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Home My WebLink About02-03-2004City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Disability Board Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - 10:00 AM - Council Conference Room MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Chair Jim Kelly called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. in the Council Conference Room located at City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, Washington. Chair Kelly and the following Board members were present: Chair Pro Tem Bud Larson, Member Bill Peloza, Member Roger Thordarson, and Member Russ Vandver. Others present included retired police officer Dave Schuur and Board Secretary Danielle Daskam. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes of the January 5, 2004 LEOFF Board Meeting Motion by Chair Pro Tem Larson, second by Member Thordarson to approve the January 5, 2004 minutes as distributed. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 5-0. II1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Pendin,q Disability Leave/Retirement Applications There was no pending disability leave/retirement application. Claims There was no pending claim. IV. NEW BUSINESS Disability Leave/Retirement Applications No new application for disability leave/retirement was received. B. Appeals No appeal was filed. C. Medical/Hearin,qNision Claims David B. Schuur Claim for payment for reimbursement of vision follows: expenses as Bifocal Lenses $ 72.98 Bifocal Lenses $ 70.98** LEOFF Board Minutes February 3, 2004 Page 1 City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Disability Board Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - 10:00 AM - Council Conference Room LEOFF Board Minutes February 3, 2004 Page 2 Frames $ 64.99 **Request for reimbursement of second set of lenses per prescription. LEOFF Board Policy 9.02(A)(2) provides for reimbursement for lenses and frames as follows: Bifocal Lenses $ 60.00 Frames $ 90.00 Mr. Schuur has not received reimbursement for lenses or frames within the last two years. Chair Kelly recommended the Board bifurcate Mr. Schuur's claim in order to consider the claim for the second set of eye glasses separately. There was no objection from the Board members. Motion by Chair Pro Tem Larson, second by Member Thordarson to approve reimbursement in the amount of $124.99 ($60.00 for regular lenses and $64.99 for frames). Mr. Schuur briefly discussed the need for the second set of lenses. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 5-0. Motion by Member Peloza, second by Member Vandver to approve the reimbursement of $70.98 for the second set of prescription lenses. Board members discussed the Board policy relating to vision benefits and those services proven to be medically necessary. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 5-0. Murray Board Request for authorization to purchase hearing aids from other than the Board designated provider (Coscto Hearing Aid Center) in the amount of $ 5,440. On. November 3, 2003, the Board approved reimbursement of $3,398 to Mr. Board for the purchase of hearing aids through Costco. Mr. Board was subsequently unsatisfied with the performance of the hearing aids, which he returned to Costco. City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Disability Board Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - 10:00 AM - Council Conference Room Costco refunded the total cost to Mr. Board, and Mr. Board in turn repaid the City for the full amount. Motion by Chair Pro Tem Larson, second by Member Peloza to table Mr. Board's claim pending review and receipt of information from Costco Hearing Aid Center on Costco's cost of comparable hearing aids and Costco staff's opinion on Mr. Board's dissatisfaction with the Costco hearing aids. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 5-0. Chair Kelly recessed the regular meeting to executive session at 10:23 a.m. for approximately five to ten minutes in order to discuss the medical condition of a LEOFF I member. Chair Kelly reconvened the meeting at 10:28 a.m. Correspondence No correspondence was received. Discussion Policy and Procedure Manual Review Member Peloza reminded the Board that Appendix A of the Policy and Procedure Manual must be updated to reflect new membership and current terms. Chair Kelly recalled that the Board amended the rules in October 2003 to reflect changes in law with respect to Board elections. At that time Sections 1.01(B), 1.01(C), 1.05(A) and 1.05(B)(2) were amended. Section 1.04 relating to meeting time was amended at the January 2004 meeting LEOFF Board members reviewed sample policies from other LEOFF Boards relating to vision benefits. Member Vandver suggested the Board establish a flat rate for reimbursement of lenses and frames. Chair Pro Tem Larson suggested developing a flat rate based on the average of the costs contained in the vision cost survey prepared by the secretary. LEOFF Board Minutes February 3, 2004 Page 3 City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Disability Board Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - '10:00 AM - Council Conference Room It was consensus of the members that the Board set a flat rate for vision reimbursement based on the analysis of the costs of lenses and frames reflected in the LEOFF Board vision cost survey dated December 2003. Motion by Member Thordarson, second by Chair Pro Tem Larson to amend Sections 9.02 of the LEOFF Board Policy and Procedure Manual in substantial conformity as follows: Section 9.02Medical Claims for Corrective Lenses and Frames .... ~ .................................. S~PJ=CC ~ ............ LEOFF Board Minutes February 3, 2004 Page 4 Active LEOFF 1 Members Vision insurance coverage is provided for active LEOFF 1 members through Vision Service Plan. If any balance remains after Vision Service Plan, or any other vision plan the LEOFF I member is enrolled in, has paid its benefit, the member should forward a copy of the Explanation of Benefits statement together with a completed Corrective Lenses and Frames Worksheet to the LEOFF Board for consideration. The LEOFF Board will reimburse up to the amounts described below. The reimbursement rates apply after all insurance coverages have been applied. Any balance due after the LEOFF Board reimbursement is the responsibility of the LEOFF I member. City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Disability Board Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - 10:00 AM - Council Conference Room 2B. Retired LEOFF I Members Eye examinations for retired LEOFF I members are to be charged to Regence BlueShield. The retired LEOFF I member may purchase from the optician or ophthalmologist of his or her choice. The member should forward a completed Corrective Lenses and Frames Worksheet to the LEOFF Board for consideration for any lenses and frames expense. The LEOFF Board will reimburse up to the amounts described below. The reimbursement rates apply after all, if any, insurance coverages have been applied. Any balance due after the LEOFF Board reimbursement is the responsibility of the LEOFF I member. Vision Benefits Payments for eyeglasses and contact lenses, plus the reasonable costs of necessary eye examination services of a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist, will be approved pursuant to the authority granted to the Board under RCW 41.26.150, if eyeglasses are prescribed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. The Board will approve payment for one pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses, at the member's option or as prescribed, to LEOFF Board Minutes February 3, 2004 Page 5 City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Disability Board Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - 10:00 AM - Council Conference Room correct vision when required for a new prescription in accordance with the following schedule: 1. Eyeglass Lenses and Frames: $200.00 maximum per single set of frames and pair of lenses not more than once every twelve (12) consecutive months. Lenses covered include single vision, bifocal, or trifocal lenses. 2. Second Pair: A second pair of monofocal (i.e. computer) glasses shall be approved only if prescribed by a ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist. The maximum cost of the second pair shall not exceed $200 per single set of frames and pair of lenses not more than once in a twenty-four (24) consecutive months. 3. Contact Lenses: $100.00 maximum during any twelve disposable contact lenses. per lens not to exceed $200 (12) month period including 4. Replacement: Claims for replacement pair of eve~lass frames and/or lenses, or contacts will be allowed if proof of damage is provided and shown to have been incurred in the performance of a member's fire or law enforcement duties. Only one replacement pair per year, due to accidental damage, will be allowed, not to exceed the amount allowable above. 5. Additional/Spare Pair: No reimbursement will be made for a spare pair of glasses or contact lenses. B.D Laser Vision Correction The Board will reimburse the member the amount of $700 per eye for Radial Keratotomy (RK) surgery or laser eye surgery (LASlK and RK). If a member is reimbursed the $700 per eye for the surgery, he or she will not be reimbursed for eyeglasses or contact lenses during the subsequent two calendar years, unless eyeglasses or contact lenses are medically necessary. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 5-0. Chair Kelly suggested the Board review the hearing aid policy at a future time. ADJOURNMENT LEOFF Board Minutes February 3, 2004 Page 6 City of Auburn Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Disability Board Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - '10:00 AM - Council Conference Room Them being no further adjourned at 11:13 a.m. APPROVED the '/~ business to come before the Board, the meeting DAY OF MARCH, 2004. JimlKelly, Board Chair Danielle Daskam, Secretary LEOFF Board Minutes February 3, 2004 Page 7