Darla Dernovsek, marketing consultant
Darla Dernovsek became a marketing consultant to The Alliance in 2018 after serving as The Alliance’s marketing communications manager for five years.
Dernovsek has more than 30 years’ experience in communications, public relations and marketing. From 1992 until joining The Alliance, Dernovsek owned her own freelance marketing and writing business to provide marketing consulting and writing for health-care related entities and credit union organizations. Earlier, she was the director of public relations for Rockford Memorial Hospital and city editor for the Beloit Daily News.
Dernovsek graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism.
Confusion about out-of-pocket health care costs is making some people reluctant to seek the health care services they need. A survey of Wisconsin public employees by the La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin—Madison aimed to learn more about people’s experiences with their health plans and their understanding of the health care system. Professor J. Michael Collins, faculty director of the Center for Financial Security at UW–Madison, shared survey results during a May event titled, “Managing Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses: How Well are Families Prepared for a World of High Deductibles?”
Moving “upstream” can help employers who self-fund their health benefits improve outcomes, lower costs and gain more “joy in supporting employees,” according to Dr. Rishi Manchanda, a primary care physician, public health innovator and former health system executive.
As proposed legislation and regulation moves through the federal and state lawmaking process, employers can contact their legislators or participate in other Alliance activities aimed at alerting policymakers to the potential impact of their actions.
A $44 million tax bill was sent to an employer who made that mistake and then turned to John Barlament, a partner at Quarles and Brady, for help in correcting the issue. While the penalty was eventually corrected and reduced to zero, the situation shows the potential problems that employers can face when dealing with health benefits regulations.
Staying current on state and federal policymakers’ approach to health benefits can feel like a continual pop quiz. That makes the game show Jeopardy! a good approach to understanding the current health policy challenges facing employers.
Simple, easy-to-do strategies can help you get out of your own head and in touch with your body so you can quickly regain a sense of well-being. Cara Bradley demonstrated these “self-care mini wins” with the audience at The Monona Terrace on Jan. 15 during The Alliance Learning Circle on Wellness & Caregiving Benefits: Healthy Minds, Healthy Employees, Healthy Company.
Now that 2018 is drawing to a close, it’s time to take a look at the topics that captured employers’ attention at events and on our website.
For employees caring for their aging parents, a flexible and supportive workplace can make the difference between an engaged employee and one who is deeply distracted by the daily demands of caregiving.
Meg Gains, director of the Center for Patient Partnerships at the University of Wisconsin - Madison advises employers to advocate for their employees' best interests with their TPA.
American Patients First, the Trump Administration’s “blueprint to lower drug prices,” contains provisions with the potential for a significant impact on the health care marketplace, according to Alex Jung, managing director in the Parthenon-EY practice of Ernst & Young LLP.
