Proposal 7-14 “Proposal to Amend Senate Proposal 22-00: Recommendations on Medical and Health Insurance Benefits”
Comments:
A. Apparent Noncompliance
1. Item 1
The BLG was created to be a working group of knowledgeable and experienced higher educational professionals that have expertise in health care benefits, budgeting, and auditing. It was not intended to be a committee representing any employee group. It is no different than many of the interdepartmental groups that work together across campus on a daily basis to solve issues and work through problems.
The Senate members invited to participate were expected, over a very short period of time, to gain a working understanding of the complicated issues surrounding fringe benefits on campus. Initially, the President of the Senate and a member from the Fringe Benefits Committee and Finance Committee of the Senate served on the working group. Some members remain on the working group for continuity. These members have gained a tremendous amount of history and knowledge of health care at Michigan Tech and could contribute in a significant way. Over the years, the benefits working group mission evolved as benefits, especially health care, changed nationally. During the years of the BLG, the group continued to have members serving that were on the Senate and extremely valuable in this evolution.
There was never any intention for secrecy. Just like other working situations, it is important that the working group is comfortable before releasing information prematurely that has not been vetted and tested.
2. Items 2a, 2b, and 2c
The purpose of including Senate Representatives is to ensure the Senate Constituents are represented and that the representatives have meaningful contribution and discussion from the Senate (as well as bringing forth any concerns the Senate may have). As with any working group, recommendations are a group effort that stem from all those involved. Therefore, it should be assumed that all members including the Senate representatives, play a key role in helping to develop and finalize recommendations.
3. Item 3
Agree that providing at least 90 days notice has not been adhered to but in many cases, the BLG asked for additional time to review up to date health care experience. For example, just this past year, the BLG asked to wait for September health care actual experience to evaluate 9 full months of data, instead of 8.
B. Lack of Specificity
It seems that putting a formality to the inner workings of how a formal group functions will hinder open and free communication. The 2014 recommendations to the President (specifically, no changes to medical and to keep the PPO) was a direct result of a lot of discussion and concerns brought forth through the Senate representatives on the BLG. The BLG recommendations (based on a lot of analysis) were approved by the President. This provides some evidence to the effectiveness of how the current BLG is working and ensuring that all members of the working group have meaningful and relevant contributions.
It seems that putting a formality to the group will hinder open and free communication. Having a more informal working group, as it is now, provides free discussion and less structure that allows the open flow of discussion and encourages brainstorming.
Based on these arguments, the Administration is not ready to accept the proposed amendments with the exception of amendment 12.
12. Item 3 in Proposal 22-00 reads as follows: “The administration shall provide employees and retirees at least 90 days notice of any change in the available fringe benefits, especially co-payments, along with complete explanations and justifications of the changes.” This item is to be amended to read as follows: “The administration shall provide employees and retirees at least 30 days notice of any change in the available fringe benefits, especially co-payments, along with complete explanations and justifications of the changes.”