State May Begin Self-Insuring Workers In HMOs
June 22, 2011
Looking at potentially tens of millions of dollars in savings, Florida lawmakers this week could move toward restructuring part of the health insurance program for state employees.
A joint House and Senate budget committee Friday will consider setting aside more than $19 million that could be used to begin self-insuring HMO coverage. That amount would be a down payment toward what could turn into far-larger savings.
Under the concept, the state would take on the financial risks of insuring workers, while contracting with HMOs to administer many of the day-to-day operations of the program. Currently, HMOs get paid to take on the financial risks, along with handling the operations.
The key: A consultants’ report early this year said the state could save as much as $109 million over a two-year period by self-insuring. It said the move would reduce HMO costs built into the current system and also give the state more flexibility in running the program.
“The state group insurance program insures a large and stable workforce with relatively predictable expenses,” John P. “Jack” Miles, secretary of the state Department of Management Services, said in a letter to legislative leaders early this year after the report was finished. “As such, self-insuring appears to be a sensible solution to manage the cost of providing health care to our employees.”
The joint Legislative Budget Commission will take up the issue Friday, as it considers a proposal to set aside $19.7 million in reserves.
If okayed by the LBC, the ultimate decision about whether to self-insure would depend on the result of negotiations between the Department of Management Services and HMO contractors, and the savings those talks produce.
House Appropriations Chairwoman Denise Grimsley, a Sebring Republican who also chairs the Legislative Budget Commission, said in an e-mail that the proposal is “predicated on the assurance of ultimate savings, a concept which I support.”
Of the $19.7 million, all but about $600,000 is estimated to be needed to pay HMO contractors, which would do such things as handle claims and oversee provider networks. The move to self-insurance could occur in 2012.
Michael Garner, president of the Florida Association of Health Plans, said his HMO industry group has not taken a position on self-insuring the program. He said the group has members with different stances on the issue.
The concept of self-insuring is nothing new: The state insurance system offers HMO and preferred-provider organization coverage to workers and has long self-insured the PPO portion. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida has a contract to administer the PPO plan.
Also, similar self-insurance plans are relatively common for large private corporations.
A potential downside to self-insuring is that the state would be liable for large, unexpected health costs. But Buck Consultants, which helped put together the report that went to legislative leaders early this year, said the benefits of self-insuring far outweigh potential costs.
“For a group the size of the state of Florida Employee Group Health Insurance Plan, there is no compelling financial advantage to maintaining fully insured HMO plans,” the consultants wrote.
By Jim Saunders
The News Service of Florida
Internet Outage For Frontier DSL, Dialup Customers
June 21, 2011
Frontier Communications DSL and dialup customers in the Walnut Hill, Bratt, Molino and Atmore areas were without internet service for about five hours today.
The outage appeared to be a problem with one of the companies that provides the internet connection to Frontier, not an actual Frontier problem, according to Stephanie Schifano, a corporate spokesperson for Frontier.
The outage began about 2 p.m. and was restored by just after 7 p.m.
Expert: McDavid Mystery Steamboat Appears To Be From 1800’s
June 21, 2011
We are learning a little more about the possible steamboat pulled from the Escambia River near McDavid over the weekend.
“It does look like a late 1800’s steam launch,” Dr. Della Scott-Ireton, director of the Northwest Region of the Florida Public Archaeology Network said after viewing the photographs on NorthEscambia.com. (Click here for our weekend story.)
She said it appears to have a been a screw-driven vessel, powered by steam, not a paddle-wheel boat, as evidenced by the photos. For a photo gallery from the discovery, click here.
“This appears to be a locally significant find,” she said. “We don’t have preserved examples of these in Florida, but we know they existed from photographs in the state archives.” None of those photographs are of steam launches on the Escambia or other rivers in the area.
Archeologists were make plans Monday to document and preserve the vessel that now sits on a sandbar near a McDavid boat launch. The vessel was discovered and pulled from the river Saturday by a local family — a move Scott-Ireton advises against.
“If you find something, let the experts document it,” she said, adding that removing historical artifacts from Florida’s rivers may be a felony despite good intentions. However, no one is expected to face any charges whatsoever in connection with the McDavid find.
The boat has since been returned to the water awaiting investigation by archeologists.
Pictured top: A hole for a steam-powered screw can been seen in this photo. Pictured inset: Another look at the vessel. (NorthEscambia.com photos.)/ Pictured below: Examples of other steam launches in Florida — the first photo show a typical steam launch in the 1880’s in Tarpon Springs, Florida; the second photo shows the steam launch “Princess” between 1880 and 1890 on Rice Creek near Gainesville. (Courtesy the State Archives of Florida).
$2,700 Reward Offered For Info On Strangulation Of Pregnant Cow
June 21, 2011
A $2,700 reward is being offered by a national animal group for information that leads a conviction in the case of a pregnant cow found strangled to death last month in Enon.
The owner of the pet Jersey cow found the animal dead in a pasture just behind his house on Highway 97-A Memorial Day morning as he checked on his animals. Thin twine — often called grass string – had been tied several times around the cow’s neck and had apparently strangled the animal as it was dragged through the pasture. The cow was found on its side, with its head upside down and its horns pushed several inches into the dirt.
Authorities suspect the death could have results from a prank gone wrong since school was about to end and the cow’s owner is a school bus driver.
“Viciously killing a pregnant cow for an apparent prank is an inexcusably cruel crime and anyone who would do that can be capable of hurting people, too,” said Jennifer Hobgood, Florida state director for The Humane Society of the United States. “We hope our reward helps bring justice in this horrible case.”
For more photos, click here. (Warning: Some readers may find the photos disturbing.)
The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the cow’s death. The Junior Humane Society/United Humanitarians is also offering a $200 reward.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Frank Way at (850) 256-6196.
Pictured: An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene investigator photographs a pregnant cow that was apparently strangled to death in Enon. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photo, click to enlarge.
Man Says He Did Not ‘Steal’ Century Church
June 21, 2011
A Pensacola man accused of “stealing” a Century church says he’s not guilty.
John D. Young, 72, was arrested last month for grand theft for allegedly signing a Century church property over to a Flomaton woman when he was not authorized to do so. During an arraignment hearing before Judge Terry Terrell, Young pleaded not guilty to the charge against him. He is scheduled to be back in court in late September.
According to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report, Young signed the property over to Taryn Wright with a quit-claim deed on the small, 1,500 square foot church located at 401 Hecker Road in Century. Young signed the documents while acting as the bishop of the Northwest Florida Jurisdiction Church of God In Christ, Inc., but investigators said Young knew he was no longer the organization’s bishop and could not act on their behalf.
Young was appointed bishop of the Northwest Florida Jurisdiction of Church of God in Christ, Inc,. in 1996 and resigned in 2008, according to the arrest report. In February 2009, a letter was sent to Young confirming the unanimous acceptance of his resignation by the church board. In July 2009, Young was removed from the corporations records with the Florida Department of State. He signed the property over to Wright as “Bishop Young of Northwest Florida Jurisdiction of God In Christ, Inc.” in May 2010.
Willie Green, the current bishop of the church, told Sheriff’s investigators that he tried unsuccessfully to resolve the issue with Young. Green said he then tried to rent the church to Wright but failed and then asked her to vacate the property.
According to Escambia County Property Appraiser records, the church property is valued at $14,253.
Summer Weather: Three Month Outlook
June 21, 2011
Today is the first day of summer. The long term temperature forecast for the summer calls for above normal temperatures and normal precipitation. Overall, forecasters are calling for some improvement from our extreme drought over the next three months, but dry conditions will continue.
Century Council Meeting Canceled; Next Meeting 3 Weeks Away
June 21, 2011
Century’s regular council meeting was canceled Monday night.
Without a quorum — at least three members present — the council was unable to conduct business. According to Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez, two council members were out of town and one was ill.
The next regular Century town council meeting will be July 11 — postponed a week from the usual first Monday night due to the Fourth of July.
The Century town council normally meets the first and third Monday of each month at 7 p.m.
Free Meals Possible For Byrneville Residents Over 60
June 21, 2011
The Byrneville community has the opportunity to have free, fresh cooked meals provided daily — if enough qualified residents are interested.
The meals, provided through a state-sponsored program, would be for residents age 60 or older. In order for the program to begin, at least 25 people must express their interest in participating in the program at least some of the time. Meals will be picked up at the Byrneville Community Center.
If interested, email vicki@baggettsolutions.com with the name, phone number and age of each interested person.
FSA Committee Nominations Now Open
June 21, 2011
Farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers have until August 1 to nominate eligible candidates to serve on local Farm Service Agency county committees, according to Tim Manning, of the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).
“County committees play a vital role in the administration of federal farm programs and the positive effect they have on rural communities,” said Manning.
FSA county committees make decisions on commodity price support loans, conservation programs, disaster programs, employing county executive directors and other significant agricultural issues.
To hold office as a county committee member, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area (LAA) in which the person is a candidate. A complete list of eligibility requirements is posted online http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/fsa_ccelections_2011.pdf.
Individuals may nominate themselves or others as candidates. Additionally, organizations representing minorities and women may nominate candidates. All nominees must sign nomination form FSA-669A, which includes a statement that the nominee agrees to serve if elected. Form FSA-669A is available at USDA Service Centers and online at http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eFormsAdmin/FSA0669A 110331V01.pdf.
All nomination forms for the 2011 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on August 1, 2011.
The county committee nomination period began June 15. Voting takes place in the fall. Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters by November 4. The final day to return voted ballots to the local USDA Service Center is December 5. Newly elected county committee members take office January 2, 2012.
Gulf Power Offers Hot Weather Energy Savings Tips
June 21, 2011
Gulf Power company is offering some tips for the summer heat — tips that can save you money whether you are a customer of Gulf Power, Escambia River Electric Cooperative, Alabama Power or Southern Pine Electric Cooperative.
Set your thermostat and leave it
During the summer, your air conditioner is the biggest user of electricity. For many homes, it accounts for more than half of the summer electricity bill.
- Set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher and leave it there. For every degree below that setting, you’ll use 10 percent more electricity.
- Set the thermostat even higher when at work or away from home for long periods of time, but no more than five degrees higher.
- Change or clean your air conditioner filter regularly. Dirty filters restrict airflow and reduce efficiency.
- Use your ceiling fan for more comfort. Only turn it on when you’re in the room. Ceiling fans only cool people, not rooms.
- Clear outside AC units of plants or brush so they can run more efficiently.
Energy Select
Energy Select is an advanced energy management and efficiency program that can help you save money and energy.
You get
- A thermostat you program for comfort and savings
- Online Programming- You can now program your Energy Select thermostat from any computer with internet access.
- A special rate that features four different prices based upon the time of day, day of week and season. And, because the price you pay is lower than the normal rate 87 percent of the time, you can choose to buy electricity during lower priced periods which saves you money and energy.
- A meter that talks to Gulf Power
- FREE installation
Insulate
- Increase attic insulation, which can save up to 30 percent on cooling and heating costs.
- Insulation is measured in R-value, which is a measure of resistance to heat flow. So the higher the R-value, the better the insulation value.
- Experts recommend you use an R-value of R-38 in ceiling areas.
- Check your windows and doors for air leaks. Install weather stripping or caulking if needed.
Kitchen
- Whenever possible, cook a lot of meals at the same time. This uses less energy than when you cook each meal separately.
- If you’re baking, avoid opening the oven door. This lets out 20 percent of the heat. Use a cooking timer instead.
- Use pots and pans that match the size of the burners on your stove. This allows more heat to the pan and less heat will be lost to surrounding air.
- Try to use the range instead of the oven. Better yet, turn on the microwave or use a pressure cooker. Both use less power than a standard electric range.
Refrigerator
- Choose the right size refrigerator for your needs. Larger models use more energy. Open and close the refrigerator door quickly. Know what you want before opening the door.
- Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Check it by closing a piece of paper in the door, half in and half out. If you can pull the paper out easily, you may need to make some adjustments or replace the seal.
- Keep your food covered. Moisture buildup in the refrigerator makes the air inside harder to cool.
Dishwasher
- Run the dishwasher, dryer and the stove after the sun goes down to avoid adding heat to your house.
- When using the dishwasher, turn off the drying cycle if you don’t need dishes right away.
- Wait until the dishwasher is full before running it. Partial loads can use just as much water and power as a full load.
- Scrape dishes before loading them into the dishwasher so you don’t have to rinse them. If they need rinsing, use cold water.
Lighting
One of the best ways to save energy is to turn off lights that aren’t in use.
- Use fluorescent lighting or CFLs when possible. They last about 10 times longer than incandescent lamps. And they can produce four times more light than standard incandescent lamps, for the same amount of energy.
- Use one large bulb instead of several small ones in areas where bright light is needed.
- Use smaller lamps in work areas, like sewing areas and computer desks, so you don’t light the entire room.
- Lighter-colored walls, drapes, blinds and upholstery reflect light. Dark colors absorb heat and require more artificial light.
Customers can call 1-877-655-4001 or visit www.gulfpower.com for summer money-saving tips. Customers can also do their own Energy Check Up online — a 5-minute EZ Check Up or more detailed 20-minute Full Check Up is available to help identify low cost and no cost ways to make your home more energy efficient.
Escambia River Electric Cooperative also offers many other money saving energy tips at www.erec.net.