Committee reviews corrected disruption figures and weighs switching to narrower 'focus' network

Administrator Wendy told the Salary and Personnel Committee that follow-up reporting corrected an earlier estimate of affected members if the city switched to a narrower focus HMO network. "[T]he reports that we have now received does impact approximately 41 of our members," she said, noting 15 of those were seen at Lafayette clinics or hospital.

Wendy summarized premium differences staff had presented previously: a switch to the focus network would produce roughly a 2.4% change for the plan overall versus an estimated 6.9% increase if the city renewed the current HMO. She said some employees who wish to keep broader provider access could elect the point-of-service (POS) option but would face higher employee premiums; in one example she provided, "it would become $256.37 per month for a total increase of $22.50 or $270 per year," compared with $233.87 per month under the current HMO. The committee supported a staff survey to collect employee preferences and asked staff to return with updated enrollment details and survey results before making a final decision.

The committee did not make a final plan selection at the meeting; instead, members directed staff to send a survey to all employees, reconfirm which of the 41 members are enrolled in which plan, and place the item back on the next agenda for further consideration.