TAHU Update October 2004

Next Meeting

Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Brier Creek Country Club
Main Clubhouse
11:45 am, Luncheon Meeting

Please RSVP before Friday, October 8, 2004
to David Smith, at
david@beninslaw.com

GUEST SPEAKER
Chris Kennedy
Managed Market Manager - Pfizer, Inc. National Health Operations

TOPIC: the value of pharmaceuticals in working with employers

Chris Kennedy has a BS Biology minor Microbiology from NCSU 1986. He has worked in the Pharmaceutical Industry for going on 12 years in various Sales and Marketing positions. His focus has been in the Managed Care area for about 6 years. (Pharmacy Benefit Management, Managed Care Organizations, and Employer Disease Wellness Initiatives are his focus areas in Managed Care)

SPONSORED BY
Pfizer National Healthcare Operations

Click on the above logo to see Pfizer's website

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President's Message: Barry Hill

The Triangle Association kicked off the 2004-2005 year with a great Meeting sponsored by Medical Mutual Insurance Company. The featured speaker was David Sousa, Senior Vice President & General Counsel Of Medical Mutual. David presented a very enlightening and somewhat alarming picture of the medical malpractice side of the health insurance market. This presentation came at a great time, because this topic will be at the forefront of the various political races.

The Triangle Association will once again sponsor the Triangle Association of Health Underwriters Golf Tournament in the spring of 2005. The tournament is our predominant charitable fund raising activity. In 2004 we donated $2000.00 from the tournament proceeds to Wake Enterprises Inc.

I would like to congratulate Michele Gregory. Michele has been our Website chair person for the past several years and recently was awarded the National Website award by the National Association of Health Underwriters.

Our next meeting will be on October 12. We have another excellent sponsor and speaker. Pfizer Managed Care is the sponsor and Chris Kennedy of Pfizer is the speaker.

I look forward to seeing everyone on October 12.

Barry Hill
MMIC
700 Spring Forest Road
Raleigh, NC 27624
919-878-7576
919-878-7590 Fax
barry.hill@mmicnc.com

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Treasurer: Jay Kennedy

You can pre-pay for the ten lunches throughout the TAHU program year for just $100. A savings of $20. You can take advantage of this opportunity at the October 12th meeting.

Jay Kennedy
Four County Health Network, Inc.
511 Ruin Creek Road
Suite B-1
Henderson, NC 27536
252-430-0360
252-430-8980 Fax
jkennedy@vance.net

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Law and Legislation: Bill Hendrickson

There’s not much legislative action during these pre-election months, but there’s always health related information to report of interest to us in our profession.

WALL STREET JOURNAL, September 17---Today, 35 health plans covering more that 30 million patients have some kind of program tying doctor bonuses to performance. Many of these plans are self funded large employer plans (General Electric, Ford Motor Co. and others), but even the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the Federal Government has launched such a plan. Physicians have bristled as service allowances have been reduced by Medicare, Medicaid, and managed care networks, so here is a means to bring new money into the hands of the best performing providers. Everyone doesn’t welcome this innovation, however. A thoracic surgeon, Dr. William Plested says this is a scam designed by multimillionaire CEO’s of insurance companies and HMO’s to “further underpay the vast majority of physicians for the care they routinely give.” You be the judge. Ask your own doc if he/she has ever received a bonus for good performance.

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION---Switzerland has a consumer driven health plan that every Swiss individual is required to purchase. Some folks are subsidized, but the American employer-based system is replaced by an individual-purchase system. The largest market share of insurance plans is made up of high deductible plans. The Swiss system achieves 30 percent lower cost than the United States and provides universal coverage! There is a reasonable quality of care in Switzerland. (The definition of “reasonable quality” was not provided.

COMTEMPORARY ECONOMIC POLICY, July 2004---There is such a thing as “job lock” in this country. Research provided by economist Scott Adams showed that among men between 25 and 55 with spouses, there is an approximate 22 to 32 percent reduction in job mobility stemming from health insurance coverage. Slightly more job lock is found among married women. The study shows dramatically one of the problems caused by the lack of health insurance portability. I might add that many persons don’t realize the protection afforded them through HIPAA with its portability features and might be able to take a new job if they were aware of this protection.

INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY, September 14---One expected positive feature to be found through Health Savings Accounts (HSA’s) is that their lower cost and expected tax deductibility will help the ranks of the uninsured. More about the effects of HSA’s at a future TAHU luncheon meeting.

NEW YORK TIMES, SEPTEMBER 12---More on the much maligned Canadian health care system: The number of family doctors in Canada is declining and there are fewer medical school graduates than are required to meet the needs of Canadians. Because many do not have a family doctor, emergency rooms are flooded with people needing mundane items like having a prescription filled, needing a doctor’s note, or merely receiving some care for the flu. Physicians are working fewer hours and seeing more patients which mean longer waits in the waiting room and often too short visits with their physician. No relief is in sight.

NATIONAL CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS---As reported in this column last month, the Kerry plan for health care reform is expected, if implemented, to cost more the $1 trillion dollars over ten years. We won’t repeat the facts as previously reported last month, but suggest that undecided voters should consider this element in the Kerry platform prior to voting. All of us who specialize in understanding and interpreting health care and insurance details need to know the positions of both presidential candidates before entering the voting booth. BUT BE SURE TO VOTE!!!!!!!

William Hendrickson
Hendrickson & Company, Inc.
2219 Lawrence Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
919 644-8636
919 644-6433 Fax
bill2219@mindspring.com

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Media Relations: Elizabeth Barnard

2004 Qualifiers for The Leading Producers Round Table Awards (LPRT) from our Chapter

The Leading Producers Round Table (LRPT) of the National Association of Health Underwriters announced eight agents from our Chapter as 2004 Qualifiers for the following awards.

Barry Hill	Agency Eagle Club	Medical Mutual Insurance Company
Rufus B. Langley, CLU, RHU, CHFC	LPRT Lifetime	Forrester & Associates Ins Agency
Dianne E. Lawton	Eagles Club	John F. Sipp & Associates
Jennifer Coe McLaurin	Eagles Club	John F. Sipp & Associates
Jim Price	Presidents Council	IBD Insurance Services, Inc.
John F. Sipp, CLU, CHFC, LUTCF, RHU	Agency Eagle Club LPRT Lifetime	John F. Sipp & Associates
John M. Thomason, Jr.	Eagles Club	IBD, Inc.
Allison C. Tolksdorf, RHU	Agency Leading Producer	Jones Insurance Agency Inc.

These Awards are bestowed upon individuals and agencies that have demonstrated professional excellence in the sale of health and disability income insurance, and in some cases, sales management.

Let’s give a hand to these outstanding agents in our Chapter!

Elizabeth Barnard
Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
Eastowne 600 3d Floor
5901 Chapel Hill Road
Durham, NC 27702
919-765-4686
919-765-3819 Fax
elizabeth.barnard@bcbsnc.com

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Website: Michele Gregory, MHP, RHU, REBC

Keeping up with our roster of Officers and Committee Chairs is always a PUZZLE, so I thought it would be fun to give you a Board Members Puzzler. Test your knowledge of our chapter Board members by filling out the puzzle below.

Note that if you are still puzzling over these names at a later date, they are always available (with photos) on our Board page.

You must have a Java plugin installed and enabled in order to use this interactive puzzle. If you already have Java installed, you still might need to turn it on.

Some computers and web browsers do not come with Java pre-installed. You can get the Java plugin at the official Java website.

2004-2005 NCTAHU Board Members

After you enter an answer, clicking on "check puzzle" will let you know how you did. BLACK letters are right; RED letters are wrong.

Michele Gregory, MHP, RHU, REBC
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
2501 Aerial Center Drive, Suite 200
Morrisville, North Carolina 27560
919-765-4671; 800-228-6216
919-467-2823 Fax
Michele.Gregory@bcbsnc.com

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Special Announcements:

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.

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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
2003-2004

Pfizer Managed Care

Please extend your appreciation to the Triangle members representing these organizations and remember their generosity when placing coverages.

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Triangle Association of Health Underwriters
P.O. Box 19177
Raleigh, NC 27619-9177