5/10/2012 - West Side Leader
     

SS&G celebrating 25th anniversary in Akron area

BATH — SS&G Inc. is celebrating its 25th anniversary of operations in the Akron area.

The company was formed in 1987 when Page, Saltz & Shamis merged with the firm of Mark Goldfarb, forming Saltz, Shamis & Goldfarb Inc. — Certified Public Accountants, according to company officials. The firm, now known as SS&G, had 12 employees 25 years ago. It now employs 450 in offices throughout Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky and North Carolina, according to company officials.

SS&G’s first Akron area office was a 600-square-foot space in Fairlawn, according to company officials. The company now operates out of a 40,000-square-foot campus on Springside Drive and employs 200 at that location. Goldfarb and Robert Littman serve as co-managing directors.

“We formed a strategic partnership 25 years ago that has helped grow it to become one of nation’s largest independent accounting firms,” said Goldfarb. “The entrepreneurial spirit of the late ’80s is still very much alive and a driver in the business advisory services we provide our valuable clients.”

For more information, visit www.ssandg.com.

Managed care open enrollment for employers begins

COLUMBUS — Ohio employers will soon have an opportunity to select a new managed care organization (MCO) to manage health-care services for workers injured on the job.

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) offers an open enrollment period every two years to allow employers to evaluate the services of their current MCO and determine if they would like to make a change, according to BWC officials. This open enrollment period runs through May 25 at 5:30 p.m.

“Few decisions business leaders make are as vital to their company’s success than those that directly impact the health and safety of their work force,” said BWC Administrator and CEO Steve Buehrer. “Selection of the MCO that meets each employer’s specific needs is an important decision that should be carefully considered to ensure their injured workers receive the best care possible and can quickly and safely return to work.”

BWC partners with a network of MCOs that are the primary link between injured workers, medical providers, employers and BWC, according to BWC officials. MCOs manage claim filing and medical treatment and assist employers with the implementation of recovery and return-to-work programs, according to BWC officials.

Employers satisfied with their MCO do not need to do anything, according to BWC officials. However, those considering a change are encouraged to contact MCOs directly to learn more about their services and network providers.

BWC produces the MCO Selection Guide and the MCO Report Card to help employers make informed decisions, according to BWC officials. The guide contains contact information for the MCOs while the report card provides an objective snapshot of how effectively each MCO manages injury reporting and returning injured employees to work. The guide and report card are available at www.ohiobwc.com.

Employers that decide to select a new MCO can complete the MCO selection form, also available at the website, or call the MCO selection line at 800-859-6631. Once employers make a selection, the new MCO will begin managing the medical portion of the claims as of July 2.

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