BULLETIN 2005-32
TO ALL BENEFIT CONTACTS

Effective November 1, 2005 Benefits Administration Services assumed the responsibility for the receipt and distribution of National Medical Support Notices. DAS Payroll Services previously handled this function.

As you are probably aware, the State of Ohio frequently receives court orders to add dependents to the health insurance plans of State employees. All 88 Ohio counties issue such notices, as do 37 States that participate in a national data base system set up for this purpose.

In most cases, the dependents that are the subject of the court orders are already being covered on State employee health plans and the Agency will no longer be involved in processing these notices.

However, when a child or children must be added to a State employee’s health plan or when payroll deductions must be started or increased, BAS will send a letter to the Agency outlining the steps that the Agency is required to take. It is imperative that these instructions are followed immediately in order to avoid situations in which your employees are required to have a full month’s deduction taken from a single paycheck.

BAS will handle all other aspects of these Notices and will fulfill all of the notification requirements. For your information, it is important that you read the “Unlawful Refusal to Enroll” section of the Notice.

If your employee has questions about the notice, please have him/her contact the appropriate Child Support Enforcement Agency at the phone number listed on the Notice. If you have questions, please contact Berni Lewellen, Benefits Customer Service Manager at 1-614-466-6347.