06 LC 28
2960
House
Resolution 1535
By:
Representative Scott of the
153rd
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the State Health Benefit Plan Design Team; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
the State Health Benefit Plan is a self-insured health benefit product, insuring
eligible employees and retirees of state agencies, authorities, and boards of
education and other educational entities, administered by a third-party
administrator; and
WHEREAS,
with the cost of health claims rising significantly each year, there is a need
to determine new and innovative ways to contain such costs; and
WHEREAS,
a plan design team can review and determine areas where rising costs can be
contained and determine a more cost effective plan design to better meet the
needs of covered employees, retirees, their spouses and dependents, and the
State.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is
created the State Health Benefit Plan Design Team to be composed of no less than
14 persons. The Governor shall appoint one or more representatives from the
Department of Community Health; one or more representatives from the Georgia
Merit System of Personnel Administration; a representative from the State Health
Benefit Plan Task Force; the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of
Corrections, ex officio; the director of the Georgia Forestry Commission, ex
officio; a human resources officer currently employed by a state department; a
representative from the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia;
three persons who are currently employed full-time as teachers for boards of
education in Georgia who receive health benefits from the State Health Benefit
Plan; a human resources officer currently employed by a board of education in
Georgia; two persons currently employed full-time as employees for state
agencies not otherwise represented on the Plan Design Team who receive health
benefits from the State Health Benefit Plan; and two persons who are retirees
who receive health benefits from the State Health Benefit Plan.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Plan Design Team shall undertake the following to
determine means to curb rising costs of health benefits provided to eligible
employees and retirees of state agencies, authorities, and boards of education
and other educational entities:
(1)
Leverage the work and recommendations of the State Health Benefit Plan Task
Force report dated October 11, 2005;
(2)
Review the existing State Health Benefit Plan;
(3)
Include a review of all areas of the State Health Benefit Plan including medical
options, utilization, access to care, duplication of coverages, and the actual
number of options offered and include a review of the types of HMO options
currently in the State Health Benefit Plan and whether there is a need to
continue them;
(4)
Compare the State Health Benefit Plan with other state and private industry
plans through the State and Local Government Benefit Association;
(5)
Compare the options and costs of the State Health Benefit Plan with those of the
medical plan of the Board of Regents of the University System of
Georgia;
(6)
Complete an analysis to determine the feasibility of continuing to offer
Consumer Options (CO). Consumer Options is confusing to employees, experiences
low utilization, and is expensive, and there is a concern as to whether it is
worth the extra cost of providing the option;
(7)
Engage several focus groups throughout the state with eligible plan participants
including retirees to review plan design recommendations and solicit their input
into the process;
(8)
Present plan design recommendations to benefit consultants for validation and
best practices; and
(9)
Complete actuarial studies to compare the existing plan to proposed plans and
develop cost models.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Plan Design Team shall make a report of its
findings and recommendations to the Governor, with suggestions for proposed
legislation, if any, on or before December 31, 2006. The members of the team
shall not receive any compensation for their services on the team, but they
shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the performance of their
services as members of the team in the same manner as they are reimbursed for
expenses in their capacity as officials or employees. The funds necessary for
the reimbursement of the expenses shall come from funds appropriated to or
otherwise available to their respective employers. Except as otherwise provided
in this resolution, all funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this
resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the House of Representatives
and the Senate. The State Health Benefit Plan Design Team shall stand abolished
on December 31, 2006.