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Home My WebLink About06-04-2001 City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Disability Board Monday, June 4, 2001 - 10:00 AM - Conference Room 1 MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Jim Kelly called the meeting to order at 10:02 AM in Conference Room 1 located at Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA. Members present included Chair Kelly, Chair Pro Tem Bud Larson, and Member Stacey Brothers. Member Russ Vandver arrived at 10:04 AM. Member Jeanne Barber was excused. Others present included Mayor Charles A. Booth, Associate City Attorney Karen Gulliver, Personnel Director Brenda Heineman, and Board Secretan/Danielle Daskam. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Minutes of the May 7, 2001 LEOFF Board Meeting Motion by Member Larson, second. by Member Brothers to approve the May 7, 2001 minutes as distributed. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0. III. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Pending Disability Leave/Retirement Applications 1. Harold F. Philbin Effective Date of Disability: April 1, 2001 Last Day of Service: March 31,2001 On April 2, 2001, the LEOFF Board approved disability leave for Mr. Philbin effective April 1, 2001 with last day of service on March 31, 2001. Mr. Philbin submitted an attending physician's statement from Ronald B. Kuppersmith, MD dated May 10, 2001 and a letter dated May 2, 2001 from Ron Kuppersmith MD. Chair Kelly acknowledged receipt of the attending physician's statement from Ronald Kuppersmith, MD dated May 10, 2001 and a May 2, 2001 letter from Dr. Kuppersmith regarding Mr. Philbin's disability. (Member Vandver arrived at this time) Member Vandver indicated that it was Mr. Philbin's hope that the May 2, 2001 letter LEOFF Board Minutes June 4, 2001 Page 1 City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Disability Board Monday, June 4, 2001 - 10:00 AM - Conference Room 1 from Dr. Kuppersmith indicating that there are no medical or surgical therapies to rehabilitate Mr. Philbin's hearing loss, would negate the requirement for monthly physician's statements. Motion by Member Vandver, second by Member Larson to waive the monthly physician's report, with the understanding that Mr. Philbin will be subject to review by the Board's physician at a time in the future. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMSOULY. 4-0. B. Claims 1. John Wickstrom a. Request dated April 13, 2001, for authorization to purchase hearing aids, from other than the Board designated hearing aid provider, in the amount of $2,598.00. On May 7, 2001, the LEOFF Board tabled Mr. Wickstrom's request to purchase hearing aids pending the receipt of information from Costco Hearing Aid Center as to their charge for equivalent hearing aids. The Board reviewed a letter dated May 22, 2001 from the Costco Hearing Aid Center regarding the price for comparable hearing aids. Ms. Shirley Haarhues of the Costco Hearing Aid Center indicates in her letter that Beltone's price is in line with Costco's price. Motion by Member Brothers, second by Member Vandver to authorize an amount not to exceed $2,598.00 for the purchase of two hearing aids for Mr. Wickstrom. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4-0. b. .Request dated March 30, 2001 for reimbursement of lenses expense in the amount of $104.00. On May 7, 2001, the LEOFF Board tabled Mr. Wickstrom's claim for reimbursement of lenses expense pending the LEOFF Board Minutes June 4, 2001 Page 2 City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Disability Board Monday, June 4, 2001 - 10:00 AM - Conference Room 1 receipt of information confirming that Mr. Wickstrom had submitted his claim to the insurance company, Vision Service Plan. No new information was received. Motion by Member Larson, second by Member Brothers to table Mr. Wickstrom's claim until the next meeting pending the receipt of new information. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4-0. 2. Doris G. Damugh a. Regence Explanation of Benefits Statement No. 0101700238600 processed on January 31, 2001 for services received on January 11, 2001 in the amount of $35.00. On May 7, 2001, the LEOFF Board tabled Ms. Darough's claim pending Ms. Darough's submission of her claim to Medicare as primary insurer and Regence as secondary. No new information was received. Motion by Member Brothers, second by Member Vandver to table the claim from Doris Darough until the next LEOFF Board meeting pending the receipt of the requested information. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4-0. 3. Richard Huseby a. Request for reimbursement of hearing aid repairs received on April 2, 2001 in the amount of $121.97. On May 7, 2001, the LEOFF Board tabled Mr. Huseby's claim pending the receipt of additional information regarding whether the same repairs had been made in the recent past. The LEOFF Board reviewed excerpts from the September 5 and October 2, 2000 LEOFF Board minutes and Mr. Huseby's August 23, 2000 claim for hearing aid repairs. Chair Kelly acknowledged the receipt of memo from Board LEOFF Board Minutes June 4, 2001 Page 3 City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Disability Board Monday, June 4, 2001 - 10:00 AM - Conference Room 1 Secretary Daskam relating a telephone conversation with Mr. Huseby regarding his claim. Mr. Huseby reported that his August 23, 2000 claim for hearing aid repairs was for his right hearing aid and the current claim is for repairs made to the left hearing aid. Member Brothers moved and Member Larson seconded to approve the reimbursement of hearing aid repairs for Mr. Huseby's left hearing aid in the amount of $121.97. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4-0. IV. NEW BUSINESS A. Disability Leave/Retirement Applications There was no new application for disability leave/retirement. B. Appeals No request for reconsideration or appeal was received. C. Medical Claims 1. Bruce Caldwell a. Regence Explanation of Benefits Statement No. 0110200516200 processed on May 2, 2001 for services received on June 28 and 29, 2000 in the amount of $30.42. LEOFF Board members reviewed Mr. Caldwell's claim. Motion by Member Larson, second by Member Brothers to approve the reimbursement of medical expenses in the amount $30.42 for claim no. 0110200516200. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4-0. b. Regence Explanation of Benefits Statement No. 0111340013800 processed on May 9, 2001 for services received on June 28, 2000 in the amount of $42.16. LEOFF Board members reviewed Mr. Caldwell's claim. LEOFF Board Minutes June 4, 2001 Page 4 City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Disability Board Monday, June 4, 2001 - 10:00 AM - Conference Room 1 Motion by Member Larson, second by Member Brothers to approve the reimbursement of medical expenses in the amount $42.16 for claim no. 0111340013800. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4-0. D. Correspondence 1. Fax dated May 25, 2001 addressed to Chair Pro-tem Bud Larson from City of Puyallup LEOFF Board regarding policy on radial keratotomy and laser eye surgery. Chair Kelly indicated the fax enclosed in the packet contains the Puyallup LEOFF Board's policy on radial keratotomy and laser eye surgery. Chair Kelly reported that laser eye surgery was a subject of the recent LEOFF Conference. He distributed copies of information he received at the conference to members of the Board who could not attend. Chair Kelly noted the LEOFF Board Policies and Procedures do not address laser eye surgery. He suggested the Board address a possible amendment to the LEOFF Policies and Procedures during its review of the current policies this year. There was discussion regarding the medical necessity of laser eye surgery and its effectiveness, and other Boards' policies, which limit the surgery to that conducted by United States practicing physicians. E. LEOFF I Annual Medical Insurance Update Each year a medical insurance update letter and questionnaire form is mailed to LEOFF I retired members in order to obtain updated information with regard to members' medical, employment and insurance status. Board members reviewed the medical insurance update letter and questionnaire. The update letter and questionnaire will be mailed later this month. LEOFF Boar Minu~s June 4, 2001 Page 5 City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Disability Board Monday, June 4, 2001 - 10:00 AM - Conference Room I V. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the LEOFF Board, the meeting adjourned at 10:33 AM. APPROVED THIS 2- ' DAY OF JULY, 2001. LEOFF Board Minutes June 4, 2001 Page 6