Personnel Offices to Be Out of Loop

OPM’s announcement, made in a message to personnel offices, said those offices will play only a minimal role in the program, much as they do in the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program. Said OPM, “We appreciate your willingness and eagerness to get information to your employees. We are not expecting Federal human resources professionals to become flexible spending account experts and converse knowledgeably with employees about the rules and requirements of flexible spending accounts. That’s what SHPS will do. What we will expect is that when employees approach you with a question, you know to refer them to the SHPS dedicated toll-free number, the web site, published pamphlets, etc. Similar to the LTC program, you will be conduits in directing employees where to go for answers, as opposed to answering their questions directly.”