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Sara Schwantz, account representative
for the R.W. Garrett Agency, presented both Health Maintenance
Organization and Point of Service plans with Champaign-based Health
Alliance, which has insured the county for two years. Last year 140
employees chose the HMO and five the POS. Both policies incorporate
a 15 percent increase in premium, compared with the industry trend
of 18 percent, Schwantz said.
The county pays the full monthly
premium for a single person. Extra charges for dependents are borne
by the individual. The HMO single monthly premium for 2003-04 is
$284, compared with $247 in 2002-03. The POS single premium is $296
for 2003-04, compared with $257. Schwantz also presented another HMO
and two Preferred Provider Organization plans with higher copay or
coinsurance rates at slightly reduced premiums ($273 for the HMO and
$290 and $270 for the PPOs). The full board did not discuss these
options.
Insurance committee member Paul Gleason
moved to accept the Health Alliance HMO renewal rate of $284 and POS
renewal rate of $296 with a cap of $300 per single employee. Though
the cap would have no effect this year, Gleason explained that in
the future it would require employees to pay the difference if
premiums exceed $300 per month.
Terry Werth declared that he would vote
against the motion because the board agreed in 2002 to bid out
insurance coverage this year. Dave Hepler responded that last year's
board expressed a feeling but not a commitment. He said there was
nothing in the 2002 motion that would bind the current board. Still,
Hepler announced that he too would oppose the motion because of last
year's feeling and because in seeking bids past boards have saved
taxpayers thousands of dollars.
Board chair Dale Voyles advised his
colleagues to consider insurance as part of the total employee
benefit package. Insurance coverage is not taxable for the employee,
he noted, nor does it increase the county's worker's compensation
cost, which is based on salaries. Voyles warned that at budget time
it will be "very, very difficult" to find money for employee raises,
so the county needs to protect benefits.
Insurance committee member John Stewart
said switching insurance companies brings paperwork problems. In two
years most of these have been ironed out with Health Alliance.
According to Schwantz's figures, in
2001-02 county claims exceeded premiums by $170,497. As a result,
premiums went up 23 percent for 2002-03. A $22,457 surplus so far in
the current year accounts for the new increase being below the
industry trend, she explained. The coverage year ends April 30.
Gleason, Stewart, Voyles, Bob Farmer,
Pat O'Neill, Chuck Ruben and Bill Sahs raised their hands in support
of the motion. Hepler and Werth opposed it. Gloria Luster, who
conducted the meeting, and Dick Logan did not vote. Luster said she
favors the motion. Logan too is leaning toward approval but said he
wants first to check with county employees. Mitch Brown was absent
from the board meeting, but in committee he made an unseconded
motion to advertise for insurance bids. The final vote on the Health
Alliance plans is scheduled for Tuesday's adjourned session.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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In a second proposal from the insurance
and legislative committee, the board will be asked to vote Tuesday
on whether to ban sale to and possession of ephedra-containing
products by anyone under 21. Display of such products at checkout
counters would also be barred.
Coroner Chuck Fricke told the board,
"The government made a mistake {in 1994 when it took control of
herbal supplements from the Food and Drug Administration). They
assumed that herbs are healthy."
After recounting the dangers of ephedra
and alluding to the death in 2002 of Lincoln athlete Sean Riggins,
Fricke made an impassioned plea, "We need to take a lead in Lincoln
and Logan County and say, ‘This is not acceptable.'" Though
acknowledging that laws limiting ephedra sales are expected soon on
the state and national level, he said Lincoln should be first
because of the efforts of Kevin Riggins, Sean's father, who has
taken the cause to legislators at all levels.
In a straw vote all members of the
board supported the proposal. The potential ordinance was not
presented at Thursday night's meeting because it is still under
review by State's Attorney Tim Huyett.
Emergency Services and Disaster Agency
Director Dan Fulscher told the board that he has applied for a
Homeland Security Grant. A committee will meet with Sen. Larry Bomke
and Rep. Rich Brauer in support of the application. "Preparation and
planning is the best deterrent," Fulscher said. He warned that a
heightened state of alert is likely within a month. A federal
booklet on preparing for many types of emergencies can be obtained
by calling 1 (800) BE READY.
Fulscher described a number of training
sessions being conducted locally, including a two-day instant
command training session and a weather spotter class. ESDA is in the
process of instructing Eaton Corporation employees on severe
weather, hazardous materials, fire drills and bomb threats. The
agency will also teach a hazardous material class at Abraham Lincoln
Memorial Hospital.
Fulscher said 9-1-1 is in the midst of
a phone system change. Glitches should be reported to him, Dianne
Ruff at ESDA, (217) 732-2159, or Sheriff Steve Nichols, (217)
732-4159.
In other business county board members
learned that:
--The courthouse dome is leaking a bit.
--The Lincoln Sesquicentennial will
officially open with dedication of the newly restored Abraham
Lincoln well at 5 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 24. Sale of bricks from the
well will finance its maintenance. Numbered bricks will be available
at the city clerk's office at $25 apiece.
--The 9-1-1 Board has agreed to pay
half the cost of new surveillance cameras at the jail.
--Smallpox vaccinations at the Logan
County Health Department are on hold pending resolution of questions
involving worker's compensation. Health Department Administrator
Lloyd Evans said a federal bill is expected to take care of the
problem soon.
--Community
Action has money available for small-business loans, with the
provision that one disadvantaged worker must be employed for every
$15,000 borrowed.
[Lynn
Spellman]
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