2024 Issues

March 14

• Care Coordination Webinar and Slides Available
• Blueprint for Wellness Event Resources
• Register for Live from Wespath
• Participant Communications

March 11

• HealthFlex Mini-Summit Presentations Available

February 9

• HealthFlex Webinar for Participants February 15
• Save the Date: HealthFlex Mini-Summit on March 8
• Blueprint for Wellness Event Resources
• IRS Form 1095-B, Health Coverage Available by March 1

January 17

• "Have You Called Your Care Coordinator?" Launches Successfully
• Help Share the Benefits of Health Check, Blueprint for Wellness®
• Blueprint for Wellness On-Site Events and Trainings
• Participant Communications: Three January Communications

2023 Issues

December 20

• New HealthFlex ID Cards Shipping This Week
• "Have You Called Your Care Coordinator?" – Care Coordination Lines are Now Open

November 21

• Participant Communication—Opportunity to Update FSA Contributions after Annual Election

October 31

• HealthFlex Summit Presentations
• Resources for 2024 Annual Election
• Annual Election (AE) Webinars and Recordings
• Updated Plan Sponsor Manual, Summary Plan Descriptions Now Available; 2024 Benefit Booklet Available Shortly

October 6

• Upcoming Annual Election (AE) Webinars
• Updated 2024 AE Resources
• Upcoming Participant Communications

September 21

• Video and Presentation from Plan Sponsor Calls
• Final Call to Register – HealthFlex Summit October 10-11
• Active Benefits Team in Training September 26

September 8

• More Annual Election Resources Available
• Plan Sponsor Calls Next Week
• HealthFlex Summit October 10-11—Registration Now Open

August 23

• Don't Let Your Participants Miss Out on Health Check, Blueprint for Wellness® Incentives
• Reminder: 2024 HealthFlex Plan Comparison Documents Are Available (with Translations)
• Save the Date: Plan Sponsor Calls in September
• Annual Election (AE) Resources and Conference-Specific Webinars Available by Request
• Timeline for 2023 Annual Election

August 2

• Help Us Promote the Health Check, Blueprint for Wellness®
• 2023 Clergy Well-Being Survey Results
• Save the Dates: In-person HealthFlex Summit is October 10-11
• Save the Dates: Annual Election is November 1-16

June 28

• Reminder: Adoption Agreements Due June 30

June 1

• 2024 HealthFlex Plan Comparison Documents Now Available

May 24

• New Web-based Interactive Mental Health Resource Guide
• Be on the Lookout for Adoption Agreements
• Webinar on Investing Your HSA—June 6 and 7
• Webinar for Virgin Pulse Plan Sponsors: "Walk the Wesley Way"—June 27 and 28
• Watch and Share First Aid for Mental Health Webinars

May 4

• Spread the Word About Mental Health Awareness Month
• Continued Support for HealthFlex Plan Sponsors
• Spread the Word About the Health Check Online Health Assessment
• May 9 Webinar on HealthFlex Well-Being Programs
• Participant Communications

April 12

• Benefits Transformation Communication
• New Wellness Credit Flyer Now Available
• Participant Communication: Blueprint for Wellness/Health Check Postcard and Omada Postcard
• HealthFlex Mini-Summit Presentations Available

March 20

• Registration Closes Today for the HealthFlex Mini-Summit
• Beginning April 1, 2023, No Cost for MDLIVE Telehealth Services through 2024
• COVID-19 Coverage Update

March 10

• Registration is Open for the HealthFlex Mini-Summit

March 3

• Now Available—HealthFlex Plan Changes Webinar Slides and Recording

February 23

• Reminder: 2024 HealthFlex Plan Rates, Plus Plan Sponsor Conference Calls Next Week About HSA Plan Changes
• Save the Date: HealthFlex Mini-Summit Event on April 14
• Updated HealthFlex Plan Sponsor Manual Now Available
• Participant Communication: Wellness Credits Email
• Optional Blueprint for Wellness Event Trainings on March 2 and April 5

February 13

• Now Available—2023 HealthFlex Well-Being FAQ
• 2024 HealthFlex Plan Rates and Events
• Save the Date: HealthFlex Mini-Summit Event on April 14
• Blueprint for Wellness Event Resources
• IRS Form 1095-B, Health Coverage Available by March 2
• Clergy Well-Being Survey Launched
• Participant Communications: Diabetes Management and Chronic Disease Prevention (Omada) Postcard Sent

January 25

• Virgin Pulse Website and App Status
• Virgin Pulse Maintenance on January 28
• Participant Communication: Well-Being Programs Mailer?
• Help Your Participants Earn Cash Incentives with Wellness Credits

January 12

• Help Share the Benefits of Health Check, Blueprint for Wellness®
• How "Well" Are UMC Clergy?
• Participant Communications: Welcome to HealthFlex

2022 Issues

December 16

• Reminder: HealthFlex Has a New Benefits Booklet
• Reminder: HSA Year-End Reporting

December 5

• Participants Can Easily Connect to Cigna, MDLIVE® From Benefits Access
• Video and Presentation from Plan Sponsor Calls

November 29

• Reminder: Plan Sponsor Calls This Week

November 16

• Save the Date: Two Upcoming Plan Sponsor Calls
• Annual Election (AE) Continues Through November 17

October 31

• All the Annual Election (AE) Material, All in One Place
• Handouts Updated with new Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Limits
• AE Status Reports Coming Soon
• Participant Communication: AE Postcard

October 21

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Limits Updated for 2023
• ALEX® Video Available to Share with Participants
• Annual Election Webinars Coming Up Soon

October 19

• Help Spread the Word: Participants Can Get Personalized Recommendations for Annual Elections
• HealthFlex Summit Recordings, Presentations Available
• Retiree HRA Compliance Checklist Now Available
• HealthFlex Has a New Benefits Booklet

October 6

• Wespath Launches new Informational Annual Election (AE) Website for Participants

September 22

• Registration Deadline for HealthFlex Summit is Fast Approaching

September 9

• Coming Soon: Informational Annual Election Webpage
• HealthFlex Summit October 13-14—Registration Now Open

August 29

• Over 40% of Primary Participants, Covered Spouses Have Not Completed Health Check

August 23

• Video and Presentation from Plan Sponsor Calls
• Still Time to Help Participants Avoid Higher Deductible
• Participant Communications: Letter to HealthFlex Participants on Disability

August 16

• Plan Sponsor Calls This Week

August 11

• Help Us Promote the Health Check, Blueprint for Wellness® (BFW)
• Conference-Specific Annual Election (AE) Webinars Available by Request
• Benefit Plans Summary Reports Notes, Part II

August 5

• Important COVID-19 Coverage Information for HealthFlex Participants
• Benefit Plans Summary Reports Notes
• Help Us Promote the Health Check, Blueprint for Wellness® (BFW)
• Well-Being Webinar Available by Request

July 27

• Help Us Promote the Health Check, Blueprint for Wellness® (BFW)
• Save the Date: Two Plan Sponsor Calls in August
• Led by WeightWatchers, multiple well-being partners rebrand

June 30

• Service Changes Entered in Benefits Access Portal can Impact HealthFlex Eligibility
• Virgin Pulse® Users Need to Accept Updated Member Agreements

June 23

• Marketing Help Requested. No Experience Required.
• Spots Available for July 20 First Aid for Mental Health Champions Training
• Reminder: Adoption Agreements Due June 30
• Save the Dates: In-person HealthFlex Summit is October 13-14
• Save the Dates: Annual Election is November 2-17

May 26

• HealthFlex Hack: Find the Right Mental Health Resource
• HealthFlex Hack: How to Earn Pulse Cash Incentives
• Be on the Lookout for Adoption Agreements
• Update on First Aid for Mental Health Champions Training

May 12

• Reminder: Via Benefits Plan Sponsor Call at 1:30 p.m., Central time
• Please Join Us in Recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month
• Help Us Help You: Please Share Your Premium Credit Amount
• Disaffiliation Information—Updated

May 5

• Via Benefits Plan Sponsor Call Next Week
• Via Benefits Policy Template

April 29

• Video and Presentation from Plan Sponsor Calls
• Additional HIPAA Training for Plan Sponsors
• Participant Communication: Health Check Reminder

April 19

• Login Information for Plan Sponsor Calls

March 30

• Videos and Presentations from HealthFlex Mini-Summit Now Available
• Save the Date: Two Plan Sponsor Calls in April
• Premium Credit Modeling for 2023 is Available
• First Aid for Mental Health Next Steps
• Participant Communications Roundup
• Calling All Social Media Managers

March 15

• You Can Still Register for the March 16 HealthFlex Mini-Summit

February 25

• Participant Communication: HealthEquity® Sent Apology E-mail
• Updates to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Website Now Live
• Virgin Pulse® is Promoting Health Check, and You Can Too
• Reminder: Registration for the HealthFlex Mini-Summit is Open
• IRS Form 1095-B, Health Coverage Will be Sent Soon

February 18

• Participant Communications: First Aid for Mental Health, MDLIVE® and More
• First Aid for Mental Health Update: New Sessions Added
• HealthFlex Mini-Summit Registration is Open
• Video: How to Order At-Home COVID-19 Tests Online at No Cost

January 28

• First Aid for Mental Health Promotional Material
• Video: How to Get Reimbursed for At-Home COVID-19 Tests
• Save the Date: HealthFlex Mini-Summit!
• 2023 HealthFlex Rates Available Soon

January 24

• Participant Communication: How to Receive Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests Through HealthFlex
• Update Regarding $0 Cost Share for MDLIVE Telemedicine
• Not Sure How to Access a Well-Being Program? There's a Video for That
• Improvements Made to the At-Home Blueprint for Wellness® Self-Collection Kit
• IRS Form 1095-B, Health Coverage Will be Available by March 2

January 13

• You're Invited: Mental Health First Aid Training Coming in March
• Participant Communications: Wespath Update for HealthFlex Participants
• More Information to Come About At-home COVID Tests
• Participant Communications: Well-Being Brochure
• Two Truths and a Lie: A Refresher on New HealthFlex Resources
• HealthFlex Well-Being Documents Updated for 2022

January 7

• MDLIVE Behavioral Health Now Available for Participants
• Help Spread the Word about Health Check, Blueprint for Wellness®
• Participant Communications: OptumRx Mailing Apology Letter

2021 Issues

December 30

• Important COVID-19 Coverage Information for HealthFlex Participants

December 3

• Final AE Reports Will be Available Soon
• Scam Alert
• Spreading the Word About Wellness Credits
• Participant Communications: Program That Helps Track Calories Needs to Sync With Virgin Pulse

November 17

• Update on 2022 Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Participant Communications: Wellness Credits Reminders

November 11

• Flexible Spending Account Limits Updated for 2022
• HealthEquity Fee Update
• HealthFlex Summit Follow-Up
• Annual Election Status Reports
• Virgin Pulse Website Maintenance

November 8

• Reminder About FSA Rules, Link to Helpful Resources
• Helping Individuals Who Previously Declined Coverage Enroll

October 26

• Reminder: Annual Election Webinars Coming Up Soon
• All the Annual Election Material, All in One Place
• Participant Communication: Targeted Letter About Pharmacy Benefit Changes
• ICYMI: Use Internet Explorer and Virgin Pulse? It's Time for a New Browser
• Virgin Pulse Users Need to Approve New Membership Agreement

October 21

• Recap of the HealthFlex Summit, Including PowerPoint Presentations
• Which HealthFlex Emotional Well-Being Resource is Right for You?
• Annual Election Toolkit Handout Available
• Annual Election Webinars Coming Up Soon
• Participant Communications: Annual Election Roundup
• Use Internet Explorer and Virgin Pulse? It's Time For A New Browser

October 12

• Annual Election Communications in Spanish, Korean
• We Want to Help You Make the Most of Virgin Pulse
• Reminder: Registration is Open for the HealthFlex Summit

September 23

• Registration is Open for the HealthFlex Summit
• Annual Election Communication in Progress
• Participant Communications: Outreach for Omada Online Diabetes Prevention Program

September 15

• Connect With a Licensed Therapist Via Text Message, Video Chat
• The Relax, Renew, Refresh Challenge
• HealthFlex Well-Being Program Survey Coming Soon

September 10

• Virgin Pulse^® Scheduled to be Down Briefly Over the Weekend

September 7

• We Could Not Have Done It Without Your Help
• Putting a Bow on Health Check, Blueprint for Wellness
• We Are Here to Help with Benefits Workshops, Webinars

August 26

• Last Chance to Boost Health Check Completion
• Participant Communications: Look for Health Check Reminder E-mails
• Participant Communications: Letter to HealthFlex Participants on Disability
• Save the Dates: Annual Election is November 3-18

August 19

• Reminder: Train the Trainer on August 25 and 26
• Participant Communication: Health Check/Blueprint for Wellness Personalized E-mails

August 12

• Save the Date: Train the Trainer on August 25 and 26
• Recap of Via Benefits Conference Call
• Participant Communications: Health Check Letter Mailed

August 5

• Save the Date: The HealthFlex Summit is October 14-15
• Participant Communications: Health Check Reminders
• The Story Behind a Virgin Pulse Pop-up Message

July 29

• Please Help Promote the Health Check
• Update: Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Lawsuit

July 22

• Save the Date: Via Benefits Plan Sponsor Informational Events July 28 or August 3
• Participant Communications: Virgin Pulse® Reminder E-mail

July 15

• Participant Communications: Virgin Pulse® reminder e-mails

July 9

• Participant Communication: Personalized Letters About Well-Being Programs
• Participant Communications: Virgin Pulse® All-UMC Destination Challenge Starts Soon

June 24

• Guide to Accessing Your HealthFlex Benefits
• Participant Communication: Virgin Pulse® to E-mail Participants Who Worked With a Health Coach
• Reminder: Adoption Agreements Due June 30

June 18

• Adoption Agreements Due June 30
• Outreach to New Participants Begins Soon
• Simple Ways to Support Your Pastors Moving to New Appointments

June 8

• New Log-in Button on Wespath Website
• Transition to Benefits Access Complete
• Participants Can Easily Connect to Virgin Pulse® From Benefits Access
• Participant Communication: Personalized E-mails About Well-Being Programs

May 28

• Participants, Spouses Can Now Easily Sign Up for Blueprint for Wellness®
• Final Reminder: Benefits Access is the Source for Health Information Starting June 1
• Be on the Lookout for Adoption Agreements
• Dependent Care FSA Maximum to Remain Unchanged in 2021

May 20

• Reminder: Participants Will Access Benefits in a New Way Starting June 1
• Important COVID-19 Coverage Information for HealthFlex Participants

May 13

• Help us Spread the Word About Health Check, Blueprint for Wellness®
• Clarification: How the Health Check Affects the H3000 Family Plan
• Reminder: Self-Service Training Session for Plan Sponsors
• HealthFlex will Submit PCORI Fee for Those in Plan
• Participant Communication: Postcard Reminder About HealthFlex/WebMD
• Participant Communication: Virgin Pulse® Coaches to Reach Out

May 3

• HealthFlex/WebMD Site Shutting Down June 1
• Help Wanted: Please Join us in Raising Awareness of Mental Health
• If There's a Whil, There's a Way to Help Reduce Stress

April 28

• Some HealthFlex Participants Eligible to Share in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement Proceeds

April 22

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Lawsuit
• Participant Communications
• American Rescue Plan's COBRA Subsidy

April 15

• Participant Communications: Virgin Pulse^® All-UMC Challenge Starts Soon

April 12

• Quest Letters Re: 2020 At-Home Screening Results
• Virgin Pulse® Maintenance Scheduled for the Weekend

April 1

• Video Replay of HealthFlex Mini-Summit Available

March 26

• Individuals Need to Accept Virgin Pulse's Updates Privacy Notice

March 17

• More Changes Possibly Coming to FSAs
• Participant Communications: Tuesday is a Holiday Worth Observing
• HealthFlex Summit Agenda

March 5

• Participant Communications: March is Register for Wespath's New Websites Month
• MDLIVE to be Acquired by Cigna

February 25

• An IRS Form is Available Electronically for the First Time
• Additional IRS Guidance Concerning FSA Relief
• Your Same Dental Information, but More Secure

February 18

• We Want to Know if You Plan to Host a Blueprint for Wellness On-site Event
• Registration for the HealthFlex Mini-Summit Ends this Friday

February 11

• Registering for Quest Blueprint for Wellness® Screenings
• Registration Open for HealthFlex Mini-Summit

February 3

• Everything You Wanted to Know About FSA Carryovers, and Then Some
• Participant Communication: MDLIVE Co-Pay Waived Until at Least Late April
• Participant Communication: Important COVID-19 Coverage Information for HealthFlex Participants
• Registration Open for HealthFlex Mini-Summit

January 27

• Help Spread the Word about Health Check
• Participant Communications: Virgin Pulse and HealthFlex Well-Being Programs

January 20

• You've Got Mail: Well-Being Program Brochure Arriving Soon
• Registration Open for HealthFlex Mini-Summit

January 13

• Use Your FSA Benefits or Lose Them? Not so Fast
• The Goldilocks Principle: Helping Your Participants Contribute Just the Right Amount to their FSA
• Blueprint for Wellness® Toolkit Available
• Important COVID-19 Coverage Information for HealthFlex Participants
• COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage
• Save the Date—HealthFlex mini-Summit!
• Wespath Staffing Updates—Sarah Krause Joins Wespath's Legal Team; Jim O'Connell to Retire

2020 Issues

December 17

• Well-Being Program Transition Communications to Participants
• HSA Year-End Reporting

November 9

• HealthFlex Summit Follow-Up

October 21

• HealthFlex Summit—Registration Now Open
• Participant Communications—Annual Election
• New Glucose Meters Being Sent to Participants with Glucose-Test Prescriptions

October 1

• Fall HealthFlex Summit
• Participant Communication: Blueprint for Wellness® and HealthQuotient
• 2021 Annual Election Communications

September 17

• Participant Communication

September 4

• Plan Sponsor Call Recording and Resources
• Blueprint for Wellness® (BFW) and HealthQuotient (HQ) Reminder Mailings
• Via Benefits Mailing to Participants

August 31

• HealthFlex Plan Sponsor Calls This Week—Agenda and Details

August 6

• Wespath Financial Relief Update—HealthFlex Premium Refund Dividend
• Fall Plan Sponsor Webconferences—Save the Date

July 29

• Extended COVID-19 Health Plan Coverage
• Using Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) Funds for Virtual Events
• Dimensions Newsletter
• Annual Election Dates
• Blueprint for Wellness® (BFW) and HealthQuotient (HQ) Communications to Participants
• Participant Plan Choice Survey

July 7

• Potential Delay in Qcard Fulfillment
• Updated New Enrollment Forms for HealthFlex

June 25

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) Contribution Billing Delay due to Holiday
• Service Changes in Benefits Access Portal can Impact Eligibility
• Qcard Information for Participants
• Life Event Enrollment Windows Extended due to COVID-19
• Changes Allowed to Health Plans, DCAs and FSAs Due to COVID-19

May 20

• Plan Sponsor Webconference Recording Available
• Behavioral Health/EAP Resource
• Blueprint for Wellness® Qcards

May 13

• May HealthFlex Plan Sponsor Webconference
• WeightWatchers® (WW) Resources and Starter Kit Promotion

May 1

• Participant Communication
• May HealthFlex Plan Sponsor Webconference
• Omada Outreach to Participants
• 2019 Benefit Plan Summary Reports

April 22

• Deferral of HealthFlex Premiums
• No Out-of-Pocket Cost for COVID-19 Treatment through May
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) Investments
• Implications of Tax Filing Extension on HSAs
• Participant Communication
• Health and Safety Support through COVID-19
• Blueprint for Wellness® (BFW) and HealthQuotient (HQ) Deadlines Extended

April 14

• Blueprint for Wellness® (BFW) and HealthQuotient (HQ) Deadlines Extended
• CARES Act Provisions

April 6

• COVID-19 Updates—Participant Video, Legislative News

March 25

• Transition of HealthFlex HSAs from BNY Mellon to HealthEquity
• On-site Blueprint for Wellness Screenings Update

March 18

• COVID-19 Updates

January 24

• Health and Wellness Team Updates
• Omada Health Type 2 Program Update
• 1095-B Forms
• WageWorks Transition
• Mini HealthFlex Summit—Save the Date

January 6

• Blueprint for Wellness Resources
• WW Changes for 2020
• New Dedicated Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Team
• Well-Being Program FAQs
• HealthFlex Well-Being Grants Deadline Extended

2019 Issues

• November 15
  • WageWorks Final Funding for 2019
  • CIGNA DHMO Dentist Selection Process for Participants

• October 24
  • HealthFlex Summit Follow-Up
  • Sifting Through the Facts Webinar Series: HealthFlex Exchange—Tips for Making the Best Choice for You
  • Annual Election Toolkits
  • Key Dates Reminder

• October 10
  • Plan Sponsor Webconference Recordings Available
  • Key Dates Reminder

• September 26
  • Annual Election Web-Conferences
  • Optum Specialty Pharmacy Rebranding
  • HealthFlex Summit October 17-18—Registration Deadline

• September 16
  • HealthFlex Summit October 17-18—Registration Now Open
  • De-Mystifying Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) Webinar Recording Available

• September 11
  • WageWorks acquired by HealthEquity
  • Annual Election Dates

• August 30
  • Annual Election Web-Conferences
  • Behavioral Health
  • NutriSavings Program Termination

• July 15
  • New Videos to Help Participants Use Well-Being Programs
  • Fall HealthFlex Summit—Save the Date

• June 4
  • Quest Diagnostics Notification of Data Breach

• May 23
  • Participant Communication—HQ Reminder Postcard
  • Diabetes Prevention Program FAQs
  • Fall HealthFlex Summit—Save the Date

• April 18
  • Omada Communication to Ineligible DPP Participants
  • HealthFlex Summit Follow-Up

• April 2
  • Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Mailing and Resources
  • Weight Watchers® (WW) April Starter Kit Promotion

• March 20
  • March Plan Sponsor Webconference Recording Available

• March 12
  • Mini HealthFlex Summit April 9—Registration Closes Friday
  • March Plan Sponsor Webconferences
  • Blueprint for Wellness and HQ Resources

• February 22
  • March Plan Sponsor Webconferences—Save the Date, Agenda and Details
  • Mailing of Form 1095-B

• January 3
  • 2019 Well-Being Incentives—Mailer and FAQ

2018 Issues

• December 10
  • December Plan Sponsor Webconference—Call Recording Available
  • 2019 Well-Being Incentives
• November 20
  • Annual Election FSA Election Increase and Final Details
• November 15
  • December Plan Sponsor Webconferences—Save the Date
• October 31
  • Annual Election Begins Today
• October 10
  • Participant Communications—Annual Election
• September 13
  • HealthFlex Summit Follow-Up
  • Participant Communication—HQ Reminder Postcard
• August 8
  • HealthFlex Summit September 6-7—Registration Closes Friday
  • Tools to Make the Most of HealthFlex Benefits
  • Well-Being Programs to Boost Summer Nutrition Goals
• July 27
  • Participant Mailing Next Week—HQ Postcard
  • HealthFlex Summit September 6-7—Registration Now Open
• June 18
  • HealthFlex First Quarter Reports
  • New HealthFlex Enrollment Forms
• May 18
  • 2019 Adoption Agreements Coming Soon
  • New HIPAA Certification
• May 10
  • MDLive Poster/Handout
  • Fall HealthFlex Summit—Save the Date
• April 16
  • Via Benefits Webconferences—Call Recordings and Support Materials
  • NutriSavings Webinar—How to Use NutriSavings to Improve How You Eat
• April 3
  • Via Benefits Webconferences—Thursday, Next Tuesday
  • Center for Health Webinar—NutriSavings
• March 21
  • Participant Mailing—Blueprint for Wellness
  • HealthFlex Summit Follow-Up
  • HealthFlex Annual Reports—Coming Soon
  • Participant Communications—Nutrition, Diabetes
• March 9
  • HSA Limit Changes
  • Quest Diagnostics Update—April 1
  • Save the Date—Webconferences for Via Benefits (formerly OneExchange) Plan Sponsors
  • Participant Communications
• February 21
  • HealthFlex Summit—Registration Due Friday
  • Participant Mailing—WebMD Opt-In Postcard
  • 2019 HealthFlex Rates Available Soon
• January 17
  • Participant Communications—Well-Being Programs
  • New Senior Managing Director, Benefit Plans—Martin Bauer