Taft-Hartley Funds Management

RDS Solutions is a company dedicated to providing software solutions and full service support to Taft-Hartley fringe fund offices. We have used our knowledge of the funds and their specific needs to create a powerful, yet easy to use system that helps the fund office personnel get their jobs done quickly and efficiently

Version 3.0 Now available!

Version 3.0 incorporates our call center technology into our Fund Office workbench so membership information is immediately available to record and answer membership questions. 

Fringe Fund Management System Overview

The Fringe Fund Management System has been in use since 1983.  It has been constantly improved and redesigned in response to changes in the industry and to take advantages of new technology.  The current system is network based and uses a Microsoft SQL Server™ database.  It was designed to be flexible and provide the fund office with the ability to change various features of the plan through online screens.  The Fringe Fund Management System is comprised of the following modules:

Contractor Contribution Module

The Contractor Contribution module is used to enter, balance and report on contractor contributions. Key features of this module are:

    • multiple local support
    • maintains member information
    • maintains employer information
    • produces contractor contribution forms
    • enters employer contributions and allocates to the various funds
    • calculates discrepancies and penalties
    • allows for reciprocal transfers to other locals
    • member inquiry screen
    • various contribution reports

Interfaces to Welfare Eligibility, Pension and General Ledger modules.

Welfare Eligibility Module

The welfare eligibility module is used quarterly to calculate eligibility for the welfare fund based on contractor contributions.  Key features of this module are:

    • multiple local support
    • members can be eligible with either yearly or quarterly hours
    • tracks self-payments
    • produces welfare eligibility report
    • produces welfare eligibility cards
    • produces self-payment report
    • produces self-payment letters

Interfaces to Medical Claims, Prescription Drug and General Ledger modules.

Medical Claims Module

The Medical Claims module can be used for medical, dental, mental, vision, time loss and insurance claims.  Key features of this module are:

    • multiple local support
    • electronic interface to Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois
    • interface for electronic feed of claims in HIPAA format (HIPAA_Link)
    • processes up to three years of claims concurrently
    • processes multiple health plans for the same local
    • duplicate claim and duplicate procedure checking
    • allows for out of network and failure to pre-certify penalties
    • uses standard medical coding for procedures, diagnosis etc.
    • uses reasonable and customary checks on Medical, Dental, HCPCS,  Anesthesia and Outpatient Facility procedures
    • the ability to set yearly or lifetime limits on specific types of claims (either dollars or visits)
    • allows for fixed rates on specific procedures
    • the deductible calculation is based on family and/or individual
    • has a separate deductible for dental
    • the co-pay percentage is based on maximum out of pocket
    • claims can be entered immediately into the system and will remain in a hold status until processed
    • automatically produces correspondence requesting missing or incomplete information from the member
    • produces deductible and explanation of benefit letters for paid claims
    • produces denial letters identifying the reason for denial and the specific place in the SPD that is applicable
    • on-line claims inquiry screen

Prescription Drug Module

Used in conjunction with the Medical Claims module.  Prescription drug claims are included in medical claim calculations for deductible and co-pay.  Key features of this module are:

    • multiple local support
    • processes up to three years of claims concurrently
    • processes multiple plans for the same local
    • duplicate prescription checking
    • the deductible calculation is based on family and/or individual
    • the co-pay percentage is based on maximum out of pocket
    • claims can be entered immediately into the system and will remain in a hold status until processed
    • automatically produces correspondence requesting missing or incomplete information from the member
    • produces deductible and explanation of benefit letters for paid claims
    • produces denial letters identifying the reason for denial and the specific place in the SPD that is applicable
    • on-line claims inquiry screen

Interfaces to General Ledger and Check Reconciliation Module.

Pension Module

Used in conjunction with the contractors contribution module.  Maintains vesting and service credits earned by the member.  Key features of this module are:

    • calculates vesting and service credits based on contributions
    • can prints pension checks or provides a direct deposit option
    • provides a pension check register
    • produces an annual vesting and service credit letter
    • produces actuarial reporting

Interfaces to General Ledger and Check Reconciliation Module.

Check Reconciliation Module

Updates check reconciliation file.  Key features of this module are:

    • multiple locals, funds, banks
    • reconciliation procedure to balance to bank statement
    • provides for deposits
    • ability to add manual checks
    • reconcile BCBS billing

Interfaces to General Ledger Module.

General Ledger Module

Produces the books of the funds.  Key features of this module are:

    • multiple locals, funds
    • double entry bookkeeping
    • manual journal entries to reclassify general ledger information
    • trial balance
    • detailed general ledger identifies source of entry
    • journal listing
    • general ledger report writer

HIPAA_Link

Is our HIPAA EDI solution which is either integrated into the fringe fund management system and is also available as a standalone product which can be used in conjunction with other Medicalclaims payment systems.  It is comprised of four modules:

Transportation & Communication Interface

    • on-line interface allows user to add Trading Partner Information
    • maintain communication information (ftp site, login, password, encryption)

HIPAA Translator

    • TransGen translator converts HIPAA format to text and text to HIPAA format

Claims Adjudication Interface

    • Uses TransGen database for data descriptions
    • Produces Hardcopy Claims, Dump of files
    • Maintains Microsoft SQL Server Claims database of new claims
    • Can produce "response" transactions independent of claims adjudication system

Web Claim Status Inquiry

    • Uses Claims database for inquiries by member of claim status, EOB and by trading partner for claim status, EOB and eligibility

TransGen is a trademark of JPN Associates Inc.

Microsoft SQL Server is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Contact Log

The contact log is the interface between the Fringe Fund Management system and the fund office staff.  It provides a common point to access member information and keeps a record of the questions and answers so they are available to anyone in the office.   Information that is available through the Contact Log screen is:

    • Estimated pension amount 
    • Pension payments
    • Healthcare maximums
    • Contractor contributions
    • Welfare claim history
    • Contact history   

Web Interface

Is the interface between the Fringe Fund Management system and the funds members, employers and health care service providers.

The web interface allows the members to:

    • Determine what their estimated pension amount would be
    • Check contributions made by contractors on their behalf
    • Check the status and view the history of their medical claims
    • Show pension history

Contractors can use the web interface to:

    • Check contributions made
    • Enter contributions

Service providers can use the web interface to:

    • Check members eligibility in the health plan
    • Check the status and view the history of their medical claims
 

A Division of Health Care Services Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independant Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blueshield Association.  © Copyright 2006 Health Care Services Corporation.  All Rights Reserved.