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Board committee backs amendments to San Francisco health care security ordinance, delays employer mandate
Summary
Committee approved changes to let employer contributions fund reimbursement accounts for non‑resident employees and extended the employer mandate operative date to Jan. 1, 2008; the item will go to the full Board with a recommendation.
The Board of Supervisors Budget & Finance Committee approved proposed amendments designed to smooth implementation of San Francisco’s Health Care Security Ordinance (HCSO) and to broaden options for employers.
Supervisor Tom Ammiano said the amendments respond to employer concerns raised in focus groups and to the practicalities of enrolling non‑resident employees in the city’s health access program. Deputy city attorney Paul Zarevskiy said the changes would allow employers to direct contributions to reimbursement accounts (similar to flexible spending accounts) that can serve non‑resident employees, extend the employer‑mandate operative date for the employer spending requirement to Jan. 1, 2008, and clarify penalties and remedies for violations.
Tangerine Brigham of the Department of Public Health said the reimbursement accounts would allow employers with both San Francisco resident and nonresident employees to participate in the program.
A spokesman for SEIU voiced labor support for the amendments during public comment. The committee voted to accept the amendments and forward the ordinance with a recommendation to the full Board for a March 20 hearing.
The committee asked DPH and the controller’s office for details on any supplemental appropriation, IT infrastructure needs and the estimated administrative costs of managing reimbursement accounts; DPH said a supplemental for infrastructure and eligibility systems is in process and expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
What happens next: the amendments will be sent to the full Board with the committee’s recommendation. The Health Department and controller’s office will provide more detailed budget and implementation information to the committee before final adoption.
