Oregon ethics officials have fined the former director of a state agency in charge of insurance benefits for educators $20,000 for numerous violations.
The boards overseeing medical and dental benefits for educators and public employees in Oregon now have a permanent director.
The Oregon Educators Benefit Board spent $10.5 million on a wellness program its advisors now say didn’t show results in improving the health of its members, and OEBB had no way of knowing if it saved money on medical costs.
The Oregon Educators Benefit Board approved a list of creative solutions to keep the health benefits for the state’s teachers below the caps mandated by the Legislature.
Rep. Julie Parrish, R-West Linn, plans toreintroduce legislation in February that would dramatically change the way the state and local government assists with health coverage for their employees, scrapping the Public Employees Benefit Board, the Oregon Educators Benefit Board and other health plans in favor of a defined contribution that teachers and state workers would use to purchase a health plan off the federal exchange.
The Oregon Educators Benefit Board voted unanimously Tuesday to delay its contract redesign for another year, arguing they are not yet prepared to take on the extensive work to rethink their health plan to save on costs while improving the patient experience.
