HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-02-2016 Minutes City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Disability Board
Wednesday, March 2, 2016 - 10:00 AM — Council Conference Room
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Jim Kelly called the meeting to order at 10�00 a.m. in the Council
Conference Room located on the first floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main
Street in Auburn. Members present included Chair Kelly, Chair Rro Tem Bill
Petersen, and Member Claude DaCorsi. Member Trout and Member-at-large
Kurt Vogel were excused. Also present were Board Attorney Doug Ruth, Human
Resources and Risk Management Director Rob Roscoe, Compensation and
Employee Relations Manager Aaron Barber, and Board Secretary Danielle
Daskam.
II. AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
A claim from Bob Wigley was added to the agenda.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Minutes of the Februarv 2, 2016 LEOFF Board Meetina °"
Motion by Chair Pro Tem Petersen, second by Member DaCorsi to
approve the minutes as distributed.
MOTION CARRIED 3-0
IV UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Pendinp Disabilitv Leave/Retirement Applications
There was no pending disability leave/retirement application.
B. Pendinq Medical/HearinaNision/Dental Claims
1 Cali Ann Edwards
Request for reimbursement of equipment in the amount of
$20,077 35
On January 5, 2016, the LEOFF Board tabled Ms. Edwards' claim
pending receipt of additional information regarding the medical
necessity of the equipment and whether the claims were submitted
to Medicare/insurance. No new information was received
Motion by Chair Pro Tem Petersen, second by Member DaCorsi to
table the claim until the next meeting.
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March 2, 2016
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City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighte's Disability Board
Wednesday, March 2, 2016 - 10:00 AM — Council Conference Room
MOTION CARRIED 3-0
V NEW BUSINESS
A. Disabilitv Leave/Retirement Ap�lications
No application for disability Ieavehetirement was received.
B. Apueals/Reauests for Reconsideration
No request for reconsideration was received.
C Medical/Hearinq/Vision/Dental Claims
1 Dave Schuur
Request for approval/reimbursement of long-term care expenses
for the month of February 2016 in the amount of $3,978.80
($137.20/day).
Motion by Chair Pro Tem Petersen, second by Member DaCorsi to
approve the claim in the amount of$3,978.80
MOTION CARRIED 3-0
2. Sammv Mulkev
Application for long term care at nursing home facility, Life Care
Center of Yuma.
Motion by Chair Pro Tem Petersen, second by Member DaCorsi to
accept the application for long term care.
MOTION CARRIED 3-0
3. Murrav Board
Request for reimbursement of inedical expenses in the amount of
$65.68.
Motion by Member DaCorsi, second by Chair Pro Tem Petersen to
table the claim pending the receipt of additional information relating
to the medical necessity of the services.
MOTION CARRIED 3-0
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March 2, 2016
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City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighte�s Disability Board
Wednesday, March 2, 2016 - 10:00 AM —Council Conference Room
4 J. D. Evans
a. Request for reimbursement of dental expenses in the
amount of$209 00 for services received on dune 12, 2015.
Motion by Chair Pro Tem Petersen, second by Member
DaCorsi to approve the claim in the amount of$209.00.
MOTION CARRIED 3-0
b Request for reimbursement of inedical expenses in the
amount of$389 79 for services received in 2014 and 2015
Motion by Member DaCorsi, second by Chair Pro Tem
Petersen to approve the claim in the amount of$389.79
MOTION CARRIED 3-0
5. Michael Corkins
Request for reimbursement of vision examination in the amount of
$170 00 and request for reimbursement of lenses in the amount of
$278.50
Motion by Chair Pro Tem Petersen, second by Member DaCorsi to
approve the claim for the vision examination in the amount of
$170 00 and in the amount of $270.00 for lenses/frames.
MOTION CARRIED 3-0
6. John Calkins
Request for reimbursement of dental expenses in the amount of
$238.00 for dental services received on October 21 arid December
21, 2015. Mr Calkins' dental expenses were previously found to
be medically necessary
Motion by Member DaCorsi, second by Chair Pro Tem Petersen to
approve the claim in the amount of$238 00.
MOTION CARRIED 3-0
7 James.Kellv
Request for reimbursement of dental expenses in the amount of
$129 00 for dental services received on December 29, 2015. Mr
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March 2, 2016
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Gity of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Disability Board
Wednesday, March 2, 2016 - 10:00 AM — Council Conference Room
Kelly's dental expenses were previously found to be medically
necessary
Mr Kelly's claim was postponed until the April 5, 2016 meeting.
8. Bob Wialev
Request for reimbursement of dental expenses in the amount of
$325.00 for services on March 1, 2016. Mr Wigley has not
received dental expense reimbursement in 2016.
Motion by Chair Pro Tem Petersen, second by Member DaCorsi to
approve the claim in the amount of$325 00
MOTION CARRIED 3-0
D Other Discussion
1 Update on Insurance Transition
Compensation and Employee Relations Manager Barber updated
the Board on the transition of retirees from the Association of
Washington Cities Trust medical and prescription plans to The
Hartford and Premera plans.
Mr Barber explained LEOFF 1 members were provided with a
benefit card to be used for prescription co-pays. The benefit ca�d
would eliminate the need for LEOFF 1 members to submit claims
for reimbursement of prescription co-pays to the LEOFF Board.
The benefit levels or thresholds on the prescription benefit cards
were based on LEOFF 1 member activities/usage in 2014 and
2015 and assuming co-pays in the amounts of $10, $20 and $30.
The initial benefit card bank account was established with $10,000
The prescription benefit card administrator established a benefit
cap of $500 per individual, which proved to be an insufficient
amount for some individuals. Since that time, the benefit cap has
been lifted.
Mr Barber also reported he investigated the reason for the high
amount of prescription co-pays and discovered some members
were not presenting their prescription insurance card to the
pharmacy For the first two months of 2016, approximately $3,200
in prescription costs have been spent by LEOFF 1 members.
Mr Barber stated he continues to work with individual retirees to
assist through the transition and to address unusual circumstances.
LEOFF Board Minutes
March 2, 2016
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City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Disability Board
Wednesday, March 2, 2016 - 10:00 AM — Council Conference Room
Director Roscoe stated that under the Association of Washington
Cities Trust plan, the Ci.ty was required to insure all LEOFF 1
members regardless of other employer provided plans. The City's
new plan does not require 100 percent enrollment. Director
Roscoe stated the City will be looking at any LEOFF 1 member
who had other employer provided insurance available to them and
likely discontinue insuring the member under the City's plan to
avoid double coverage. The City will continue to pay for any
obligation under the LEOFF law
2. Policy and Procedure Manual Update
Board members reviewed a memorandum from Boa�d Attorney
Doug Ruth addressing the requests/inquiries from LEOFF 1
member Mick Crawford.
Mr Crawford had asked the Board to identify the authority fo� the
City to require a LEOFF 1 member to purchase Medicare Part B if
the member is not eligible for Medicare. Attorney Ruth pointed out
that all retirees over the age of 65 may purchase coverage under
Medicare Part A and Part B or Part B alone.
Mr Ruth stated according to state statute and Court of Appeals
decisions, the City has the authority to require that a person
purchase Medicare Part B coverage or lose out on the
corresponding reimbursement amount. Additionally, the 6EOFF
Board policies provide for reimbursement of Medicare premiums.
Attorney Ruth also advised that in 2014, the LEOFF Board sent Mr
Crawford a letter urging him to enroll in Medicare Part B to ensure
that he is not subject to any reduction in reimbursement levels.
Attorney Ruth will follow-up with Human Resources to determine
whether there is additional insurance premium expense incurred as
a result of Mr Crawford's failure to enroll in Medicare Part B.
The Board also discussed Mr Crawford's request to change
policies and procedures to eliminate prior approval for eye
examinations and hearing exams. Following discussion, Attorney
Ruth suggested inc�uding Mr Crawford's proposal for policy
amendments in the next p�esentation of proposed amendmerits so
� that the Board can vote on the proposed amendments.
Chair Kelly acknowledged the receipt of a Washington State
LEOFF Board Policies Comparisons handout that was distributed
LEOFF Board Minutes
March 2, 2016
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City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Disability Board
Wednesday, March 2, 2016 - 10:00 AM — Council Conference Room
as part of last year's LEOFF Board Conference. Chair Kelly
encouraged Board members to review the document and the
benefits that other Boards provide to their LEOFF 1 members.
3. LEOFF Conference
Chair Kelly announced that the next LEOFF Conference will be
held in Chelan, May 10-13, 2016.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting
adjoumed at 10:43.
APPROVED this 5th day of April, 2016.
Rivvt�J�-�
JIM KELLY, CHAIR Da ielle Daskam, Board Secretary
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March 2, 2016
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