Group Benefits Policy and Planning Board public meetings in 2022
6 substantive meetings from 2022, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Group Benefits Policy and Planning Board
The Board will review 2023 premium rate increases for self-funded plans across various classifications. The meeting also includes discussions regarding the Caremark Pharmacy Benefits Manager contract and several Medicare Advantage contract amendments.
- 2023 Premium Rate Increases for Self-Funded Plans
- Caremark Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) Contract
- Buck Global, LLC Contract Amendment
- Fully-Insured HMO and Medicare Advantage Contract Amendments
- Vantage Health Plan MHHP contract amendment
The Policy and Planning Board recommended a uniform 4.5% premium rate increase for all agencies, including school boards, for the 2023 plan year. The Board also recommended the Caremark PBM contract and several other contract amendments.
- Recommended 4.5% premium rate increase for all agencies, including School Boards (7-2)
- Recommended Caremark Pharmacy Benefits Manager Contract (4-0, 3 abstentions)
- Recommended Buck Global, LLC Contract Amendment #8 (Unanimous)
- Recommended Fully-Insured HMO and Medicare Advantage Contract Amendments (Unanimous)
- Approved August 10, 2022 Estimating Conference Minutes (Unanimous)
- Approved August 11, 2022 Policy and Planning Board Minutes (Unanimous)
Group Benefits Policy and Planning Board
The OGB Policy and Planning Board will vote on 2023 premium rates for self-funded health plans, including separate rates for school board and other classifications, and changes to emergency room copayments for Magnolia Open Access and Local plans. The board will also appoint a member to a vacant elected position, swear in new members, and receive a financial update with projections through 2026.
- 2023 premium rates for self-funded plans, with separate school board classification
- Changes to emergency room copayments for Magnolia Open Access and Local plans
- Appointment of Gwile Freeman, Ph.D., to vacant elected position
- Contract amendments with Prudential Insurance (group life) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana
- Intent to issue RFP for actuarial services
The Board deferred decisions on proposed premium rate increases for self-funded plans and the Pelican HRA1000 School Board Classification. Members approved increasing emergency room copayments for specific plans and recommended two contract amendments.
- Deferred recommendation of 4.5% premium rate increase for most self-funded plans (Unanimous)
- Delayed recommendation of 21.2% premium rate increase for Pelican HRA1000 School Board Classification for up to 30 days (Unanimous)
- Approved increasing emergency room copay to $200 for Magnolia Local and Magnolia Open Access Plans (Unanimous)
- Recommended Prudential Life Insurance Contract Amendment #1 (Unanimous)
- Recommended Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Contract Amendment (Unanimous)
- Elected Jeremy Jackson as Chairman, Tony Murray as Vice-Chairman, and Kenneth Krefft as Secretary (Unanimous)
- Deferred appointment for vacant elected position to next meeting (Unanimous)
- Approved minutes from May 12, 2022 meeting (Unanimous)
Group Benefits Policy and Planning Board
The board will meet to approve minutes from the March 20 and April 6, 2022 meetings. The agenda also includes a contract amendment for Access Health, Inc.
- Access Health, Inc. Contract Amendment
Group Benefits Policy and Planning Board
The OGB Policy and Planning Board will receive a financial update covering 2022 health coverage membership, fiscal year status, self-funded plan monitoring, and projections through 2026. The board will also discuss current and emergency contracts for Flexible Spending Arrangements and COBRA administration services with Optum Financial, Inc., and consider a request to discuss pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) services.
- Financial update: 2022 health plan membership, FY2022 status, self-funded plan monitoring, and FY2022-2026 projections
- Current FSA and COBRA administration services contract
- Emergency contract for FSA and COBRA administration with Optum Financial, Inc.
- Discussion of Access Health
- Request to discuss PBM services
The Board unanimously recommended an emergency contract with Optum Financial, Inc. for administrative services. Members also received financial updates and discussed pharmacy benefits management and the Access Health contract.
- Approved February 24, 2022 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Recommended $840,000 emergency contract with Optum Financial, Inc. for FSA and COBRA services to the JLCB (Unanimous)
Group Benefits Policy and Planning Board
The board will review financial updates regarding the 2022 plan year health coverage membership and fiscal status. The agenda includes discussions on flexible spending arrangements, COBRA administration services, and potential PBM services.
- 2022 Plan Year Health Coverage Membership update
- Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Status report
- Financial Projections for Fiscal Years 2022 – 2026
- Flexible Spending Arrangements and COBRA Administration Services Emergency Contract with Optum Financial, Inc.
- Discussion of PBM Services
Group Benefits Policy and Planning Board
The Office of Group Benefits Policy and Planning Board and Estimating Conference are meeting to conduct business. The agenda includes the approval of minutes from October 2021 and a discussion regarding administration services for COBRA and Flexible Spending Arrangements.
- Flexible Spending Arrangements and COBRA Administration Services Contract
The Policy and Planning Board recommended the termination of the Flexible Spending Arrangements and COBRA Administration Services contract with DataPath Administrative Services (DPAS) effective May 31, 2022. This action follows reports of DPAS' failure to comply with contract terms. The Estimating Conference approved forwarding this information to the Policy and Planning Board.
- Recommended termination of DataPath Administrative Services (DPAS) contract effective May 31, 2022 (Unanimous)
- Approved October 6, 2021 Estimating Conference Minutes (Unanimous)
- Approved October 19, 2022 Policy and Planning Board Minutes (Unanimous)
- Added Oath of Office to the agenda (Unanimous)
- Administered Oath of Office to Stephanie Little