If PEBB does nothing, the state will be hit with a $24 million tax in 2018, but by simply reweighting the premiums offered to families versus individuals, the tax could be avoided for several more years. Under this plan, families would pay a little more, but individuals would pay a little less.
Nov 26, 2013
State and School Employees Slim DownChristen McCurdyTue, 11/26/2013 - 11:03
Weight Watchers helps Oregon's public employees meet weight loss goals
Over the last four years, state employees and public education employees have dropped nearly half a million pounds via Weight Watchers classes offered as a benefit through the Public Employees Benefit Board (PEBB) and the Oregon Educators Benefit Board (OEBB).
PEBB and OEBB administrator exits her position after seven years at the helm. She’ll be temporarily replaced by Kelly Ballas, a former Kaiser executive and chief financial officer of the Oregon Health Authority.
Dr. Alan Bates, a Democratic senator from Medford, helped craft a fixed budget for the Public Employees Benefit Board that would be able to control costs through innovation. The doctor also chided PEBB on offering perks through self-reporting in its smoking cessation program.
At its July meeting, the board brainstormed metrics for its 2015 health plan requests for proposals, wishing to give preference to insurance companies that have experience using innovative payment models with healthcare providers as well as a willingness to move beyond paying providers per procedure.
The House Health Committee unanimously approved HB 2432, requiring insurers to cover the costs that diabetic women accrue when pregnant without deductibles and copays, despite opposition by Regence BlueCross BlueShield. Rep. Sara Gelser was able to lower the fiscal impact to the Oregon Educators Benefit Board after talks with ODS
HB 2279, backed by local governments and unions alike, would open up the self-insurance plans for teachers and state employees to those in local government, which face rising private health insurance costs
October 22, 2012 -- Oregon public education employees have lost nearly 200,000 pounds in a 20-month period that began in October 2010 after the state added free Weight Watchers classes as a benefit, an administrator for the Oregon Educators Benefit Board (OEBB) told The Lund Report.
Joan M. Kapowich, who also administers the Public Employees’ Benefit Board, said those workers lost over 175,000 pounds since the free weight loss classes became part of their benefits in 2009.
April 2, 2012 – None of Portland’s city employees or family members have used the city’s transgender benefits that were approved by the city council. But that isn’t unusual, said Yvonne Deckard, director of human resources, and doesn’t mean providing those benefits are without value. “We didn’t anticipate that there would be a large volume of claims, necessarily,” she said. “Part of it is just the uniqueness and the small population group that will access that benefit.”
February 28, 2012 -- Looking at options for healthcare was the focus of an informational meeting of the Oregon House Health Care Committee recently to discuss a weight-loss program known as Take Shape for Life.
Committee Co-Chair Rep. Jim Thompson (R-Dallas) said the issue of weight loss should be a part of discussions about how to make Oregonians healthier.
