Rumor
Mill separates fact from fiction
Insurance
Rumor: I thought that the MUSC insurance
plan would be updated to reflect competitive rates of re-imbursement. By
this I mean that the poor rate of re-imbursement, especially for dental
care, would be amended.
My understanding, from the mouth of a Human Resources employee, is that
the rates have not been updated for 20 years and medical care inflation
has literally skyrocketed.
How can we expect to afford necessary preventive care if we cannot afford
it with the present state insurance plan, which is dutifully deducted from
our paychecks? Human resources personnel admit and community health providers
lament that the state health plan is one of the worst with respect to coverage.
Can we afford to have such deficits in insurance coverage for the largest
employer in Charleston? Aren't employee benefits an attraction/detraction
for future hires? It is true that MUSC will make changes to this important
employee benefit so that we are not lagging behind other southern medical
university benefit plans which pay far better for the same type of care?
Please let us know the status of this very important benefit.
Truth: This rumor specifically questions
employee benefits from the State Dental Plan (SDP) and the State Health
Plan (SHP). State Dental Plan Facts: New for the 2002 benefit plan year,
the state introduced the Dental Plus Plan.
This plan is designed to provide a higher level of dental coverage at
affordable rates for the same services covered under the SDP. Under this
plan, allowable rates are established at the 90th percentile of dental
charges in the state. In other words, allowances will be the same amount
(or more) than 90 percent of the dentists in South Carolina charge for
particular services. One is not required to see a dentist who is a participating
provider in Dental Plus. The benefits are payable regardless of the dentist's
participation.
For more information, contact MUSC University Benefits at 792-2607.
State Health Plan Facts: The SHP is managed by Blue Cross Blue Shield.
It is a traditional indemnity health plan which means there is an annual
deductible and coinsurance amount. Statistics regarding how the allowable
charges are established and when the most recent changes occurred were
not readily available. However, the State Budget and Control Board, Office
of Insurance Services conducts an annual 50 State Survey of Health Plan
Rates. It is available on line through the Office of Insurance Services,
Employee Insurance Program. The following information was obtained from
this survey. It had been 11 years since the SHP increased both its deductible
and coinsurance amounts. What this means is that plan participants (state
employees) enjoyed a lower out of pocket deductible and paid less in coinsurance
rates while health care costs rose dramatically throughout the state. Eventually,
the SHP was unable to continue absorbing these costs and the amounts finally
were increased in 2001. The SHP employee premiums increased $12 per month
for 2002. Despite premium growth, the SHP still compares favorably with
state health plans across the nation. While the 2001 growth rates were
the highest observed in recent years, the SHP's rates remained under both
the regional and national averages as shown below:. State Employee Health
Plan Composite Premiums National: $75.05 Regional (South): $88.47 South
Carolina: $55.68 The Office of Insurance Services continually reviews its
plan and rates to offer the most competitive program possible to the employees
of the state of South Carolina.
Shift Differential
Rumor: I read in the Rumor Mill forum
that RN shift differential will increase...is there any increase for the
other employees who also qualify for shift differential?
Truth: The Medical Center is continuously
reviewing the shift differentials (and other forms of compensation) for
various job groups by monitoring local, regional and national compensation
trends and patterns. Recently, only the RN shift differentials for the
weekday evening and weekday night were adjusted. In the past year, for
example, there have also been adjustments in the shift differentials for
other occupations as was necessary according to market data. These reviews
will continue and adjustments made if and when appropriate.
Nurses pay
Rumor: I have heard that registered nurses
will be receiving a pay increase this year to stay competitive and offset
the increase starting wages of new nurses.
Truth: The Medical Center continuously
monitors compensation trends within the respective markets for all job
groups. In the past year, the RN base pay rates, shift differentials and
hiring bonuses were increased. While market pay rates are being monitored,
decisions for pay rates changes for the near future have not been made.
The Medical Center office of Human Resources is available to respond to
compensation questions. For more information, call Susan Carullo at 792-1684
or Eric Frisch at 792-7908 or send an e-mail(s).
Harborview Cafe
Rumor: You advised when I last inquired
about the status of the cafe at Harborview Tower that it would be open
somewhere toward the end of January. The end is in sight but there seems
to be no activity on site that would indicate that a January opening will
happen. When will this really happen?
Truth: Fact 1: MUSC has signed the contract.
Fact 2: Subway has signed the contract. Fact 3: To achieve final closing,
Sodexo must sign the contract; this is because MUSC is essentially having
Sodexo sub-contract the operation to Subway. As of Jan. 30, Sodexo Corporate
has not returned the contract; however, on-site Sodexo Management has received
word that the contract will be approved. The local Subway vendor has been
advised that the facility is available for occupancy.
Daycare for employees
Rumor: There was a survey done regarding
opening a daycare for employees which I think is a great idea but we never
got any feedback on whether or not a decision was made regarding pursuing
this. What was the decision?
Truth: The following information on this
subject was posted last month on the Rumor Mill and is still current. A
committee has been working for some time evaluating the interest in a child
care center. A survey was conducted and it appears that there is a considerable
amount of interest on campus for such a facility. We now have in hand a
good assessment of the needs of the faculty, staff and students of the
university and the Hospital Authority. A consultant is being retained
to help with the next stage of planning which is preparing a solicitation
of proposals (RFP) from prospective operators of a child care program.
UMA reverting to MUSC/Authority
Rumor: I have heard that UMA is going
back under MUSC or the Authority. Is this true?
Truth: The Federal agency CMS (formerly
HCFA) has issued guideline clarifications on the relationships between
teaching hospitals and their teaching clinics. MUSC and its Board of trustees,
the MUHA, UMA and their respective boards are reviewing and discussing
these guidelines, but no final decisions have been made at the present
time. Any changes will be announced through normal channels.
Reproduced from http://www.musc.edu/rumor/.
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