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San Francisco Health Service Board approves multiple 2018 rate actions, supports SB 538, and advances executive‑search outreach
Summary
At its June meeting the board approved a suite of 2018 plan renewals (UHC Medicare Advantage, Kaiser Medicare plans, Delta Dental adjustments and Kaiser multi‑region coverage), kept the Costco vision allowance unchanged, adopted a resolution supporting SB 538 on hospital contracting, and advanced its executive director search.
The Health Service Board of the City and County of San Francisco approved several insurer rate renewals and policy actions at its June meeting, including actions affecting vision, dental and retiree medical options for 2018.
Key votes and outcomes - Vision plan (Item 3): After presentations from Aon Hewitt and VSP, the board voted unanimously to keep the previously approved vision rates and not increase the Costco frame allowance. - UHC Medicare Advantage PPO (Item 5): The board approved the UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage PPO renewal rates after presentation by Aon Hewitt and UnitedHealthcare actuary Joe Waldman. - Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage (Item 6): The board approved Kaiser’s Medicare Advantage renewal after Kaiser explained risk‑score and CMS reconciliation drivers. - Delta Dental (Items 7–8): The board approved applying approximately $3.19 million of 2016 experience to reduce 2018 self‑funded dental PPO premiums and approved increasing the retiree annual maximum from $1,000 to $1,250 (Option 2) with associated modest premium adjustments. - Kaiser multi‑region plan (Item 9): The board approved offering a multi‑region Kaiser option for early and Medicare retirees in Oregon, Washington and Hawaii for 2018 and asked staff to pursue future blended‑rate possibilities. - SB 538 resolution (Item 14): The board unanimously adopted a resolution supporting California Senate Bill 538, which would limit anti‑competitive hospital contracting practices (prohibiting gag clauses, “all‑or‑nothing” contracting and mandatory arbitration of antitrust claims), following a presentation by Christophe Stremekus of the Pacific Business Group on Health. - Governance and schedule (Items 15–16): To preserve continuity during the executive director search, the board suspended its officer term‑limit rule for one year and voted to cancel the regular July meeting while scheduling individual search‑firm meetings for commissioners.
Executive search and administrative items The board introduced Ralph Anderson & Associates as the retained search firm for recruiting the next executive director; Heather of Ralph Anderson described a brochure and outreach beginning within 10 days and candidate screening in July–August. President Scott emphasized that the board retains final hiring authority despite the contract being executed by the Department of Human Resources.
Operational notes Acting Executive Director Mitchell Griggs and CFO Pamela Levin briefed the board on personnel updates, open‑enrollment preparations and an imminent financial system go‑live requiring extensive staff training. The board also discussed a proposed Simple Therapy pilot to target musculoskeletal pain via online exercise therapy and asked staff to negotiate pilot terms.
What’s next Staff will finalize rate cards to reflect board decisions, communicate open‑enrollment materials to members, return with follow‑up information on TRIO implementation and provider availability in August, and report back on the FSP financial system go‑live.
