August 2019 Scoop

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Friday, August 2, 2019

Over 27,000 providers around the state have signed the Clear Pricing Project (CPP) contract. The agreement will reduce plan members’ out-ofpocket expenses by $36 million each year. The CPP will begin a new network on January 1, 2020 and will provide healthcare coverage to more than 720,000 teachers, state employees and retirees.

SEANC leaders have made multiple attempts to contact all hospital CEOs in North Carolina over the past six weeks and have not received substantive responses. We need you to stand up for transparent and affordable healthcare by telling your hospital CEO to reject secret contracts and sign on to the Clear Pricing Project.

Contact your hospitals

Members fighting back for fair and transparent care This week Affordable Health Care for North Carolina (AHCNC), an advocacy group started by SEANC members, launched three new videos targeting Vidant Health and UNC Health Care.

At age of 9, Kathy's son needed a major heart surgery. Thanks to the State Health Plan he was able to get the care he needed to save his life. Now, she worries that single moms like her will not receive the same care her son did because greedy hospital execs like Vidant Health’s MIllion DollarMike.

A retired state employee, Hiawatha is one of 300,000 NorthCarolinians who depend on a UNC Health Care hospital for care. The publicly-funded facility has yet to #signthecontract for the State Health Plan, putting affordable care at risk.

Longtime Eastern North Carolina residents Benny and Trevathink it would be a "slap in the face" for state employees and retirees in the east if Vidant Health does not #signthecontract for the StateHealth Plan.

Rita works in one of the most dangerous jobs in the state and she deserves affordable health care! Million Dollar Mike, sign the contract to ensure working families like Rita's have access to affordable care.

Please like and share the videos on social media. Follow Affordable Healthcare for North Carolina by clicking on the icons below.

Bowl-a-thon breaks a fundraising record for scholarships

The SEANC Scholarship Foundation hosted its annual Bowl-a-thon on Saturday, July 27 at Buffaloe Lanes North in Raleigh. The event raised an unprecedented $6,500 to support educational scholarships for SEANC members and their dependents. There was a silent auction with items donated from local vendors, handmade items, gift baskets and much more! The Scholarship Foundation Board thanks everyone who bowled and bid on the silent auction items! For more information about SEANC Scholarships, go to www.seanc.org/scholarship.

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Friday, August 9, 2019

Folwell announces network to ensure affordable coverage for State Health Plan members With the state’s hospitals continuing their boycott of the Clear Pricing Project, State Treasurer Dale Folwell announced Thursday that the State Health Plan would operate in the coming year with a hybrid system featuring two networks that will ensure all state employees and retirees have in-network coverage at facilities close to home.

The new North Carolina State Health Plan Network will consist of the more than 28,000 providers that signed on to the Clear Pricing Project in addition to Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina’s Blue Options Network, the network the plan currently uses.

The announcement came just days after a report from WalletHub found that North Carolina ranks 50th in the nation in health care, mostly because of outrageous costs and lack of access.

SEANC will continue to fight for transparency in health care on behalf of its members.

Folwell said the decision was made to comply with access to care requirements for hospital coverage. The new network begins January 1, 2020, and will be offered to members enrolled in the 70/30, 80/20 and High Deductible Health Plans. As a reminder, this network does not affect members on the UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans.

Open Enrollment for the 2020 benefit year will be held later in the fall at a date that will be announced soon.

No movement on budget as both sides unwilling to budge There has been little news to report on the ongoing state budget standoff recently.

Both Gov. Roy Cooper and the Republican legislature have not budged in their stances.

SEANC continues to call on legislators to vote to override Cooper’s veo to ensure that state employees and retirees get the raises and bonuses they deserve. If no compromise is reached, the state will revert to last year’s budget, meaning no raises or bonuses at all.

Please follow SEANC on Facebook and Twitter for the latest information. We will alert members as soon as an agreement has been reached.

Don't miss summer nights at Busch Gardens!

Busch Gardens becomes a cooler place after dark during Summer Nights.

Special entertainment, including special appearances from stars of America's and Britain's Got Talent during Summer Nights Live, culinary experiences and a fun nighttime atmosphere will give guests a new reason to visit during summer evenings. The nights will light up until August 11.

Purchase tickets at your local SECU branch.

www.seanc.org | The State Employees Association of North Carolina | © 2019

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Friday, August 16, 2019

State employees facing another month without pay raises, bonuses With every passing day without a budget in place, it’s more likely that state employees and retirees will receive another paycheck without an increase in pay.

Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the legislature’s budget on June 28 because it did not include Medicaid expansion. House Democrats feel an obligation to “stand with their governor” and are refusing to override this veto.

Cooper still insists that any budget contain Medicaid expansion. Legislative leaders have offered to return for a special session to consider Medicaid expansion but Cooper has not accepted, leaving state employees and retirees uncertain of their financial future.

The News & Observer published a story Thursday detailing the cost to taxpayers of the budget stalemate. But the story failed to mention the folks with the most at stake in this impasse – state employees and retirees who are facing another month without a pay raise or bonus.

The average state employee is losing about $97 each month that the budget isn’t passed.

The longer the stalemate drags on, the more likely it becomes that the legislature will leave town without a new budget at all – meaning no raises or bonuses. That also means no bonus vacation days, much-needed correctional officer supplements, community college and UNC System employee raises or any of the other parts of the budget that benefit state employees and retirees.

SEANC does not have a position on Medicaid expansion, and it is unacceptable for your pay raises to be used as a bargaining chip in this negotiation. Tell your legislators to override the governor’s veto and pass the budget to end this standoff.

Click here to contact your legislator

Don't miss summer nights at Busch Gardens!

Busch Gardens becomes a cooler place after dark during Summer Nights.

Special entertainment, including special appearances from stars of America's and Britain's Got Talent during Summer Nights Live, culinary experiences and a fun nighttime atmosphere will give guests a new reason to visit during summer evenings. The nights will light up until August 11.

Purchase tickets at your local SECU branch.

www.seanc.org | The State Employees Association of North Carolina | © 2019

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Friday, August 23, 2019

No pay raises in August paychecks State employees and retirees will see no increases in their paychecks for the second month next week because of the continued state budget stalemate.

With no end in sight, legislative leaders proposed a bill this week to return more than $600 million in surplus revenue to taxpayers as a “fall refund” payment. Individuals would get up to $125, and those who filed jointly would get $250.

The legislature also turned this week to passing parts of its budget in a piecemeal approach, and rumor has it that state employee pay raises may come up as early as next week. SEANC continues to push for pay raises for all state employees, including an additional $50 million for pay raises at the UNC System.

We need you to stand up for your raises as well. Tell your legislators to support overriding the budget veto by clicking below.

Click here to contact your legislators

State Health Plan announces open enrollment period The State Health Plan announced this week that it will hold an open enrollment period for 2020 from Nov. 2-19.

Plan members will have access to the SAME broad, statewide network they have today, which is the Blue Options network administered by Blue Cross NC. This includes all North Carolina hospitals.

Also, because of the success of the Clear Pricing Project, this network will now include even more providers that are supportive of transparent and lower pricing.

More details on open enrollment will be announced as the period approaches.

www.seanc.org | The State Employees Association of North Carolina | © 2019

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Friday, August 30, 2019

Legislature passes largest two-year pay raise in a decade The legislature passed by unanimous vote this week pay raises for most state employees as part of a “mini budgets” workaround to push through important parts of the budget, since a compromise is unlikely.

Most state employees will receive a 5% pay increase over the next two years – 2.5% in each year – as part of the largest two-year raise in a decade. This includes all employees who work for a state agency. In addition to the pay raise, correctional employees at facilities with high vacancy rates will receive a supplement thanks to a bill passed this week.

Gov. Roy Cooper has yet to sign any of the pay raise bills. They will not take effect until he either signs them or lets them pass into law without his signature by not vetoing them within 10 days. Members should click here to email Cooper to tell him you need a raise and he should sign the bills!

If Cooper does not veto the bills, the raises will be retroactive to July and employees should see increases in their September paychecks.

More “mini budgets” are expected after the legislature takes a week off.

Chief among these bills will be a plan for raises for non-certified school personnel, UNC System and community college employees and retirees.

SEANC continues to work to ensure that these employees in the education system get the raises they deserve. SEANC also continues to lobby for a 2% bonus for retirees.

www.seanc.org | The State Employees Association of North Carolina | © 2019

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