TAHU Update Volume No. 3 Issue No. 5 January 2002
JANUARY MEETING
Monday, January 21, 2002
Marriott at RTP
Exit 281, Miami Blvd.
11:45 am, Luncheon Meeting
JANUARY GUEST SPEAKER
Gary Tomlinson
Speaker, Trainer, & Consultant
An entrepreneur and founder of three successful businesses, Gary Tomlinson is well versed in the
areas of sales and marketing, employee training, communication skills, leadership, and corporate
culture. From the time he worked as an operating room technician, more than 25 years ago, Tomlinson
saw the value in learning by doing as well as by teaching. Later, as a successful pioneer of surgical
stapling instruments, he went the extra mile for his customers by providing one-on-one training, in-
service programs, and teaching workshops.
In 1978, Tomlinson co-founded his first business, a medical equipment home care company, he put his
teaching skills and love of learning to work creating a corporate culture that thrived on team work, self-
management, customer feedback, and innovative thinking – a concept that was unheard of at the time.
When Tomlinson founded Med Covers, Inc., in 1984, his creative thinking and leadership philosophy
had a profound impact on the firm and its growth. Med Covers adopted a unique objective – "to
lead and do business with the human spirit as the firm's primary customer."
Today, Tomlinson shares with business people, his education and experiences of the last twenty-five
years. Including the successes as well as the defeats and failures. His keynote and workshop topics
include; "Inside Secrets of the Art of Telling - Your Selling Story," "Leading Change - Leadership
Skills," and "Corporate Culture - Your Organizations Operating System."
Gary is a graduate of Randolph-Macon College and has received a certificate in Cardiac Technology
from Eastern Virginia Medical School. For the past ten years, he has been a guest professor at N.C.
State University in the School of Business Management. Mr. Tomlinson is on the Advisory Board of Directors for the
American Lung Association and on the Board of Directors for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. He resides in
Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife Sara.
President's Message:
Gene Lee, Jr., CHC
Dr. Watson and legendary detective Sherlock Holmes were on
their backs gazing one night into the vast firmaments of stars
while camping by the lake. Dr. Watson is momentarily in awe
by the inspiring scenery and turns to Holmes to ask…" with
your ability sir to think about the endless size of the universe
and the possibilities of other worlds out there, what can your
vision deduce from the innumerable stars before us? Holmes
replies, it's elementary my dear Watson. I can deduce that
someone has stolen our tent".
The Capitol Conference in Washington this February will
undoubtedly have been inspiring as always to all the NAHU
local chapter leaders who will come from all over the country.
Our presence in Washington will be poignant given the pivotal
September 2001 events in our country's history. President Bush
has inspired us not to tire, fail, or falter; three noble objectives
as we carry on in our daily endeavors. Nor should we let fear
prevent us from carrying out the tasks and duties of our
profession. Just like the New York City firemen who saw the
need and advanced toward the place to exercise their training.
Our mission and purpose is "elementary Dr. Watson", focus on
one basic need, i.e., access to affordable health care and give of
our time and resources to make better the one corner in our
country that we can occupy, regardless of the risks.
"How's the Triangle AHU chapter doing you say?" Even now,
we are challenged and on a roll. Go to our web site…you'll
see! www.nctahu.org. Let's serve each other daily…now!
Saludos Amigos.
Law & Legislation:
Nancy Winter & Bill Hendrickson
"Soaring health insurance costs portend new crisis" – This was an LA Times article & headline of
the Durham 12/24/01 newspaper. A few bytes from the article, things you've heard before:
1. "Employers are pushing more of the soaring
costs onto their workers. And the recession is
throwing millions of people out of work, costing
them their health insurance as well as their
paychecks."
2. "... the nation is waging a war on terrorism, and
government policy-makers are showing scant
interest in the twin problems of rising health
costs and declining access to coverage."
3. Nationally, premium increases reached 8.3% in
2000, 11% in 2001…to rise 15% in 2002.
4. "To make things even worse, hospital spending is
increasing. This might be a harbinger of rising
demand by the baby boom generation, the 76
million people born from 1946 to 1964."
If we looked at medical care as a value - an ASSET -
rather than as an EXPENSE, such an article could be
written differently.
For the headline: "Medical wonders and enhanced
hospital services deliver exceptional care to
millions in
America." The above 4 ideas would instead say:
1. Employees are recognizing their need for better
insurance for catastrophic costs and long-term
care. They ask employers to improve the choice
of benefits offered. "Hang the cost" employees
say, "we will drop a few entertainment items &
help pay the price". Employees seek benefits,
which include medical IRAs to give them a
cushion through job changes inherent in the ever-
shifting realities of a free and thriving market.
2. While the Feds are busy attending to the common
defense of the nation, the National Association of
Health Underwriters is working with the
Association of American Physicians and
Surgeons to set up the ideal private models for
insurance and health care for all citizens. The
State Medical Societies and State Health
Underwriters are implementing these plans with
great success.
3. Insurance agents look to commission gains of 15-16% in 2002 and more in 2003 as ...
4. .... as the baby boomers pour money into health
plans that will allow them to afford the medical
wonder drugs & treatments to maintain the
lifestyles to which they have become
accustomed.
Upon waking from this dream – I see that HIPAA
has allowed an extension for the mandate to use
standardized data sets to streamline electronic claims
payments; hospitals, and others who are ready, can
begin using these on October 16, 2002, but others
have a year extension – after that, it's off to jail or
something. Ask the recently laid off millions what
the P in HIPAA stands for. History will wonder why
this nation neglected an offense against terrorism in
1995-6 and instead produced HIPAA. Then wonder
again why some of the obvious keys to the P in
HIPAA (health care tax credits and medical savings
accounts for everyone) were again neglected while
the BIG economic stimulus package faltered
altogether.
Remember PBOR (back in the days before 9/11)?
The US Supreme court will evidently be ruling on
the state laws about the liability issue/independent
review in mid-January. This may not make headlines
though because the free market seems to be keeping
up with consumers' desires far faster than any patient
rights laws. Nevertheless, send a nice "I-appreciate-
you" note to your company's compliance officers
cause they must have a very hard job keeping up
with these details.
At the state level (where insurance matters should
be) we have lots to watch and lots to do. The now
famous, longest "long session" of 2001-02 has ended.
The corresponding "short session" will begin in May
2002.
Thanks to Robert Paschal for giving us the good
news about some study bills of particular interest to
us. SB166 is the granddaddy Study Bill that gives
funding and authorization to study specific issues.
These include:
- High risk insurance health pools (S159)
- Moratorium on health insurance mandates (S1044/H1048)
- The availability of liability insurance for long-term care facilities, physicians, and
hospitals in this State. (Section II, 1 C)
- Workers' compensation insurance classifications (S1084)
- Drug costs and approaches to controlling these costs effectively. (See part X of S166)
- Availability of Liability Insurance for Long-Term Care Facilities, Physicians, and Hospitals. (This has become a growing
problem in other states in NAHU's Region III)
- The Privacy protection and security of medical records and personal health information. (Part XII, S166)
- To keep everything in perspective there will also be a study on abandonment and improper disposal of mobile homes. (This S166 makes for interesting reading - really, there's something for everyone here).
Harrison Kaplan's Volume 3(44) NC Legislative Health Watch (12/21/01) summarizes the bills of interest to us, which didn't pass during 2001, and will be eligible, or not eligible, for consideration
during the short session. Most of these have not seen any action since April 2001. He includes the rules
that determine which bills can be eligible for consideration in the short session. I'll forward this
report to any TAHU members upon request. The eligible health care & insurance bills include:
- H191 & S228 Self-employed health insurance tax deduction
- H1105 Insurance technical corrections - regarding HMO and Article 7 of Chapter 58
- H1332 An amendment to the NC constitution to make health care a fundamental right
- H1109 Vision care benefits in managed care
- H1266 Surgical nurses/3rd party payment
- H1091 Naturopathic physicians licensing
- H1254 & S1055 Certificate of need modifications
- S822 State self funded health care plan
You can check these out through the Bill Look-up feature at: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us
Then think about it: is health care an asset or an expense?
Nancy Winter
nancy@medsaver.org
919-493-9405
Membership:
Donna Cashwell & Kendra Neese
Please welcome the following new member to our Chapter.
Debra Vaughn
Ameritas
919-477-9199
dvaughn@ameritas.com
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Community Service:
Nancy Gibson
Thank you for your generous support of our Christmas
Project. With gift and donations we exceed $250 to
support our family of four in Durham for Christmas. I am
grateful to each of you for your support of the projects
that have been placed before you since September.
The Triangle Association of Health Underwriters has so
far this year supported the following projects:
- NAHU Disaster Fund: Contributed $1,000 to the
Educational Fund of the National Association of Health
Underwriters for assistance to families within our industry
effected by the disaster on September 11th.
- Thanksgiving Project: Donated 12 bags of canned
goods and $100 to the Raleigh Rescue Mission. Donated
$110 in Lowe's Foods gift certificates to the Salvation
Army
- Vitamins for Russian Orphans: Donated almost 50
bottles of children's' vitamins to Dr. Pfefferle in support of
his trip to Russia.
- Christmas Project: In cash and gifts exceeding $250,
providing a Merry Christmas to a family of four in Durham.
We have a couple of projects in the works for the spring which we will bring before you next month. Instead of
dipping into your pocket books, we will be looking for a little of your time. Check next month's newsletter for details!
Communications:
Tom Snell
Be on the lookout for your invitation to the 2002
Kick-off Luncheon. This regularly scheduled
luncheon is on Monday, January 21, 2000 at the RTP
Marriott. Go ahead and put it on your calendar now.
Prior to the speaker we have a wonderful lunch
planned:
Tomato Basil Soup
Tossed Garden Greens with House Dressing
Pasta Salad Florentine
Beef Stroganoff
Chicken Ala Roma
Boneless Chicken Breast in a Mushroom Cream Sauce
Chef's Choice of Vegetable in Season
Egg Noodles
Texas Millionaire Pie
Sliced Fresh Fruits
Fax or e-mail your response to Tom Snell at MAMSI Health Plans. Fax: 919-281-7222, or e-mail: tsnell@mamsi.com. Lunch is $12.00 for members and first-time guest are free.
Attendee: ________________________________
I (will) be attending the January meeting.
I (will) (will not) bring a guest/prospective member.
Guest name: __________________________________
There is no need to fax the response back if you are not planning on attending the meeting/luncheon.
Please RSVP no later than January 16th.
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
