Medical Benefits Committee
Minutes
Wednesday, June 24, 2010
1:30 pm
Room 804A
Present:
Debora Bone, Marion Brodkey, Doug Deaver, Diane Goody, Sue Holt, Victoria
Lewis, Loree McCawley, Cliff Nichols, Cathleen Reno, Topsy Smalley, Leah
Hlavaty (for Stephanie Stainback) Sue Torres, Kathie Welch
Guest(s):
None.
Absent:
Stephanie Stainback
I.
Call to Order
Victoria opened the meeting at 1:35 pm.
II.
Minutes
The committee approved the minutes of May 26, 2010 (Holt/Brodkey).
III.
Update from the Board Meeting
Victoria reported out from the June 14th Board meeting and overviewed the feedback
from the benefits committee regarding concerns about changing the least cost HMO plan
a second time within a year. Employees are still adjusting to plan changes made last
year. The recommendation from the benefits committee was to keep the plan and the
employee/District contributions the same for 2010-11 and form a subcommittee to review
options for the 2011-12 plan year. The benefits committee agreed that all options should
be identified including the identification of baseline coverage that should be maintained
as we review plan options. The funding for the benefit package should also be under
consideration--District/employee cost sharing models will be reviewed as well as tiering
which would include the establishment of different employee contributions based on
number of dependents (employee, employee +1, family coverage). Other options are also
under consideration such as review the components of the benefit package (medical,
dental, income protection, life insurance). Life insurance has not been utilized—should
we consider eliminating District coverage, employees could purchase minimal coverage
as an out of pocket cost? The committee also recommended that we develop a new
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model for funding benefits before the 2011-12 plan year begins. Timing for this discuss
has been challenging in the past since the plan year begins in October.
The Board agreed that the college should research solutions and a new model before the
plan year begins. Victoria recommended a timeline which requires the benefits
subcommittee to work over the summer. The goal would be to have options rolled out
during fall semester.
A late budget is anticipated and Victoria’s tentative plan is to be in a position to re-visit
benefits with all groups in December 2010/January 2011 in preparation for the 2011-12
budget planning. The Board is concerned about being proactive but understood the need
for predictability in health care plans and the need to educate employees. They agreed
with the staff recommendation to work toward making changes for the 2011-12 fiscal
year.
Timeline:
Summer 2010:
Fall 2010
Nov/Dec 2010:
October 2011:
Benefits subcommittee meets to develop options and a plan
to educate employees
Roll out options, educate employees on plans, feedback
Bargain with both employee units
Plan year begins
The benefits subcommittee will meet over the summer to
 develop a timeline for activities for fall education campaign on plan options
 develop models and cost estimates
 educate employees on plans and the impact of usage on the plan costs
IV.
2010-11 Renewals
Sue plans to have an open enrollment during flex week and the week after since there are
no major plan changes this year. The SISC and payroll deadline is Sept. 8. Only those
who make changes will need to submit paperwork.
Dental rates will increase 1.35% instead of 10%; District stipend amounts will be
reworked. Doug asked how strategies are tied to the budget. Victoria replied the
rationale of the model that we can live with needs to be agreed upon. It was noted that
decisions going forward will be more difficult than decision in the past; if the level of
coverage is what is desired, then options to contained costs need to be explored.
It was noted that plan participants can also educate themselves by, for example,
requesting a printout of all costs from SC Medical Clinic. Another option is to look at
Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and add the deductible that employees pay into that so
that the employee can choose how to use the health care funds. Putting more
responsibility in hands of the user will create incentives for individuals to manage their
health and usage. Doug noted that as an employee about to retire, his benefits will be
funded by the District until he is 70 and emphasized the potential impact to the District.
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Topsy asked about the possibility of employees utilizing the new Wellness Center in
HAWK. This idea will be discussed as a revenue enhancing idea. It was also noted that
Blue Shield will subsidize a membership to a gym like 24 hour Fitness.
Subcommittee: Deb, Steph, Kathie, Sue, Loree and the new Director of Business
Services, Pency. Ann Lucero will likely be the CCFT rep for the larger benefits
committee. Given summer vacations, Doug will be the alternate for Kathie, Paul the
alternate for Deb, and Diane the alternate for Sue.
Next meeting: Aug 19th, 2:00-4:00
The meeting was adjourned at 2:10 pm.
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