State Treasurer Talks State Health Plan with SEANC Leaders
by Toni Davis
On Oct. 28, State Treasurer Janet Cowell addressed the SEANC Board of Governors (BOG). Normally the treasurer comes to SEANC to discuss the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System, but this time was different with Cowell turning her focus to the State Health Plan (SHP).
RALEIGH – Last year SEANC was successful in achieving its No. 1 policy platform objective to move SHP governance away from the General Assembly to the state treasurer’s office. This move placed two important state employee and retiree benefits – health care and retirement – under one executive agency branch. However, the state treasurer’s role in SHP operations is vastly different from Cowell’s role in the retirement system where she serves as the sole fiduciary for making all of the investment decisions.
The new SHP board will consist of four state employee representatives and four experts who do not have conflicts of interest in the SHP. District 22 Chairwoman Michele Shaw has been appointed to the SHP board, which will begin work in January. Cowell explained to SEANC leaders that she will serve on the SHP board, but will only vote in instances where a tie-breaker is needed.
including those with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Medco.
Treasurer asks BOG for input In order to best serve state employees and retirees, Cowell asked the BOG for input about the SHP. Members asked Cowell for a ranking of how North Carolina’s SHP compares to others across the country. BOG leaders also asked for the SHP to go after overpayments more aggressively and consider transitioning to a calendar year structure. SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope suggested that Cowell focus on the plan design rather than the cost savings for the General Assembly.
To obtain more SHP input, Cowell will embark on a statewide listening tour this winter. After Cowell’s remarks, SEANC President Charles Johnson said “We are encouraged and we will do everything to support the State Health Plan.”
Cowell said she “feels good about the new governance structure of the SHP” that will have oversight of contracts
tdavis@seanc.org
State Treasurer Janet Cowell addresses the BOG.
Photo by Mary a delaide r iddick
Counselor’s Comments
by Tom Harris sEanC CHiEf of sTaff/GEnEral CounsEl
Election of SEANC Delegates to SEIU 2012 Convention
SEANC will hold a special election by mail in the early months of next year to elect its delegates to the May 2012 SEIU convention being held in Denver, Colo. Federal law dictates how SEIU delegates must be elected.
The SEANC 2011 annual convention amended our bylaws to set up a process compliant with federal law. See Article VII, Section 6 in the SEANC bylaws posted at seanc.org
Federal law requires that SEIU delegates be elected in a secret ballot election in which all eligible SEANC members are given a reasonable opportunity to vote. The election may be statewide or by district, or a combination of the two. Since SEANC statewide officers are elected by SEANC convention delegates only, they cannot serve as SEIU voting delegates unless they are also separately elected as SEIU delegates. New subsection 6.1 in our bylaws sets up two types of elections for SEIU delegates: a statewide election of at least five delegates to allow for the possibility that SEANC’s state officers can serve as SEIU convention delegates, and district elections to allow each district to also have a delegate.
The SEIU Constitution sets the number of delegates for each local as 10 delegates for first 5,000 members plus one delegate for each additional 1,000 members. SEIU will notify SEANC of its delegate allotment in early 2012, in time to set up elections. Subsection 6.1 provides for how SEANC’s elections will be adjusted to match the allotment. Further, subsections 6.1.1 and 6.1.2 dictate how alternate delegates will be selected.
Subsection 6.2 satisfies the federal requirement for notifying all SEANC members of the rules for nominations and elections of SEIU delegates which, in this case, will occur in The Reporter in early 2012. It also establishes who
is eligible to be nominated (any member in good standing for the preceding two years) and who may vote (any member in good standing on the date of the election).
Subsection 6.3 satisfies the federal legal requirements to give the candidates a reasonable period of time to campaign and to hold the SEIU delegate elections by secret ballot. That subsection also provides that the candidate with the most votes, whether or not it is a majority of the votes, will be declared the winner and that a tie will be decided by a coin toss. These measures are necessary to avoid the prohibitive cost of holding a statewide runoff election by mailed secret ballot.
tharris@seanc.org
Accident
- (with optional spouse disability option available at an additional cost)
Cancer Insurance - (with optional $5,000 initial diagnosis benefit)
Critical Illness Insurance - (up to $50,000 in benefits, with no taxes being due at the point of claim)
Disability Insurance - (on/off-job coverage with preferred AAA rates)
Hospital Confinement Indemnity Insurance
special underwriting considerations
Quotes to Note
“We think it’s the big corporate giant versus the taxpayer and the little guy who blows the whistle. This is nothing but a lawsuit to intimidate him or other employees trying to do a public service and protect taxpayer dollars.”
SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope defending former Baptist Hospital employee Joe Vincoli who is alleging overpayments by the state for health services provided at the facility, in a Sept. 8 News & Observer article “State audit: Hospital was overpaid $1.34 million.”
“It remains to be seen whether these moves will create any meaningful efficiencies.”
SEANC Communications/Public Relations Director Toni Davis on whether agency consolidations will prove to be of any worth, in an Aug. 12 News & Observer article “Reuben Young will lead state Public Safety.”
“Comments like that lead me to believe the first ones who need drug testing are the state lawmakers. They would spend potentially millions of dollars to enact it and, as far as I know, we don’t have a widespread drug problem in state government.”
SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope on N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis’ suggestion to implement drug testing for state employees, in an Oct. 13 News & Observer article “Tillis derided for drug test idea.”
Social Justice Prevails as Baptist Hospital Drops Whistleblower Lawsuit
by Cary EDGar
A whistleblower lawsuit brought against a former administrative director of Winston-Salem’s N.C. Baptist Hospital has been dropped. The employee, Joseph Vincoli, discovered and notified State Health Plan (SHP) officials and legislators that the state was overpaying the hospital for health care services. He now works for the state and is a proud member of District 42.
“This victory is social justice. It is a great reinforcement to all of those out there who act as good stewards of the taxpaying public. In a situation like this, when someone sees the state being potentially wronged or misled – it’s great to know that there are still folks out there who are willing to do the right thing,” said SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope.
At SEANC’s Board of Governors’ meeting in July, leaders recognized this battle brewing between the corporate health giant and the fired employee and voted to contribute $5,000 toward Vincoli’s mounting legal defense costs.
The hospital has not admitted wrongdoing. Despite that argument, a state audit released in early September revealed that the SHP overpaid Baptist Hospital $1.34 million over a five-year period.
cedgar@seanc.org
The Reporter, USPS 009-852 (ISSN 1069 2142), is published nine times a year in the months of February, March, April, May, June, July, September, November and December for $2.50 per year, per member, by the State Employees Association of North Carolina, Inc., P.O. Drawer 27727, Raleigh, NC 27611- 7727. Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh, N.C. and additional offices.
POSTMASTER Send address changes to: THE REPORTER, P.O. Drawer 27727, Raleigh, NC 27611-7727.
2011-2012 SEANC
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DISTRICT CHAIRPERSONS
President Charles Johnson District 45
Raleigh Department of Correction
First Vice President
Sidney Sandy District 11
Indian Trail Department of Transportation (Ret.)
Second Vice President Doranna Anderson District 47 Raleigh Department of Health and Human Services
Treasurer Marilyn Jean Martin District 12
Salisbury Department of Correction
Past President Tony Smith District 5 Morganton Department of Correction
Insurance Board of Trustees Chairwoman Pamela Hailey District 58
Washington Department of Correction (Ret.)
Retiree Council
Chairman Bob Hopper District 9
Hickory Division of Motor Vehicles (Ret.)
Western Region
Representative James Burgess District 9
Stony Point Department of Transportation
Piedmont Region
Representative Wayne Talbert District 17
Yanceyville Department of Correction
North Central Region
Representative Betty “BJ” Jones District 42
Department of Health and Human Services
Eastern Region
South Central Region
Representative Art Anthony District 39
Raleigh N.C. State University
ASSISTANTS TO THE PRESIDENT
Secretary to the President Betty Gautier District 38 Benson Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Parliamentarian Ray Evans District 27
Hillsborough Division of Motor Vehicles (Ret.)
Parliamentarian Roy McGalliard District 5
Morganton
Western Piedmont Community College (Ret.)
Board of Governors
MEMBER ACTION
District 13 members participated in the UNC-Charlotte Fall Festival on Oct. 11 by sponsoring a recruitment table and a ring toss game with the university mascot, Norm the Niner. Pictured with Norm is District 13 member, Renda Gwaltney.
State employees took part in the North Carolina Association of Workforce Professionals conference in Winston-Salem on Oct. 6 and a SEANC recruitment table was there on the scene. Pictured, left, is Fairley Grimes of Colonial Insurance and, right, District 17 member Carolyn Irving.
District 12 held a recruitment breakfast on Oct. 14 at the Union County Clerk of Court Office where several new members joined the association. Pictured, left to right, are District 12 member Shawntay Anthony, District 12 Chairwoman Ashley Fenton and District 12 member Blythe Cochran.
A SEANC recruitment and information table was set up at the North Carolina Rehabilitation Association conference Oct. 26-28 in Wrightsville Beach, where over 200 state employees were in attendance. Pictured, left to right, are District 64 member Rebecca Tyndall, District 21 member Kim Stewart and District 57 member Dean Bunn.
Photo contributed by Steve l aw S on
Photo contributed by Steve
Photo contributed by Steve
Photo contributed by Steve l aw S on
Toni Davis,
Editor-In-Chief
Cary EDgar, Managing Editor
sTEvE Lawson, Photographer
State Employees Association of North Carolina
P.O. Drawer 27727 • Raleigh, NC 27611
1621 Midtown Place • Raleigh, NC 27609
Telephone 919-833-6436, 800-222-2758
www.seanc.org
Advertising Policy
SEANC accepts advertising material from companies and persons seeking to communicate with SEANC members. Acceptance of this advertising does not indicate SEANC approval or endorsement of any representation that the message, product or service is as represented by the advertiser. SEANC accepts no responsibility and shall not be liable for any use of or reliance on any such information, product or service. SEANC is a private entity and is under no obligation to carry advertisements of any nature, political or otherwise, that may be viewed as contrary to the interests of the association and its membership.
SEANC Members Recognized for Outstanding Service
congratulations to the following Seanc members who were recognized in november by the office of State Personnel for their hard work and dedication to serving north carolina. the Governor’s awards for excellence are the highest honor a state employee may receive.
Outstanding State Government Service awards:
Lewis R. Ledford
department of environment & natural resources division of Parks & recreation
Seanc district 42 member and raleigh resident
Tyrone T. Williams
employment Security commission employment Service division
Seanc district 56 member and enfield resident
P.O. Drawer 27727
Raleigh, NC 27611
No Longer a Wait to Use Purchasing Power!
SEANC members can now use Purchasing Power to buy computers, appliances and more via payroll deductions on the day they join, provided they have worked for the state at least six months. This is a great benefit for state employees and retirees! For more information, call 800-903-0703.
Qualifications:
• At least 18 years of age
• Active or retired member of SEANC and a state employee for at least six months
• Must earn at least $16,000 a year
• Must have a bank account or credit card (to be used in case of non-payment via payroll or pension deduction)
advancing Seanc through Member Strength T.E.A.M! Training
The time is now to get more involved with SEANC!
Join us for this exciting Member Strength T.E.A.M! training opportunity Feb. 1-3 at the Great Wolf Lodge in Concord. Space is limited so register online today at seanc.org
This training will include the following:
• Gearing up for the 2012 legislative session
• Preparing for the 2012 elections
• Growing EMPAC
• Member engagement
• Team building and leadership development exercises
• Growing membership
• And more!
The registration fee is $100 per person, based on double occupancy. Members requesting a single room will have an additional $100 charge, for a total of $200 registration fee.
For more information, contact Carri Derrick at cderrick@seanc.org or 800-222-2758.
