The annual Triangle Association Golf Tournament will be held April 4 at Brier Creek Country Club. The tournament is held each year and will be our major charitable fund raiser. We have chosen “Project Access” as the charitable organization this year. Proceeds from the tournament will be presented to Project Access.
Capital Conference will be held February 7-9 in Washington D.C. Representing the Triangle Association will be David Smith, Rufus Langley, Terri and Tony Gutierrez, John Henson and Bill Hendrickson.
Our next meeting will be February 8. Prime Pay inc. will be our Sponsor and also provide the program.
For addition information please go to our website a www.nctahu.org.
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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Golf Tournament:
Mike Alexander |
Golfers, mark you calendars for:
11th Annual TAHU Golf Tournament
Monday, April 4th 2005
Brier Creek Country Club
11 AM Shot-Gun Start
Superball Format
Entry fees:
$125 - Individual
$400 to $750 - Corporate Sponsor Levels
Contact Mike Alexander at jmalexander@nc.rr.com
Proceeds benefiting Project Access
J. Michael Alexander
Magellan Benefits Group
#4 Haycox Court
Durham, NC 27713
919-544-5681
919-806-8455 Fax
jmalexander@nc.rr.com
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HUPAC/NCPAC:
Sam King, CHC |
Who will win the money!!! The NCAHU Symposium is just around the corner and as in the past there will be a raffle at the Symposium with a chance for a local someone to take home some serious cash. To win you need only to purchase a ticket.. You can even go in with someone and purchase what will proably be the winning ticket and split the proceeds with that indidvidual. Tickets will available to purchase at the next meeting or at the Symposium, in March. I believe this will be your lucky day. Send me an e-mail for more information..
Archie Samuel King
1711 Mohegan Drive
Durham, NC 27712
919-815-0433
SamKingTAHU@aol.com
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Law and Legislation:
Bill Hendrickson |
MEDICAID reform is on everybody’s mind, especially in Raleigh. A "Blue Ribbon" commission made up of legislators, academics, and social service executives has come up with a list of recommendations to hopefully ease the financial strain on North Carolina counties and also stabilize medical benefits for the participants. Some of the recommendations include:
- Reinstatement of the Long Term Care Income Tax Credit effective January 1, 2005;
- Appropriate $2,000,000 to continue the statewide expansion of the Community Care of NC Program;
- Appropriate $2.4 million for increased dental services for adult MEDICAID patients;
- Capping the county share at the 2004-2005 level;
- Phasing out the county share in 6 years to 0 except where at least 25% of the county’s population uses MEDICAID, then a less dramatic phase-out of the county’s share would be in effect.
There were other elements recommended by the commission all of which were intended to make MEDICAID more efficient and cost effective.
WEEKLY STANDARD—An essay by Merrill Matthews said that America’s health care system has problems because it provides the wrong incentives. He puts most of the blame on the tax-free employer based system in effect since World War II because this system INSULATES EMPLOYEES FROM THE COST OF HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH INSURANCE.
His prescription to stabilize the present system follows many of the points supported by the Bush Administration, including:
- Level the tax burden so that anyone buying health insurance OUTSIDE OF THEIR EMPLOYER will receive a refundable tax credit of $1,000 per adult and $500 per child;
- Expand health savings accounts to allow the cost of high deductible health insurance to be fully deductible;
- Pass tort reform that would cap non-economic damages resulting from medical malpractice lawsuits. Texas has experienced an 80% decrease in malpractice filings since passing such legislation one year ago.
WALL STREET JOURNAL—Dr. David Gratzer of the Manhattan Institute recommends that interstate insurance sales be allowed. His point is the many states have costly mandates which inflate the cost of health insurance above the monthly lease of a Ferrari automobile. Therefore, a New York employer who is saddled with the high cost of guarantee issue, non-medical health insurance be allowed to shop around, say to Idaho, to buy insurance for the employees. Also, if an individual in New Jersey paying $800 per month for a non-group policy could buy the same plan from the State of Arkansas, he/she would probably reduce the monthly cost to $150. This concept would greatly assist the uninsured who in some states find health insurance more that their rent. What do the insurance companies who sell the insurance think of Dr. Gratzer’s recommendation?
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE—Pharmaceutical companies and doctors may have very congenial relationships. An estimated 92% of doctors receive free drug samples from the companies; 61% receive meals, tickets to entertainment or free travel; 12% receive financial incentives to participate in clinical trials.
Marketing expenditures of the drug industry have been estimated at $12 billion every year, or $8,000 to $15,000 per physician. Some say that the gift giving and incentives are unethical or at least questionable, but most doctors have a positive attitude towards their dealings with drug companies.
No legislation has been suggested to restrict drug company marketing expenses, but it is important that people on prescriptions are aware that other avenues such as generic drugs or alternative treatment may lower their own cost of medical care.
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 |
Monthly meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of each month starting at 11:45 AM
The next meeting will be held on February 8th, 2004 at the Brier Creek Country Club, Main Clubhouse
Come enjoy the food, fellowship, and presentation.
| Speaker: |
Chris Shoffner, Regional Services Director, PrimePay |
| Subject: |
Flexible Compensation: Tax Implications for HSA’s HRA’s and FSA’s |
| Sponsor: |
PrimePay |
All members and their guests are invited to attend.
Member Lunch: $12.00
Guest Lunch: $16.00
Guaranteed seating for the luncheon meeting is by reservation only.
RSVP to: david@beninslaw.com
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 |
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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
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.
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.
Triangle Association of Health Underwriters
P.O. Box 19177
Raleigh, NC 27619-9177
