you?In honor of NationalPayroll Week, followthe trail.
WORKING
@
DUKE
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SUSTAINABLE DUKE
Duke gets out of thebusiness of sellingsurplus property andinto the business ofdonating it to non-profits and charities.
NEWS YOU CAN USE :: Volume 2, Issue 7 :: September 2007
GlobalGreeters
This paper consists of 30% recycledpost-consumer fiber.
s a Duke van rolled to a stop in front of Target, Lisa Giragosianglanced in the rear view mirror and grinned at the diverse groupseated behind her. Her gaze was greeted by a warm smile fromKatalin Molnar, a visiting scholar from Hungary and research associate inBiological Sciences.“Thank you for driving us here,” Molnar said, opening a small floralnotebook that contained a shopping list. “I want to bake a Hungarian cakefrom my family’s recipe, and I need ingredients,” she said, jotting itemssuch as coconut, flour and honey.For the moment, the van was a veritable worldwide welcome wagon,and Giragosian, assistant director for services at Duke’s InternationalHouse, its multi-lingual chauffeur. She and other International Housestaff members make the shopping excursion twice a month as part of theservices International House offers to help people from around the globeacclimate to Duke and the United States.“I don’t know what I would do without the people at InternationalHouse because they help with so many things,” Molnar said. “Whensomeone moves to the United States, there is a lot of paperwork involvedand other challenges.” Visiting scholars fulfill vital roles as researchers, professors andphysicians, among other positions, at the university and health system.Duke’s International House serves as a lifeline and support network. This fall, Duke has 550 visiting scholars, 100 are new to campus.“The number of visiting scholars and the number of countries they come from grows almost every year,” Giragosian said. “This year, we’vegot visiting scholars from more than 100 countries.”Duke’s vibrant international community enriches the campus, but thetransition for visiting scholars may not always be easy. Whether it’s basicneeds – transportation for grocery shopping or help finding a rental house,or more complicated needs – applying for a Social Security card or NorthCarolina driver’s license – the International House assists. The goal is to equip visiting scholars with skills to handle life’s daily issues on their own, said Patrick Morris, program coordinator.“It might be as simple as helping a family get their power turned onor finding a way for them to get a cell phone without signing a long termcontract,” Morris said. “At other times, a visiting scholar might needassistance with taxes or in dealing with issues involving an illness in thefamily back home or feeling isolated.” Among its services, the International House hosts an informalorientation session several times a week about topics ranging fromhousing to registering children for school and signing up for Englishclasses. Workshops also are offered on buying a used car, for example.Plus, visiting scholars can borrow linens, small appliances and othergoods through the Loan Closet.“Because International House staff is not doing any of the visa work,this allows us to focus on services and programming in addition totrainings.” Giragosian said. “These are things that Duke is doing that you won’t find on many other college campuses.”Many visiting scholars, including Susan Leadbetter, said they appreciatethe extra help in navigating foreign systems.
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Katalin Molnar, a visiting scholar from Hungary and research associate in Biological Sciences,brings to Target a shopping list with ingredients for a Hungarian cake during a recent trip to theDurham store with Duke’s International House.
Duke’s International House Welcomes Visiting Scholars to Duke
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2007 Gold Medal, Internal Periodical Staff Writing2007 Bronze Medal, Print Internal Audience Tabloids/Newsletters
>> See
GLOBAL GREETERS
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Maryam Yavari, an Iranian physician, and husband, Amin Mahnam, a visiting scholar and facultymember in Duke’s Biomedical Engineering department, shop at a Target in Durham during a recenttrip with Duke’s International House.
LOOKING
AHEAD
@
DUKE
For more events, check theuniversity’s online calendarat http://calendar.duke.edu
News
briefs
Primetime employee forum Sept.13
Hear from Duke’s Chief Information OfficerTracy Futhey
I
nformation technology has become inseparable from university life, virtual ivy interweaving with the real stuff on thehall of academe. In the last few years, Duke has been at the forefront of the information transformation occurring at leading American research institutions.From the conventional (e-mail and phone service) to the transformational (the Duke Digital Initiative and the latest version of DukePass), centralized groups such as theOffice of Information Technology have helped shapethe digital future for Duke. University departmentsthroughout Duke also have played a crucial role inproviding opportunities for experimentation with new technologies in the classroom, the lab and the workplace. Technology also plays a vital role in Duke’snew strategic plan, “Making a Difference.” Among theplan’s priorities is investment in emerging technologiesthat improves collaborative learning and createsnew opportunities to connect knowledge in theservice of society.From noon to 1 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 13, joinDuke’s Chief Information Officer Tracy Futhey as she reflects on the many recent technology changes and lets the campus community in onnew services and projects for the coming year.Futhey will address technology issues suchas planned upgrades to Duke’s digitalinfrastructure. She also will discuss how theseand other changes fit within Duke’s IT visionand the implications of these changes forteaching, learning, research and operations at Duke. The event, the fourth in the Primetime employee forum series, willbe in the Griffith Film Theater in the Bryan Center.
— By Bill CannonSr.Communications Strategist Office of Information Technology
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Duke Signs Climate Commitment
As part of Duke’s continued leadership in environmentalstewardship and sustainability, the university has signed the AmericanCollege and University Presidents Climate Commitment.In signing thecommitment, Duke joinedmore than 300 othercolleges and universitiesacross the U.S. to focusthe research and leadership of higher education on the pressing issueof global climate change.“Duke was built on a culture of public engagement and the beliefthat we have the duty to share the knowledge of our faculty andstudents to address pressing global issues,” President Richard H.Brodhead said. “Tackling the complex problem of climate change hereon our campus not only benefits this institution but society as a whole.”By signing the commitment, Duke is pledging to eliminatecampus greenhouse gas emissions over time. This involves completingan emissions inventory; setting a target date and interim milestoneswithin two years for becoming climate neutral; taking immediatesteps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by choosing from a list ofshort-term actions; integrating sustainability into the curriculum andthe overall educational experience for undergraduate, graduateand professional students; and making the action plan, inventoryand progress reports publicly available. Learn about the ClimateCommitment at
www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org
.
United Way Duke Partnership Campaign Begins
The United Way Duke Partnership Campaign begins Sept. 24, andDuke is aiming to increase participation and pledges. Last year, nearly3,000 Duke faculty and staff contributed nearly $1 million to thecampaign. Monica Pallett, Duke’s campaign manager, said thatparticipation and pledges have dropped since 2001, when thecampaign raised $1.3 million. She said theconveniences of online pledging andpayroll deduction make it easier forfaculty and staff to support those mostin need in our community. “Every pledgecounts, no matter the amount, because it is the collective strength ofour combined contributions that really makes a difference.” Pallettsaid. For more information, and to donate online, visit the campaignWeb site at
www.hr.duke.edu/unitedway
.
Fall Run/Walk Club Open
The fall season of the Duke Run/Walk Club kicked off in August,but it’s not too late to participate, get in shape and feel healthy.Sponsored by LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke’s employee wellness program, the12-week walking and running program includes cardiovascular trainingfor all fitness levels, from new exercisers and beginning runners tothose training for 5K events. The Run/Walk Club is open to all Dukefaculty and staff. A list of new run/walk workshops is available online.For more information and to register, visit the Run/Walk Club Web siteat
www.hr.duke.edu/runwalk
or call (919) 684-3136, option 1.
Duke Endowment grant supportsaffordable housing, other projects
The Duke Endowment has awarded a grant of $777,500 to DukeUniversity to support programs of the Duke-Durham NeighborhoodPartnership.The money will underwrite ongoing affordable housing programs,leadership training opportunities for local nonprofits, and after-schooltutoring and enrichment programs aimed at closing the achievementgap among K-12 students.“Duke provides high quality resources and after-school servicesto students in kindergarten through twelfth grade,” said Carl Harris,superintendent of Durham Public Schools. “We are grateful for Duke’ssustained programming in neighborhood schools and communitycenters, which reinforces the work students do in class.”Begun in 1996, the Neighborhood Partnership connects theuniversity with local organizations and residents in 12 neighborhoodsnear campus to improve the quality of life and to boost studentachievement in nearby public schools. In addition to educationalenrichment programs for at-risk students, the NeighborhoodPartnership has three other thematic areas for institutional priorityand investment. The Duke Endowment grant will support nearly adozen distinct programs in the areas of neighborhood stabilization,empowering community organizations and university engagement.Learn more about the Neighborhood Partnership at
www.community.duke.edu
.
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S po n so redb y
W O R K I N G
@
D U K E
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D U K E
T O DA Y
R E F R E S H M E N T SP R O V I D E D
Letters to the Editor must include name and contact information. E-mail letters to working@duke.edu or mail them to Working@Duke Editor, Box90496, Durham, NC 27708. Fax letters to (919) 681-7926. Please keeplength to no more than 200 words.
SEPTEMBER 23
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WashingtonNational Opera presents a livesimulcast of Puccini’s “La Boheme”with Placido Domingo as generaldirector; Duke is one of 19 educationalinstitutions around the U.S. selectedto participate in this ground-breakingevent, 2 p.m., Reynolds Theater, free.
SEPTEMBER 28
: :
Duke FarmersMarket; last market for the season,produce, flowers and more, 11 a.m. to2 p.m., in front of the Medical CenterStore off Coal Pile Drive and next tothe walkway connecting DukeHospital and Duke Clinics.
SEPTEMBER 29
: :
NorthCarolina Pride Festival and Parade,largest lesbian, gay, bisexual andtransgender pride celebration in thestate kicks off from Duke’s EastCampus. Duke’s Center for LGBT Lifeis a sponsor and will have a floatin the parade, 10 a.m., festival;1 p.m., parade.
You HaveMail:
“I don’t countthe number of e-mail Ireceive a day; it would betoo depressing,” TracyFuthey says. “I think ofe-mails as an endlesstreadmill, where it doesn’tmatter how far you go andhow long you stay on it,there’s always more.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT OIT AT
WWW.OIT.DUKE.EDU
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Reimbursement Made Easy With New Health Care Card
F
or Andrew Corcoran, thepicture of goodhealth took time to come into focus.“In September of 2002, my wife was diagnosed witha brain tumor,” he said.Corcoran, an IT analyst at the Duke Clinical ResearchInstitute, and his wife, Julie, wanted to start a family, butheld off when they found out about the tumor. Julie hadthree surgeries – the first was unsuccessful. After that, they went to Duke’s Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center. Today, their family picture includes a healthy 1-year-olddaughter, Olivia.“Thanks to Dr. Allan Friedman and all of the staff there, Julie is now fully recovered,” Corcoran said. “I am very thankful to work at an organization that provides suchgreat health care and health benefits.”Open enrollment, the time to select or make changesto health insurance plans, as well as vision, dental andreimbursement benefits, begins Oct. 1 and runs throughOct. 17. New health insurance premiums, which take effect Jan. 1, will increase slightly, well below the expectednational average.Duke’s premium increases for health insurance will beabout one-fifth of the national average in 2008, said Lois Ann Green, director of Benefits. Duke Select premiums, which cover the majority of Duke employees and families, will increase $1.07 per month for individuals; $6.37 permonth for families. The monthly premium increase forBlue Care and Duke Options is slightly higher, depending on coverage selected. For the third straight year, DukeBasic will not have a premium increase.Green said that the low increases were possible, inpart, because of improvements many people at Duke havemade in their health.“Over the years, Duke has added deductibles,increased co-payments, adjusted premiums to maintaincomprehensive and affordable coverage,” she said. “Butthe options to tweak the plan designs to moderate costincreases have nearly run out. Our best option to controlcost is to improve the health of our employees. That’s why we are promoting and investing in preventive healthprograms.”Next year, out-of-pocket expenses for health,dental, pharmacy and vision insurance will not increase. And co-pays for diabetic insulin and supplies will dropfrom $35 to $10, which could help people at Duke with diabetes save about $100 a month.“Managing diabetes is key to preventing other healthconditions,” Green said.Other 2008 health plan updates include:
The physician network will continue to expand forDuke Select and Duke Basic participants, offering residents in Wake County more options.
The premium for vision care in 2008 will notincrease.
The monthly premium for the comprehensivedental plan will rise $1.24 for individuals; $3.75for family coverage.
— By Elizabeth MichalkaWriter, Human Resources Communications
T
he biggest complaint about using health care reimbursement accounts has been thepaperwork – filling out forms, mailing them with receipts, and then waiting for the check. That’s why employees like Lance Brown are looking forward to 2008 when Dukeintroduces a new Health Care Card through VISA® that will pay for many eligible health careexpenses at the register using money from his reimbursement account.“It’s a huge advantage, especially for someone like me with significant health care costsevery month,” said Brown, senior systems programmer at the Department of Statistical Science.He spends about $200 a month on diabetes and high blood pressure medication. The new Health Care Card, provided by WageWorks, Duke’s reimbursement account administrator, works similarto a debit card. The purchase automatically deducts money from an employee’s Health Care Reimbursement Accountfor eligible purchases, including dental and doctors’ fees, prescriptions, and some over-the-counter drugs. During openenrollment, employees can sign up for a reimbursement account and determine how much they want to contribute tothe account in 2008, which sets the spending limit with the card.“Because reimbursement accounts use pre-tax dollars, faculty and staff can save about $30 to $40 for every $100 spenton eligible expenses,” said Saundra Daniels, Benefits plan manager. The card can be used with health care providers, and at pharmacies and certified retailers for over-the-counter drugs.Certified retailers such as Walgreens, Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club currently accept the Health Care Card for eligible healthcare expenses, and more retailers will be added by 2008.“If a retailer does not accept the card or if a transaction is denied, purchases can still be reimbursed by submitting claimsforms with a receipt for eligible expenses,” Daniels said.Daniels said all receipts should be kept with Health Care Card purchase because WageWorks may requiredocumentation to verify expenses.For example, while the card is accepted at a dentist’soffice, cosmetic teeth whitening procedures are not eligibleand will not be reimbursed. Daniels said reimbursementaccount participants should first verify expenses are eligiblefor reimbursement. A list of eligible expenses is at
www.hr.duke.edu/benefits/reimbursement
.
— By Elizabeth MichalkaWriter, Human Resources Communications
How ToGet MoreInformation
Open enrollmentpackets with detailsabout Duke’s health, dentaland vision plans and howto make changes or signup for a plan will be mailedto employees inSeptember.Information sessionsabout reimbursementaccounts and health,dental and visioncoverage areSeptember 24 throughOctober 12. Find a sessionon the Duke HumanResources Web site at
www.hr.duke.edu
.Representativesfrom the Duke OpenEnrollment Service Centerare available from 8 a.m.to 8 p.m. Monday throughFriday from Oct. 1 throughOct. 17; and 8 a.m. to 5p.m. Oct. 6 and Oct. 13.Call (877) 371-9963.
GetThe Card
Faculty and staff mayenroll in the health carereimbursement accountonly during openenrollment, Oct. 1-17.Reimbursement accountsdo not automatically reneweach year. Informationabout signing up for theaccount is included in openenrollment packets and willbe available later thismonth at
www.hr.duke.edu
.TheHealthCareCardwillbemailedbeforeJan.1,2008.
Without WithReimbursement Reimbursement SavingsAccount Account
Co-pays $75 $50 $25Prescriptions $300 $225 $75Over-the-countermedicines $75 $50 $25Uncovered dental/vision expenses $300 $225 $75
Yearly Total $750 $550 $200HEALTH CARE REIMBURSEMENT ACCOUNT SAVINGS
Why IsYour HealthImportantToYou?
SIGN UP FOR HEALTH, DENTAL, VISION INSURANCE OCT. 1 TO OCT. 17
Source: Human Resources
J ul i eC o r c o ra nw i t hda u g h t e r,Ol i v ia.
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Working@Duke - September, 2007
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