Orange County NC Website
$6,604,372 $1,326,341 $7,930,710 4.8% <br /> Option 2 (One Plan--PPO) <br /> $6,776,097 $1,272,406 $8,048,503 6.3% <br /> Wellness Activities <br /> •Enhanced preventive services through County Health Plan (no cost to members) <br /> •Lunch `n Learn Wellness Presentations <br /> •Wellness Committee <br /> •Addition of Health Advisor program in 2009 <br /> Questions <br /> Commissioner Gordon asked about changes in vacation or leave and Michael McGinnis <br /> said that there is no change in vacation, leave, petty leave, or sick days. <br /> Commissioner Gordon asked why the HMO's no longer have gatekeepers anymore and <br /> Diane Shepherd said that the system has eroded over time. Commissioner Gordon asked how it <br /> is managed care. Diane Shepherd said that it is mainly the in-network versus the out-of-network <br /> benefit. There is no out-of-network benefit, so the users are restricted to the membership <br /> network. <br /> Commissioner Carey said that the paid claims have decreased by $85,000 over the <br /> prior year. He asked about the prior year. Michael McGinnis said that this is for the County's <br /> fiscal year. <br /> Commissioner Nelson asked how much feedback staff wanted about Option 1 versus <br /> Option 2. Michael McGinnis said that staff would be providing for October 71h a recommendation <br /> based on the input from the Board. <br /> Commissioner Nelson said that he is open to hearing from employees and other <br /> County Commissioners, but his preference at this point would be the Buy Up plan because it <br /> preserves two options. <br /> Chair Jacobs made reference to the dental plan. He said that this plan mostly covers <br /> things that are preventative and things like crowns and periodontal are barely covered. He <br /> suggested looking at this further. <br /> Diane Shepherd said that many of these services are covered at 50%. <br /> Chair Jacobs made reference to the Employee Assistance Program and said that he <br /> was glad counseling sessions were being increased from three to five. He said that, unless <br /> there is a crisis, this is just whetting someone's appetite for counseling. Michael McGinnis <br /> agreed and said that three is the lowest he had known and five is very inexpensive. He thinks <br /> that 12 visits would be reasonable. <br /> Diane Shepherd pointed out that the health insurance also covers mental health issues. <br /> Chair Jacobs asked about the co-pays on page 26. He said that if the increasing cost <br /> is hundreds of thousands of dollars, maybe a less painful way to address the shortfall is to <br /> consider small changes in co-pays. A $5 change may make a significant difference across the <br /> board. <br /> Diane Shepherd said that co-pays were raised last year, so staff was reluctant to <br /> introduce another change. <br /> Commissioner Foushee said that she got a call from someone that had a dependent <br /> child and took their child for a doctor visit, and over the next six weeks, the child had to go back <br /> for follow-up visits, and each time, she had to pay a co-pay. This employee ended up paying <br /> almost $100. She said that this employee does not have a great salary. She said that <br />