Does Benefits know how to talk to the CFO about healthcare reform?

You expect your HR and benefits staff to know how to explain the ins and out of healthcare reform to other employees. But are they giving you all of the info that you need?

In a recent article, HR and Benefits expert Jennifer Benz highlighted some of the best practices Benefits pros should be employing when it comes to passing along info about healthcare reform to execs and upper-level management.

Based on Benz’s article, here’s a few things all finance chiefs should expect to see from their benefits team regarding healthcare reform:

Concise, two-minute overviews. With a myriad of other pressing tasks on your plate, you don’t have time to hear all of the minutia of the reform law. Let Benefits know they should always have ready a two-minute overview of the upcoming reform changes and its effect on your firm.

Short-term info. Let Benefits know they don’t have to get into all of the changes that won’t kick in until 2012 or later. Given the recent changes in Washington, some of the reform provisions are likely to be altered in the near future. Instead, ask benefits to focus on any of this year’s reform provisions that require you to make a decision right now.

The tone of the message being sent to employees. Be sure Benefits gives you a clear understanding of the message that’s being sent to employees — in terms of healthcare reform and its affect on their plans. This will keep you from being caught off-guard by any employee complaints/concerns down the line.