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Galveston County 3-share Proposal Dr. Barbara Breier, Asst. Vice President for Strategic Initiatives & Director, Center to Eliminate Health Disparities February 9, 2007. What is the 3-Share Plan?. A collaborative effort UTMB Galveston County Chambers of Commerce Member businesses
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Galveston County 3-share Proposal Dr. Barbara Breier, Asst. Vice President for Strategic Initiatives & Director, Center to Eliminate Health Disparities February 9, 2007
What is the 3-Share Plan? • A collaborative effort • UTMB • Galveston County Chambers of Commerce • Member businesses • A program to provide coverage for the working uninsured, modeled after a successful effort in Muskegon, Michigan.
Galveston 3-Share Plan • Provide health benefits for working individuals & families • Focus on primary and preventive care needs • Emphasizing the improvement of health status through managing chronic diseases and involving individuals in managing their own care • Costs of the coverage split between • employer • employee • state and local government. • Allow for low monthly health premiums, thus improving accessibility
Key Legislation • Social Security Act, Section 1115 • Modify SCHIP & Medicaid Programs • Health Insurance Flexibility Accountability Waiver (HIFA) • Modify Benefits packages • Public private partnerships • Expand to previously uncovered adults
Community Activities 21 Focus Groups (CHAT) Galveston Employers Survey Galveston County Chambers of Commerce Civic Organizations Cover the Uninsured Week: Letters to the editor, Lecture Series, & Religious Leaders’ Breakfast Development Process Outside Validation Saurage Marketing Study: Representative Sample of Galveston County Employers n=160 Media Coverage • Galveston Daily News • Houston’s FOX News • Texas Medicine Magazine • Guidry News Website
Galveston Employer Survey 248 Employers Surveyed 4819 Employees Employee Profile Average age of employee: 41 54% Male 46% Female 53% White Non Hispanic 26% Hispanic 22% African American 1% Asian
CHAT Software Program • Choosing Health Plans All Together – created by the U. of Michigan and NIH • Utilizes national averages to compute cost of health care coverage • Players are allotted 50 markers to “purchase” health benefits • 15 benefits are available –full range • 4 Rounds of game played – individual, small group, community, and individual
Top Priorities Pharmacy Primary Care Hospitalization Specialty Care Tests Other Medical (ambulance, equipment) Long Term Care/Last Chance (tied) Lowest Priorities 9. Dental 10. Mental Health 11. Uninsured 12. Home Health 13. Vision 14. Infertility (N/A) 15. Alternative Med (N/A) CHAT Preliminary Results
Actuarial Analysis • Can achieve $180 pmpm with limitations: • Primary care/Specialty care –12v/yr • Hospitalization – 30 day annual maximum • Pharmacy - $1200/yr • Mental Health – 20v/yr • 10% coinsurance w/$1000 annual maximum • $50,000 Annual Maximum • Exclusions of high risk, experimental, vision, dental, etc. • Care limited to UTMB HMO providers in Galveston County • No ER coverage outside of Galveston County
Eligibility Criteria for Businesses • Has been conducting business operations for at least one year (verified by IRS statements.) • Has a minimum of 2 employees (including self) that have been employed in the business for one year (does not have to be the same employee). • Has filed appropriate IRS documentation for the reporting of income. • Has filed W-2’s for eligible employees noted above.
Eligibility Criteria for Businesses • Has its principle business location in Galveston County. • Employs 50 percent of its employees in Galveston County if employer has locations outside the county; • Has a median income of $50,000 per year or less for all employees; • Has not offered group health coverage for the previous 12 months.
Eligibility Criteria for Employees Employee eligibility is determined by their income level and assets. They must be below 200% FPL and meet the State’s SCHIP ASSET TEST POLICY in order to be eligible for the federal match. *Additional funding is being secured to cover employees who do not meet SCHIP asset test criteria.
Where we are now • Waiver document has been reviewed by Texas DHHS • Texas DHHS has given approval and has sent to CMS for review • Met with CMS officials and have responded to their questions and are waiting further review and approval.
Business Plan & Marketing Next Steps • Business plan provides for 3,000 participants for break-even over 5-year period • UTMB HMO will administer the plan • Development of this program could not have been possible without support from the Kempner Fund
Market Potential for Statewide Model • Program can serve as a statewide model as an increasing number of businesses seek viable alternatives. • Individuals involved in decisions about their own healthcare create healthier workforces and communities. • Other communities have expressed strong interest including Harris, Travis, Dallas, Bexar and El Paso Counties. www.utmb.edu/cehd
Multi-share LegislationH.B. 882 • Allows for regional health care programs that provide health care services or benefits to the employees (and their dependents )of small employers (< 50 employees) • Flexibility for communities to address their own health needs with eligibility for counties, regional multi-county consortia or other non-profit entities designated by commissioners courts to run the program • Employers and employees are required to pay a share or cost of the program • No funding available in this bill, however encourages governing bodies to seek funds from grants, gifts, & donations
A Proposal for a Statewide Model for Multi-Share Plans for Small Business • Legislation would provide funding ($50 million) for the development of multi-share plans targeted to small businesses with <50 employees. • Flexibility for communities to address their own health needs with eligibility for municipalities, counties, hospital districts or regional multi-county consortia. • Provide planning and infrastructure grants as well as cost-sharing for the 3rd Share. • Encourage the use of EMR and telemedicine as a tool for improving health outcomes. • Eliminate the need for a HIFA waiver by authorizing on a state-wide basis. • Limited to 5 year grants for each entity.