Rapidly changing government regulations and skyrocketing costs make employee benefits more complicated than ever. Today, with the advent of consumerism and value based plan design, employers are contracting with more external vendors to manage services connected with this trend — i.e., self-serve websites and other resources where employees can compare healthcare costs, access nurse help lines, appraise health risks and glean important health information.

Measuring the effectiveness of these plans, services and cost is key. But it's a tall order for you to stay abreast of the trends, negotiate with providers and communicate effectively with employees-all while monitoring plan usage and effectiveness and keeping track of impending cost increases.