HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-01-05-HBRC-min Health Benefits Review Committee
Minutes of meeting of 1/5/05
Preliminary
Attendees Bob Beckwitt, Dick Dougherty, Rose Ducharme, Tom Goodwin, Nancy Meadows,
Tom Rand, Linda Roemer, Claudia Sheffield, Evelyn Silber
Liaisons Tom Griffiths, Paul Hamburger, Bill Kennedy
Union Reps Vito_, Fire dept guy (help someone, please)
Materials Drafts by E Silber, L. Roemer, R. Beckwitt distributed by email to the committee
Dick Dougherty called the meeting to order at 8 35 in the Selectmen's Meeting Room
The minutes of December 15 were approved
Dick led us into a talk about criteria and format of presenting actions and what are the factors
motivating them
He remarked that all three papers distributed since the last meeting had upbeat options
The following is an attempt to capture the board which Dick created with some input from the
committee members to represent the criteria for actions It is only representative
RECOMMENDED CRITERIA
OPTION
PLAN DESIGN COST TO TOWN, EMPLOYEES
INCREASED COPAYS (SHORT& LONG TERM)
CONSUMER DIRECTED COST VS GROWTH
PLAN IMPACT ON CONSTITUENCIES
NEW RECRUITS
RETIREES
DEPENDENTS
OTHERS
ALSO, IDENTIFY NEEDS FOR ADDITIONAL DATA
Dick will be assessing a larger group of towns He has a list of questions He will put list
in email to all of us
We should estimate the copay cost total. The Hewitt study is for large companies Use a
flex plan9
Evelyn. Look at other vendors (Tufts, Cigna, United HC, Fallon. If they match well
enough then ask for a bid.
Rose Every 2 years we go to all these vendors We will do it in 2005 in preparation for
open enrollment in May
Canadian drug purchase appears to be short term and not a viable alternative
Bob We should look at the 10 year impact of the problem and add that to our report. Just
take the expansion of the increase over 10 years if it increases 10% per year and note how
rt
Just about doubles the fraction of the budget it is now if other costs go up 3%, say
(Comment made a little more specific by minute taker!) Also Bob pointed out that a 1%
shortfall every year adds up to 10% in 10 years
Bob Increasing copays doesn't help, but using a large deductible instead of a fixed
payment by the subscriber motivates the subscriber to be more careful about what
services they use He has some evidence for that, but I did not note it
Bill If Override does not pass we are in crisis
Tom G A high deductible reduces plan.
Paul A high deductible favors the healthy who under the current plan use less than the
deductible at the expense of the sick who will now have to pay the difference previously
paid by the healthy
Rose People come in confidence when they have big expenses
Also, administration will be higher
We have Bob's memo
1 Consumer
2 Pharmacy
European plan may take 5 years to implement
Perhaps we can make a compromise with drug stores rather than going to mail order
when they know that mail order is under serious consideration.
Rose Mail order is an option promoted quarterly and is being used more
Evelyn. Plan Description
Rose The number who do not qualify for Medicare is small.
Tom. Changes have had positive long term effect Urgency is mitigated by good
management
Include in report improvements, cooperation between town and employees to cut costs
MIAA did not work out
Should we try to create a group of surrounding towns (say LABB towns) in a group to cut
costs (even 1 or 2 %would help a lot.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul Hamburger