Brownsville Independent School District Eyes Health Insurance Audit

A recent  BISD school board agenda item posted for Executive Session  indicates discussion regarding audit activities surrounding the district’s self-funded health insurance plan.  See partial excerpt of a Brownsville Herald story that appeared last year:

BISD eyes insurance contract audit

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September 03, 2009 10:13 AM

Brownsville Independent School District trustees have agreed to consider having an independent auditor run the numbers on the recently awarded contract for third-party administrator of the district’s self-funded group health insurance plan.

Editor’s Note: The BISD health insurance budget is +$40 million. We applaud the BISD in auditing the plan as a prudent business practice long overdue.

Will California PPO’s Survive?

CALIFORNIA: Legislation that will  prohibit cost and quality data gag clauses in hospital contracts passed the Assembly Health Committee (17-0) last week with strong bipartisan support. The measure now heads to the full Assembly for a floor vote.  The California Hospital Association remains opposed, and the California Medical Association has raised concerns that the bill needs to include language to make clear the bill does not apply to them. As a result of this vote, the hospital association may step up its opposition.

Editor’s Note: If this bill passes, PPO hospital contracts will no longer be secret and confidential in California. Plan payers will finally be able to see what kind of discount arrangement has been made on their behalf.