Legislative session ends amid lingering uncertainty
In one of the strangest General Assembly short sessions in memory, legislators left an appropriated pay raise for most state employees intact but remained reluctant to approve any new spending – leaving some employees without an increase for the second-straight year.
The General Assembly finally adjourned at around 2:30 a.m. on June 26. The adjournment resolution was effective July 7. Legislators are expected to return for another session on Sept. 2.
There was no traditional budget process (a hallmark of most sessions) due
Other bills that passed of note:
to uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and the expected loss of revenue.
Legislators did not make major changes with a projected shortfall of $4 billion looming.
The good news for most state employees is that meant the 2.5% pay increase in last year’s budget remained. Those who work in departments and agencies received the increase on July 1.
SEANC attempted to get increases for university and community college employees, as well as non-certified school personnel, but legislators were unwilling
to commit to any new spending.
Last year, Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed bills that would have given higher education employees raises, claiming those raises weren’t large enough. And yet, this year Cooper did not come up with a budget proposal of his own and did not call for a raise for these employees.
Likewise, an attempt to pass a bill for a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for retirees died in committee because it required a $96 million appropriation. A bill to fully fund the retirement system did pass.
• S635 contains language for a pilot project for updated technology in prisons. This technology would improve the way correctional staff track behavior and activity. There is also a contact tracing component which would be helpful in keeping track of COVID-19 outbreaks in prison facilities.
• H1218 adjusted the funding levels for the retirement system to remain fully funded by the General Assembly.
• H308 contained an extension on return to work for retirees in positions where there is emergency need for experienced workers due to the pandemic. The six-month break in service requirement has been temporarily suspended.
• S818 provides a one-time $350 bonus for teachers and has language that encourages Gov. Cooper to use some of his COVID-19 federal funds to provide an extra $600. The $600 would include non-certified school employees.
SEANC gives citizens a voice in proposed New Hanover hospital sale
SEANC has been at the forefront of the fight to oppose the sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC) in Wilmington, which would mean higher costs and lower quality of care for more than 42,000 State Health Plan members in southeastern North Carolina.
A poll commissioned by Save Our Hospital found that 70% opposed selling NHRMC and 76% wanted to maintain operations as they are. Yet there has been little input sought by the group studying the sale or county commissioners.
SEANC partnered with Save Our Hospital, a grassroots organization of concerned citizens, to host a virtual town
hall event on June 29 that included more than 60 concerned citizens, legislators and county officials. Spence Broadhurst, chairman of the Partnership Advisory Group (PAG), defended the process, which has included little-to-no public input.
A week later, the PAG voted unanimously to recommend a deal from Novant Health totaling more than $4.5 billion for the hospital. This is unacceptable. Such an important decision should not be rushed and railroaded through in the middle of a global pandemic. What the public wants very much matters, and what the public wants is to keep their
hospital locally owned.
The hospital is financially healthy, yet its leaders refused to join the State Health Plan’s Clear Pricing Project, an initiative led by State Treasurer Dale Folwell to make health care more affordable and keep prices from going up for state employees and retirees, even though it would have made money by signing on. Also, if another entity comes in and pays to put up buildings and then goes belly up, the law allows for you, the county taxpayer, to be on the hook to pay for their mismanagement.
SEANC awards first-ever Unsung Hero award to DHHS Deputy Secretary Kody Kinsley
Leaders in state government are the key to promoting safe, productive working conditions for employees. Often their work goes unnoticed. SEANC has created the Unsung Hero award to periodically recognize these officials who go above and beyond to make workers’ lives better. To that end, the SEANC Select Committee on DHHS Issues voted in early July to recognize Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health & Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Kody Kinsley with the inaugural Unsung Hero award for his efforts to keep
employees informed and safe during the COVID-19 crisis.
Kinsley is the Operations Lead for DHHS’s COVID-19 Response and has gone above and beyond the call of duty to make sure employee concerns are at the forefront of decision-making.
“Kody Kinsley has made the safety of employees his priority during the crisis,” said SEANC Select Committee on DHHS Issues Chairwoman Sonya Akbar. “His commitment to his employees and his willingness to work with SEANC has been tremendous during the pandemic.”
Kudos to @ncdhhs' @KodyKinsley for receiving @SEANC's Unsung Hero award for his efforts to keep employees informed & safe during the COVID-19 crisis! He lives our values every day, especially being people focused, transparent & communicating proactively.
Dr. Mandy K. Cohen @SecMandyCohen, Twitter July 13, 2020
Kinsley called SEANC “an indispensable partner during these trying times” in accepting the honor.
“Effective and frequent communication is crucial right now, and with things changing so rapidly, SEANC has been a helpful ally and advocate. We have worked very hard to ensure our large team is informed and aware of how their jobs are impacted, how we are working together to serve North Carolinians, and how we are working to prioritize employee safety.”
Hans takes over as UNC System president
The UNC System Board of Governors recently announced that Peter Hans has been selected to take over as president of the 17-campus system.
Hans has worked for the last two years as president of the N.C. Community College System. He also has extensive work experience with the
UNC System, having served three terms on the UNC Board of Governors and been an advisor to the previous UNC President.
“SEANC has developed a strong relationship with Peter Hans in his time with the community college system, and look forward to working
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.
with him in his new role to address concerns of university system employees,” said Mark Dearmon, Chairman of the SEANC Higher Education Committee.
“Our committee has worked closely with the UNC System for the last several years and is excited to continue that in the future as well.”
Kody H. Kinsley, Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health & Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Peter Hans President UNC Systems
Lunch plans? Take a rain check and catch up when the space reopens for gatherings. Knock, knock! Who's there? Please confirm that the restroom is not
MEMBERS IN ACTION
District
Awards Cancellation
Due to COVID-19 and the cancellation of the 2020 SEANC Convention, the state awards will not be presented this year. President Davis is asking that the current state chairs and the members of each committee continue serving for the 2020-21 year.
District 40 donated snack bags for all 732 employees at N.C. Correctional Institution for Women on June 9.
District 57 members and SEANC staff delivered 500 snack bags and signs to Longleaf Neuro-Medical Center on June 17.
District 27 Chairwoman Janet Bunch and member Dana Moore stopped by the SEANC office on June18 to pick up signs for Durham worksites. They’re pictured here with SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins.
District 3 member Janice Smith and Member Relations Representative Johnny Davison gave goodie bags to Watauga County DOT employees on June 11.
President Jimmy Davis and
4 Chair Caroline Dedmon delivered hand sanitizer and hero signs to Rutherford Correctional, Rutherford DOT Maintenance and Equipment and Bridge on July 2.
District 6 provided drinks and snacks for more than 1,500 Broughton Hospital employees during the Staff Appreciation Event on May 27.
District 42 delivered snacks and hand sanitizer to DHHS/DPH Environmental Health Section in Raleigh on June 25.
Pictured above District 19 members dropped off snacks at Orange Correctional on May 28. At right, District 19 Chair Anthony Weaver picked up signs on June 18 to distribute in Orange County.
District 20 participated in Employee Appreciation Day at Scotland Correctional on June 8. The district gave every employee a $10 gift card as a token of appreciation.
District 5 and SEANC staff delivered lunch and signs to the DPS Western Employment Office in Morganton on June 17.
District 46 Chair Regina Norman stopped by the SEANC office on June 18 to get signs to put out at worksites in her district.
During the month of June, Western Representative and District 2 Chair Cliff Johnson and SEANC Member Relations Representative Johnny Davison delivered signs and hand sanitizer to the employees at Black Mountain Substance Abuse Center for Women, Buncombe County DPS Juvenile Justice, Henderson County Juvenile Justice and Probation and Parole, and Buncombe County DOT units. Pictured above (left) is District 2 member Sharon Ruckman. Pictured above (right) is District 2 member Stuart Smith.
Regional
41
8.
District 7 donated 445 plastic bottles of hand sanitizers to J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center (JIRDC) and other facilities in Burke County in late June. District 7 members and JIRDC staff Debra, Olivia, Barbara, Brandy, Jamie and Connie filled the bottles from a 5 ½ gallon of hand sanitizer that Western Regional Representative and District 2 Chair Cliff Johnson helped acquire. Pictured left to right are members Luke Boone and Scott McMahan, who took the bottles to checkpoints for staff distribution.
SEANC LEADERSHIP STATEMENT
The statement below was released in early June along with a call to participate in a moment of silence on Friday, June 5 at 10 a.m.
SEANC has consistently opposed discrimination in all forms. The murder of George Floyd and countless others before him based merely on the color of their skin is horrifying and heartbreaking. More importantly, it cannot continue.
We, the leadership of SEANC, stand as a diverse and united front in condemning structural and institutional racism. We urge all North Carolinians to come together and reject hatred.
As always, SEANC will rise up and stand together in one voice.
Thank you,
President Jimmy Davis Forest City
First Vice President Martha Fowler Mebane
Immediate Past President Stanley Drewery Grifton
Second Vice President Kirk Montgomery Burlington
General Treasurer Chevella L. Thomas Durham
Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women.
State employees are good people. But even good people make mistakes mistakes that violate your rights as a career employee, discriminate against you, or cost you a promotion or job.
I’ve practiced law for over 20 years, including 10 years as a Wake County district court judge. I’ve got the experience you need to guide you through your personnel case.
If you have a grievance, disciplinary appeal, or any state employment matter, call (919) 624-5171 or email me at jennifer@jenniferknoxlaw.com
District
Chair Emily Jones delivered snacks and supplies to Wake Correctional Superintendent Anthony Perry on July 9 for distribution to personnel.
Western
Representative Cliff Johnson of District 2 put out signs in Madison and Yancey Counties on July
June 10 Cliff Johnson drops off signs and sanitizer to the staff at
KEEP CALM and
Avoid Coronavirus Scams
5 things you can do to avoid a COVID-19 scam
Ignore offers for vaccinations and home test kits.
Scammers are selling products to treat or prevent COVID-19 without proof that they work.
UHC waives copays through September
UnitedHealthcare (UHC) announced recently that it would waive copays through September for customers. This is big news for state retirees because UHC is currently the provider for Medicare Advantage plans through the State Health Plan. The move is a response to decreased use of its plans as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
Other items of interest for UHC Medicare Advantage members:
• There will be no cost to members for the treatment of COVID-19 through September.
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• There will be no cost to you for the COVID-19 test. If you think you have been exposed to the virus, contact your primary care provider. Copays and coinsurance are also waived for visits associated with the COVID-19 testing, regardless if care is furnished in a physician’s office, urgent care or emergency room.
• There is no cost for in-network, non-COVID-19 telehealth visits for members.
• UHC is also offering free emotional support for those who feel extra stress or fear due to COVID-19. You can call the Emotional-Support Help Line from Optum at 866-342-6892, TTY 711, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• UHC will expand its Housing+Health and homeless support programs for those served by UnitedHealthcare Medicaid plans, providing individuals with shelf stable food and baby formula, and accelerating funds to state partners and critical providers to serve more people.
Retired recently?
SEANC wants to
Recognize you!
In this time of work-from-home measures, SEANC understands it is hard to celebrate retiring employees. We would like to help by recognizing any member who has retired during the crisis.
If you or a coworker retired during the crisis, we want to know! Go to seanc.org/recentlyretired Complete the form and give us some details. We will recognize your years of service on our social media platforms!
1621 Midtown Place Raleigh, NC 27609
Folwell announces substantial decrease in Medicare Advantage premiums
State Treasurer Dale Folwell and the State Health Plan Board of Trustees announced in mid-June a substantial decrease in premium rates for dependents of Medicare Advantage members for the 2021 benefit year. Medicare-eligible members will continue to enjoy premium-free coverage under the new plan. Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, eligible dependents will have monthly premiums of only $4 for the Medicare Advantage Base Plan.
All members currently covered under UnitedHealthcare will be moved to Humana for the 2021 benefit year, which begins Jan. 1, 2021. Members will continue to have the choice of the Base or Enhanced Plan under Humana as well as the option of the 70/30 Plan, which is administered by
Blue Cross North Carolina.
Open enrollment for 2021 will take place Oct. 15-31.
Currently, members in the Medicare Advantage Base Plan pay monthly premiums of $112 for spousal coverage and $224 for family coverage. For the Enhanced Plan, members currently pay a monthly premium of $256 for spousal coverage and $438 for family coverage. These changes come with benefits that are virtually identical to those of the previous Plan.
In March, the Plan awarded the Medicare Advantage Fully Insured Plan and Related Services contract to Humana. The potential annual cost savings under the new contract will be approximately $197 million or almost $600 million over the course
of the three-year contract.
“I’m thrilled that our Medicareeligible members who teach, protect and otherwise serve can now reap the benefits of this new Humana contract with the ability to add their dependents for only $4 a month,” said Folwell. “Our Medicare Advantage Plans are a great benefit that an entire family can now enjoy for very little cost to members and taxpayers like them, and the same great benefits.”
