MINUTES

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS COMMITTEE

August 15th, 2013

Members Present

Brenda Freese – Chair
Debbie Copp / Ron Kantowski
Jannie Porter
Don Clothier
Suzanne Harrell / Vince Leseney

Members Absent

Don Harrison / Jerry Weber
Frances Wen
Chad Johnson
Will Wayne / Alisa Dougless
Aimee Franklin Suzanne Gilmore

Ex Officio Members

Les Hoven

Nick Kelly

Angela Hawpe

Tricia Rahal

Breion Rollins

Sarah Millsap

The meeting was called to order by Brenda Freese at 1:35 pm.

I.  Approval of Minutes

·  The July minutes were approved as written.

II.  2014 Renewal Update

·  BlueCross and BlueShield reviewed OU’s renewal and revised the rate increases based on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It was determined that ACA would only cause a 3.5% increase instead of 4.0%, as originally expected. Thus, the renewal increases went from 9.5% to 9.0% on the PPO/HCA and 13.5% to 13.0% on the HMO.

III.  Annual Enrollment Plans

·  Per Breion Rollins, annual enrollment will be October 28th through November 8th and the benefit fairs will take place during the week of October 21st through the 25th. In previous years only one benefit fair has been held on the Norman campus, however, this year we will hold two days of benefit fairs on the Norman campus.

·  Per Nick Kelly, Human Resources has been reviewing new software enrollment systems that are much more user-friendly and technologically advanced than our current system.

IV.  Strategic Plan Discussion

·  The creation of a Strategic Planning Committee and a Steering Committee is in process. There are a number of strategic goals that need to be reviewed: What changes will we need to make in the future? Should OU keep the HMO? Should OU keep all 6 salary tiers? Should OU change its contribution strategy? How does the University react to all aspects of the Affordable Care Act and the Exchanges? How should OU handle part-time employees and the requirement to provide insurance to them? How should wellness incentives be implemented? When should OU begin looking at other vendors? Should funding methods be changed? Should the medical, dental and/or vision be bundled together?

·  The Strategic Planning Committee will work alongside the Employee Benefits Committee.

·  Many are concerned with the low morale on campus. The faculty and staff need to know that these committees are being formed in order to help prepare for the future, not to reduce their benefits.

V.  Updates from Chief Human Resources Officer

·  Per Les, the primary challenge for this coming year will be communication – not only with communicating the rate increases, but also informing employees of the Exchanges. This will be a confusing time for many, so it will take more effort on our part.

·  The Notice of Exchange must be provided to employees beginning in October. We should consider creating a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) flyer to go along with it.

VI.  Other Business

·  Brenda Freese officially stepped down as Committee Chair due to her retirement. Don Clothier was nominated and approved as new Chair starting at the September EBC meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:38 p.m.