TAHU Update Volume No. 3 Issue No. 4 December 2001
DECEMBER MEETING
Monday, December 17, 2001
Marriott at RTP
Exit 281, Miami Blvd.
11:45 am, Luncheon Meeting
DECEMBER GUEST SPEAKER
John Tote
Executive Director
Mental Health Association, NC
John is currently the Executive Director of the Mental Health Association in North Carolina. He previously served with the Johnston and Guilford County Area Mental Health Programs were he received his Qualified Mental Health Professional Certification.
John has also been involved as a board member and volunteer of many State and community organizations. He served as Board President for several organizations, including Harbor in Johnston County, which is their domestic violence and rape crisis program, Life Experiences of Wake County, which is a developmental disabilities vocational program, and the North Carolina Psycho-Social Association. As part of his roles as the Executive Director of the MHA/NC, John works closely with North Carolina General Assembly. He has served as chairperson for Coalition 2001 and serves as an adjunct faculty member at UNC/Chapel Hill in the Psychology and Rehabilitation Counseling Masters Degree Program.
John graduated from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. On Monday December 17th John will talk to us about Mental Parity.
President's Message:
Gene Lee, Jr., CHC
I had phone conversations with two licensed health insurance professionals the day of our annual Triangle TAHU membership drive. This daylong event was held again at the Cary offices of UNITED HEALTH CARE. Each conversation took over twenty minutes and was a prime example to all of us of the importance of staying connected to NAHU.
The discourse was amazingly the same. Right away both of these agents unleashed emotional expressions of frustration and exasperation over the current state of affairs in the health insurance market. For me it was like being on a TV game show. They each threw many of the same questions at me, trying to understand what was happening in North Carolina's employee benefits market. They asked what carriers I thought were currently the best? What I thought of the size of premium increases? What health plans had competitive underwriting? What companies provided the best incentives and support to producers? What I thought was going to happen if health and drug cost don't slow down to a point where small groups and employee contributions are affordable? One agent was convinced that the USA would ultimately implement a national health plan for all American workers if the medical inflation rate did not slow down to the same speed of price inflation for food, energy, clothing and housing. A very good point.
Here's the real point and lesson of this exchange. Both of these producers were disconnected and to a degree, "CLUELESS IN THE TRIANGLE". They lacked too much information and resources because they were not regularly being exposed to the benefits of being a NAHU member. I am personally exposed monthly to the HomeBuilders and the NC Realtors Association. I can tell you that these associations of professionals, just like TAHU, NCAHU and NAHU, through monthly meetings and newsletters meet many the critical networking, product information, education and legislative involvement needs of their members who like any of us may compete with each other on any given day. They are excellent, well funded and enjoy thousands of members in our state alone. NAHU offers the same benefits as they do, and too many agents and producers are choosing to remain divorced from an organization that offers them help, encouragement, cultivates leadership and vitality. They are as I have said before, focused to a great degree only on their circumstance... certainly not a recipe for longevity and to learn the best way to help the customer. Yes I do expect applications from both of them....
Thank you Kendra Neese for another well prepared membership drive. Your experience at this process will reap the growth goals for the Triangle this year I'm sure. Thanks to the Donna Cashwell and Jennifer Schooke for assisting in this important activity. I know you gained good experience and had fun too. Thanks to all of the TAHU members giving their time. At the threshold of a New Year I wish good health and rewards for everyone. I'm proud to be associated with all of you. Saludos Amigos!
Vice President & GRIP/GAP/HUPAC
Sam King, CHC
The Holiday Season is upon us. We hurry from place to place. Our business commitments, our social commitments, our family commitments can overwhelm us and make us lose sight of the reasons we celebrate this time of year. I urge every one to take to stop for a moment each day, take a breath of air and look around at the beauty of the world in which we live. Regardless of the pace and place we have chosen for ourselves, we can all benefit from a moment of relaxation & contemplation.
Speaking of commitments many of us made a commitment to Bernard Obie at the October meeting to support the PACs that are so vital to the legislative efforts of this Association. If you have not followed through or did not make that commitment I urge you to send that check so we can make the contributions to the legislatures whose campaigns we need to support. The issues of our concern before September 11 remain and will soon be back in the forefront of the nation's attention.
Sponsorships continue to be sought. With the changes in the market that have taken place in the past year several company's whose support we have had in the past has disappeared. . We need new sponsors to fill the void. If you know of anyone that you think could benefit from exposure to our organization let me know ASAP!
We are very appreciative to the organizations that have committed to this year's meetings. We have had new organizations with exciting products to step up in their support of our Association this year. They have been quality people with quality products.
Merry Christmas, Sam King
Law & Legislation:
Nancy Winter & Bill Hendrickson
The big insurance related-topics at the Federal level have entirely changed in just a few months: (1) Terrorism risk legislation and (2) Economic stimulus bills including methods to supplement unemployment benefits and health care for displaced workers. On debate are direct federal subsidies v block grants to the states to work out their own best systems.
In many states, North Carolina included, budget shortfalls and unemployment forecast further strain on the Medicaid funds. From "States Look to Ration Health Care as Economic Conditions Deteriorate" by Robert Gavin. Wall Street Journal 11/14/01 "The result: State health-care costs are growing at their fastest rate in a decade -- 9% a year, according to the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, a Washington, D.C.-based health-policy institute. At the same time, states are struggling with budget shortfalls totaling an estimated $15 billion. And the Urban Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank, warns that if the nation's unemployment rate rises to, say, 6.5% (a little more than a percentage point), states may have to absorb nearly two million more people into Medicaid."
Where is the money going to come from? Well NC raised the sales tax 0.5% in mid month. Our little business spent many hours reworking the accounting program to manage that trick; the secure server subcontractor still hasn't been able to accomplish this "penny tax" (penny indeed). Now I see the Senate is still busy reworking the language of S1005 (2001-03) Appropriations Act relating to tax rates for Article 65 corporations (BCBS) and HMOs from 0.833% to 1.1% after 1/1/03. (Just a tiny adjustment, over which legislators & then compliance offices & accountants will spend many hours & dollars). And now the news of BCBS conversion to non-profit ....
Alas, where is the money going to come from? "According to a new report from the Office of Advocacy at the Small Business Administration:
- Last year Americans spent $843 billion to comply with federal regulations.
- That comes to $8,164 per household -- in addition to the $19,613 share each household contributes directly or indirectly to federal revenues.
- Regulatory compliance takes eight percent of gross domestic product."
Hmmmm! $8,164 per household could buy some awesome health insurance, maybe even a little life & long term care. We need to keep this in mind when "quick legislative fixes" pit one private industry against another. Are there really "greedy" hospitals, "overpaid" doctors, "rich" insurance companies, "oppressive capitalist" pharmaceutical companies"? No. These TOGETHER are the Health Industry. The better we can communicate with each other (and with the health consumers), the less we will need of expensive regulation and litigation.
Health insurance tax credits are a good start. Block grants to states (where we can communicate more easily) another good step, tax refunds (if any left beyond our war needs). All these will help. Then for our part: COMMUNICATION. Some methods?
- Our continuously up-to-date nctahu.org website.
- The NAHU.net forum, which you can join through the NAHU.org website.
- Our monthly conference calls with Region III of NAHU, and the chain of information up and back from NAHU.
- Some of us have joined a health care forum through NCPA.org, providing daily dialogue between insurers and physicians.
An Internet forum, like the NCPA that focuses on North Carolina, could be invaluable and I propose we work toward creating a similar one. If there is already one available, we should be participating. It's the new relatively cost-free method of "being at the table" and in these financially hard times, this is the right time.
Imagine, instead of paying per diems for our (I imagine very weary) legislators to hash out solutions between the various arms of the health care industry, we could network and come up with the ideas relatively freely in an open NC Health Forum. Some of our neighboring states limit their legislative sessions to just 30 or 60 days per year. It might be because the citizens accomplish more of the homework and the industries get the work done (with the solutions & compromises if needed) before the sessions begin. Who is better able to communicate to consumers, health providers, the carriers and the pharmaceutical companies than we are? We've got the people skills; we're able to get out around the state if not by car, by phone & e-mail. We're able to do press releases, which can include the "personal story" as well as the facts & solutions. Let's do it, so by the next legislative session we have the bills in place that will make our health care financing mechanisms work for everyone.
Nancy Winter
nancy@medsaver.org
919-493-9405
Website
Michele Gregory, MHP, RHU, REBC
They Don't Call . . . They Don't Write . . .
Ever wonder why NCTAHU members aren't getting in touch with you? Of course, it could be that they just don't like you - BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND, it might be that your contact information on the TAHU website has errors.
Why not go to our website right now: http://www.nctahu.org/members
Check your contact information, and then send me an email message to let me know if it is correct or send me the changes that need to be made: mgregory@partnershealth.com or click on the "Webmaster" link and send me your corrected information.
While you are at the website, check out the other features. Information gets updated regularly (in fact, by the time you have the paper version of this newsletter, it will already be on the website).
- Board - contact information for officers and board members
- Join TAHU - membership information and application form
- Events - a calendar of activities for TAHU members
- Newsletters - copies of TAHU Update
- Legislative - legislative information
- Awards - award winners from 2000 - 2001
- Member List - contact information for all current members
- Sponsors - a list of sponsors with links to their web sites
- Links - easy way to access industry websites
Michele Gregory, MHP, RHU, REBC
PARTNERS National Health Plans
Email: mgregory@partnershealth.com
Phone: 919.469.6911
Membership:
Donna Cashwell & Kendra Neese
Please welcome the following new members to our Chapter.
Dee Samuels
Principal Financial Group
Raleigh, NC
919-783-9748
John Woody
Doctors Health Plan
Durham, NC
919-383-4175
Ernie Davis
Doctors Health Plan
Durham, NC
919-383-4175
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Marty Lewis
Doctors Health Plan
Durham, NC
919-383-4175
Kay Nunnery
Municipal Ins. Trust of NC
Raleigh, NC
919-733-1212
Christian Rich
Wellpath
Chapel Hill, NC
919-419-3832
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The TAHU Membership Blitz on November 28th was a success! We contacted over 90 prospective NEW members, thanks to all the following TAHU members:
Donna Cashwell
Lynn Collins
Angela Fulcher
Nancy Gibson
Bill Hendrickson
Gene Lee
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John Liegeot
Jennifer McLaurin
Kendra Neese
Christian Rich
Tom Snell
Sherry Stevens
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Community Service:
Nancy Gibson
Thanks to all of you for making our Thanksgiving project such a success! We contributed 12 bags of canned goods and $110 in Lowe's Food Stores gift certificates. Mellisia Martin from Principal Financial Group raised that money. Thank you Mellisia!
We also contributed $100 to the Raleigh Rescue Mission. I'd say we did a darn good job!!
I want to remind all of you to remember your children's vitamins (this is your last chance) so that Dr. John Pfefferle can take them with him when he and his staff visit Russia to provide dental service to the children who are in orphanages. This is a wonderful gift that he gives and our support means a great deal to him.
For our Christmas project we are adopting a family in Durham County. Our generosity is limited only by the support you can give. We will also be soliciting local merchants for gift certificates to make our gift larger than what we can do on our own. Please help with your cash donations or by bringing gifts for this family.
This mother of three was laid off from her job six months ago. She is trying to bring some joy to her children at Christmas. The Department of Social Services asks that we spend $45 on new gifts for each family member. There are two boys - a ten year old and eleven year old as well as a 2 year old little girl. The boys would love to have remote control cars and bicycles - the bicycles could be used.
Please be thinking in general terms about these requests - I will be posting to the web site more specifics on their needs and will be following up with a fax a little closer to the meeting as a reminder.
Your generosity in the last few months has been tremendous. I am really proud of our chapter and what we have been able to do. Please give in the spirit of the season - we all have so much and the feeling that you get in sharing with those in need is the greatest gift of the season.
Communications:
Tom Snell
Our regular monthly meeting will be held at the RTP Marriott on Monday, December 17, 2001 at 11:45 a.m. The Marriott is located at Exit 281 off
I-40, Miami Blvd. Go right off the exit, then right onto Guardian Drive.
We'll have an excellent program and great food. Just look at this menu:
Minestrone Soup
Traditional Italian Soup with Vegetables
Ham
Macaroni and Parmesan Cheese
Tossed Garden Greens with House Dressing
Roma Tomatoes and Mozzarella Cheese with Basil Italian Dressing
Seafood Newburg
Grilled Breast of Chicken with Basil Cream Sauce
Chef's Choice of Vegetable in Season
Long Grain and Wild Rice
Chocolate Supreme Cake
Sliced Fresh Fruits
And remember, if this is your first time to attend, your lunch is free! Usually it is $12 for members and $15 for non-members. So come on out and join us, but remember to make your reservation. Send an e-mail to Tom Snell at srttes@aol.com or fax your RSVP to: "TAHU December Luncheon" at 477-8867. (Many thanks to JoAnn Davis at Ameritas for receiving these faxes.) See ya there!
Also, if you are not receiving a faxed invitation for the lunch each month, send your fax number to Gianina Campbell at gianina33@cs.com, or you can call her at 461-9884.
As the success of the Triangle Association of Health Underwriters largely depends upon the benevolence of corporate contributors, we are proud to honor the following organizations for their continued support of our many programs and activities:
Diamond Sponsors
2001-2002
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of NC
United Healthcare
Please extend your appreciation to the Triangle members representing these organizations and remember their generosity when placing coverages.
Please remember that the cost of lunch for TAHU members is $12. Guest and non-member lunches are $16.
There will be a $3 charge for lost or misplaced name badges. Please remember to turn in your badge at the conclusion of each meeting.
Triangle Association of Health Underwriters
P.O. Box 19177
Raleigh, NC 27619-9177
