Association of Metropolitan School Districts Update

September 25, 2009

 

 

Research on Consumer Driven Health Plans

 

Bob Hanlon from Corporate Health Systems provided an interesting update on research related to consumer driven health plans.  Here is a summary provided by Bob:

 

The link below is to a study that is a compilation of (4) other studies from:

  1. Aetna,
  2. CIGNA
  3. Reden & Anders
  4. Uniprise

The study was focuses on (3) main questions:

  1. Do CDH plans result in 1st year savings and or lower future trends and are the results real or based on favorable selections?
  2. Are any savings based on less care used?
  3. Are CDH plans simply a device for employers to shift cost?

The results are as follows:

  1. The total savings generated could be as much as 12% to 20% in the first year for CDH plans. As for future trends, 2 of the studies reported a 3% - 5% lower trend rate for CDH plans.
  2. Generally, all of the studies indicated that cost savings for CDH plans did not result from avoidance of appropriate care and that necessary care was actually received in equal or greater degrees than traditional plans. Three of the studies also found CDH participants received care for chronic conditions at the same or higher level than traditional plans and two of the studies reported a higher incidence of the physician actually following evidence-based care protocols.
  3. The studies also indicated that employer cost-shifting could exist in CDH plans, (as it does with most traditional plans) but most employers are not doing so. Later in the report it also shows that many of the CDH plans actually give more coverage protection than the traditional plans via a savings account.

One last thing to note is that a CDH plan is a plan with a high deductible, but it is also coupled with a savings account. The savings accounts used are Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) and Health Savings Account (HSA).


http://www.corphealthsys.com/newsletters/emerging_data_on_consumer-driven_health_plans.pdf

 

 

AMSD Advocacy Workshop

 

 

Please mark your calendar!  AMSD will be conducting an advocacy workshop on Tuesday, November 10 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the TIES Building.  Details will be coming soon.  AMSD member districts are encouraged to send a team to the workshop to learn grassroots advocacy strategies and network with other parent and legislative advocacy groups.  The 2010 legislative session promises to be extremely challenging and this workshop will help your local advocates chart a course to navigate the stormy weather ahead.

 

Leadership Summit

 

The handouts used at the Minnesota Leadership Summit have been posted on the Senate web site:

 

http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/departments/fiscalpol/reports/index.php#header

 

 

Upcoming Legislative Hearings

 

Here are some of the upcoming legislative hearings:

WEDNESDAY, September 30, 2009
5:30 PM
K-12 Shared Services Work Group
Room: 300S State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Marsha Swails
Agenda: Continuation of shared services discussion

THURSDAY, October 1, 2009
7:00 PM
K-12 Integration Revenue Work Group
Room: North Community High School 1500 James Ave. North Minneapolis, MN
Chairs: Rep. Jerry Newton, Rep. Robin Brown
Agenda: Integration Revenue Program

 

WEDNESDAY, October 14, 2009
11:00 AM
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
Room: 112 State Capitol
Chairs: , Sen. Don Betzold
Agenda: Report on the retention of a commission auditing/reviewing actuary.
HF1793/SF1601 (Nelson/Olson, M.) TRA; Adding a second retired member to the Board of Trustees.
HF474/SF45 (Thissen/Betzold) PERA; Bounce-back annuity following certain marriage dissolutions.
HF814/SFxx (Urdahl) PERA, TRA; Bounce-back annuity following certain marriage dissolutions.
HFxx/SFxx (Rukavina) Virginia Fire Department Relief Association; Consolidation with PERA.
HF1327/SF1417 (Murphy, M., Pogemiller) Various plans; Modification of an early retirement incentive.
Local retirement plan consolidation assistance fund creation: third consideration.

TUESDAY, October 27, 2009
No Time Available check time note
Jobs Task Force
Room: TBA
Chairs: Rep. Ann Lenczewski, Rep. Tom Rukavina, Rep. Alice Hausman
Agenda: TBA