Minutes from Union Executive Committee Meeting

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Present – Prince Charles Alexander, Rick Applin, Charles Cassara, Peter Cokkinias, Beth Denisch, Marti Epstein, Rich Grudzinski, Jonathan Holland, Michael Heyman, Jeff Perry, Wendy Rolfe, Jackson Schultz, Mike Scott, Will Silvio. 

Guest - John Eldert

  1. Rich made a motion to accept the minutes from the previous meeting and update the website. Peter seconded and the vote was unanimous to accept the minutes.
     
  2. John Eldert is our guest today to discuss the Boston Consortium project called “Ed Health” and update us on the “Healthy You” program.  The consortium has fifteen colleges in the Boston area with the addition of several workers comp groups that have agreed to work together to create an umbrella group to look at collective benefits. The goal is to even out claims, negotiation of premiums, and to lower the overall cost of healthcare. With the group owned concept we share the risk of healthcare, the group can negotiate with providers directly, with some providers in the group, Harvard, Tufts, etc. this can be a benefit. Along with the “healthy you” program, we can have TPA coaching to help us become healthier. We will have incentives to participate in the programs, like $100 to take part in health screenings, etc. 13 of the 15 consortium schools have already agreed to share health information regarding their constituents, to see the risk factors. Currently, we are being priced at 1700 employees, not a very large group, with all these schools together we will have much more bargaining power, we currently cannot shape our own plan, we don’t have the numbers. With this group idea, we can shape our healthcare plan to fit our members. What would help at Berklee to make Berklee healthier … that is one of our goals with the “healthy you” program. 
     
  3. Mike: we experienced a resistance to the PPO during bargaining last year, how can this help? We need to have all the options for our members.
     
  4. John: With a larger group like this, we will have all the option still available. Because we will be controlling our own underwriting, we can shape the plans to suit all the members. Another item we are looking at, the co-pays, trying to get them as low as possible. But we have several different offerings with several different co-pay structures. Overall, it may be a lower increase as opposed to actual lower costs.