06 LC 28
3079S
The
House Committee on Governmental Affairs offers the following substitute to
HR 1535:
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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that there is created
the State Health Benefit Plan Design Team to be composed of 19 persons. The
Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint three members of the House
of Representatives who receive health benefits from the State Health Benefit
Plan, one of whom the Speaker shall designate as the chairperson of the State
Health Benefit Plan Design Team. In addition, the Speaker shall appoint two
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; one
person currently employed full time as an employee of a state agency not
otherwise represented on the Plan Design Team who receives health benefits from
the State Health Benefit Plan; and one person who is a retiree who receives
health benefits from the State Health Benefit Plan. The Governor shall appoint
one representative from the Department of Community Health; one representative
from the Georgia Merit System of Personnel Administration; one 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; one representative from the judicial branch of government; two
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;
one person currently employed full time as an employee for a state agency not
otherwise represented on the Plan Design Team who receives health benefits from
the State Health Benefit Plan; and one person who is a retiree who receives
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 Benefits 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 and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, 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. The State Health Benefit
Plan Design Team shall stand abolished on December 31, 2006.