Employee Benefit Trust Minutes - 08/29/2012 City of Wichita Falls
Employee Benefits Trust Board Minutes
August 29th, 2012
The meeting was held in the City Council Conference Room, 1300 Seventh Street,
Wichita Falls, TX 76307.
Present: Darron Leiker, City Manager
Jim Dockery, Asst. City Manager/CFO
Miles Risley, City Attorney
Tammy Guerra, Human Resources Manager
Jan Ducioame, Employee Benefits Specialist
Glenn Barham, Mayor
Annetta Pope, Councilor
Randall Martell, IPS Principal
Brent Weegar, IPS Employee Benefits Specialist
Rebekah Ross, IPS Senior Account Manager
Agenda Items:
Meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m.
II. Minutes from the May 30th, 2012, meeting were read and approved.
III. Financial Report was presented.
IV. Agenda item: IPS mid-year review. The purpose of this pre-renewal analysis was
to: estimate benefit costs, discuss and quantify emerging trends, identify future
opportunities for cost savings or benefit enhancements, benchmark benefits and
costs against like entities, project 2013 costs and establish a strategic direction for
2013-2014 plan years. Annualized 2012 claims costs including medical claims
have experienced a 4.7% increase and annualized prescription and dental claims
costs have increased 3.3% and 20.1% respectively. For the 2012 play year the
City made no adjustments to the medical plan design but did adjust cost sharing for
the Prescription plan to better control non-preferred and specialty drug usage. The
City made a $10 premium adjustment to employee premiums and increased both
the annual physical and tobacco user surcharge to $10 and $20 per month
respectively. The most significant premium adjustments were made to pre-65
retirees as funding was reduced to 73.6% for core, 65°I° Buy up for retiree only and
25%for dependents. Last, the City also carved out the post 65 retirees to a fully
insures Medicare supplement program through UHC.
For the 2013 plan year, IPS recommends the City to consider offering a third
consumer driven health plan (CDHP) option. The City may attach a health savings
account or health reimbursement to the plan. The CDHP will give participants a
greater sense of true cost of health care and an incentive to bear more
responsibility for health care expenses and personal wellness.
IPS preliminary recommendations include:
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- Medical: No significant changes are recommended to the current plan designs.
However, IPS will provide additional cost sharing options at renewal including
consumer driven health plan options.
- Prescription Program: For 2013, it is recommended for the City to consider
specialty drug step therapy, incentivized mandatory mail order and generic step
therapy.
- Health Care Reform: For the remainder of 2012 and the 2013 plan years, no
significant PPACA provisions will affect the medical plan of benefits provided by
the City. The City will have to comply with Summary of Coverage Rules, W-2
reporting requirements and the patient centered outcomes fee ($1 per
employee). Flexible spending limits will also go into effect 1/1/13 and the City
will have to adjust it's $3,600 FSA election limit to a $2,500 limit.
- Wellness: it is recommended to continue the City's Rewards for Wellness
Program for 2012.
- Dental Program: Wichita Falls adjusted dental premiums for the 2012 plan year
for actives and retirees; however the City is still funding at higher percentages
than benchmarks. Additional premium adjustments are recommended at
renewal. The dental plan of benefits is also out of line with like entities. The
current annual maximum of $1,000 is below normative data ($1,500). it is
recommended to consider altering these provisions and IPS will provide options
at renewal.
- Claims Audit: It is recommended for the City to consider allocating funds in the
budget for a health and prescription claims audit of the 2012 plan year.
- Compass Professional Health Services: If a Health Savings Account Option is
implemented in 2013, it is recommended to evaluate an additional resource
called Compass Professional Health Services, a tool which will assist
employees in navigating the health care system. Services include but are not
limited to provider pricing, quality information, bill reconciliation and
negotiations.
- Medical Home Exchange: It is recommended for the City to consider a Medical
Home Strategy for implementation for the 2014 plan year. This model
advocates pay for performance and sharing of clinical information across all
provider service settings. Substantial cost reduction can be achieved through
improved clinical outcomes, quality and reduction in waste.
V. Agenda item: Consideration and possible approval of premium rate changes.
Postponed due to further information required.
VI. Agenda item: Consideration and possible approval of changed to on-site clinic co-
pay. Postponed due to further information required.
VII. Agenda item: Discussion on Naturally Slim results. Program can be considered a
success; further research will need to be done to determine if it will be continued
for the City.
VIII. Open Session: Tammy Guerra briefed those in attendance about the progress for
the re-opening of the City's on-site clinic. QuadMed is currently on target for an
October 2012 grand opening.
IX. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3;54 p.m.