Volume 25 Issue 3

March 2015


www.pacounties.org

INSURANCE MATTERS
An e-newsletter of the County Commissioners
Association of Pennsylvania Insurance Programs

 

Owned by Members   Governed by Members   Service to Members
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Last month we started something new in Insurance Matters. In an effort to keep you up to date with all of our insurance programs, we are now including summaries of board meetings. These will typically appear the month after the meeting. We will also include a link to click on and send an email to the staff liaison for each board, in case you have questions, comments or just need more information about the program.

 

We have eight different insurance boards: UC Trust, PCoRP, PComp, PIMCC, PELICAN, COMCARE, COMCARE PRO and the Health Alliance. The Tax Collector Bond program and the COBALT program are overseen by the PCoRP board. We conduct about 22 board meetings a year, along with four meetings of the Joint Investment Committee and about 13 subcommittee meetings.

 

Making this all work is the dedicated service of 95 county or county related entity representatives who serve on these eight boards. This includes commissioners, council members, chief clerks, solicitors, risk managers, HR staff, finance staff, wardens, human services staff, controllers, Nursing Home Administrators, Directors of Nursing and more. Below you will find an updated listing of the members of each board. If you have questions or comments about our programs, please contact me, or provide feedback to the board members.

 

Make sure you contact us when you need help with something,

 

                              John Sallade

COMCARE PRO SAC Meeting Report

  

The Subscribers Advisory Committee (SAC) for COMCARE PRO met on January 28 at CCAP. PRO is an insurance company providing stop loss coverage for HealthChoices behavioral health inpatient care.

 

The SAC approved the 2015 budget and a new finance report that will help identify funds available for investment. As part of the claims report, the SAC approved changes to the PRO claims handling standards that will help strengthen communication with the members. In an effort to catch any impact by Healthy PA on member months, PRO will request updated reporting from members in March and adjust quarterly invoicing accordingly.

 

The SAC also agreed to continue holding the annual subscriber (member) meeting as part of the COMCARE annual training, typically held in State College in September or October. Subscribers will be notified as soon as the date and location are determined.

 

Questions about the COMCARE PRO SAC meeting should be directed to Christie Ward.

PELICAN SAC Meeting Report
 

The Subscribers Advisory Committee (SAC) for PELICAN met on January 29 at CCAP. PELICAN is PACAH's insurance program for nursing home liability, and is administered by CCAP.

 

The major agenda item for the meeting was to set the rates for the program for the 2015/2016 policy year. The SAC agreed to set its skilled bed rate at $350, the same as last year. However, with the reduction in Mcare rates this year, members will see an overall rate decrease. Also, the SAC agreed to raise its Loss Control credit from three percent to five percent, which means members will have additional savings available to them. The SAC also directed PELICAN staff to review the potential savings that might be available by increasing its Self-Insured Retention for the next policy year.

  

The SAC also elected its officers for 2015:

 

President: Kelly Andrisano

Executive Director, PACAH

 

Vice President: Marlin Peck
Administrator of Pleasant Acres
Nursing and
Rehab Center

 

Secretary/Treasurer: John Sallade

Managing Director, Insurance Programs, CCAP 

 

The SAC will meet next on May 14, 2015. Questions about the meeting should be directed to Dave Harman.

14th Annual PA Workers' Compensation Conference  
  

The 14th Annual Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Conference will be held on June 1-2, 2015 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center. Presented by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers' Compensation, the event includes knowledgeable and experienced speakers, respected in their field, who provide the latest information on Pennsylvania's workers' compensation program.

 

Representatives from the Bureau of Workers' Compensation, the Office of Adjudication, the insurance industry, employers, claimant and defense counsel, labor and the health care industry come together at the conference to share their knowledge and experience with the workers' compensation community. Over 1,300 were in attendance at the 2014 event. Attendees may also visit with 100 vendors in the exhibit hall to learn about their workers' compensation-related goods and services.

 

Complete conference information may be found here.


Questions about the conference should be directed to
Jaime Deimler, PA Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Workers' Compensation, 1171 South Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104-2501, (717) 886-9044.
2015 Insurance Boards  

 

As noted in the opening article of this newsletter, here are the members who take responsibility for the direction of CCAP's insurance programs. We owe them a great deal of appreciation.

 

CCAP HEALTH ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
   Representatives of the Members

      June Sorg (Elk County Commissioner),

         Chairwoman (2015)

      Erick Coolidge (Tioga County Commissioner),
          Vice Chairman (2016)

      Trisha Douglas (Clarion County Director of HR),
          Secretary/Treasurer (2015)

      Gail Kipp (Columbia County Chief Clerk) (2016)

      Basil Huffman (Forest County Commissioner
         (2015)

      Steve Howsare (SW Regional Planning Comm.
         Executive Director)(2016)

 

   Appointed by CCAP

      Arnie Wetzel (Berks County HR Director)
         (2016)

      Fred Cechman (C.M.S.U. MH/MR Finance
          Director) (2015)

      Tiffany Bloyer (Franklin County Director of
          Human Resources) (2015)

      Karen King (Lawrence County Director of
          Personnel) (2016)

      Tim Boyde (Centre County Administrator (2015)

      Matt McConnell (Mercer County Commissioner)

      One vacancy

 

COMCARE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
   Appointed Members
   
CCAP Members:
      
Joseph DeMott, Jr. (McKean County
          Commissioner) (12/31/15)
      
Wylie Norton (Sullivan County Commissioner)
           (12/31/16)

       One vacancy (12/31/16)
 
   PACDAA Member:
      
Rick Kastner (Executive Director Lancaster
          County Drug and Alcohol
Commission)
           (12/31/16), Secretary/Treasurer

    PACA MH/DS Member:
      
Gerard Mike (MH Administrator, Beaver
          County) (12/31/15)

 
   
Elected Members
   
County Commissioners:

      Two Vacant Seats (12/31/15)

   Individual with Managed Care Expertise:
      
Scott Suhring (CEO, Capital Area Behavioral
         Health Collaborative)
(12/31/15), Vice
         Chairman
    

   At Large Members:
     
Patricia Valentine (Executive Deputy Director
         for Integrated Program
Services,
         Allegheny County) (12/31/15)
      
Jonna DiStefano (Executive Director, Delaware
         County HS) (12/31/15),
Chairwoman

 

COMCARE PRO Subscribers' Advisory Committee

     Scott Suhring (CEO, Capital Area Behavioral
        Health Collaborative) (2015),
President

     Allison Frantz, (Director, Department of Human
        Services, Northampton
County) (2015),
        Vice President

     Jonna DiStefano (Executive Director, Delaware
        County Human Services)
(2017)
    
Rick Kastner (Executive Director Lancaster
        County Drug and Alcohol
Commission
        (2017)

     Jim Gallagher, (CEO, Northeastern Behavioral
        Health Care Consortium)
(2016)
     
Dave McAdoo (Executive Director, Southwest
        Behavioral Health Management,
Inc.) (2017)

     Derick White (SRS, Vermont Resident) (2017)

     One vacancy (2015)

 

DEFERRED COMPENSATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
    
Paul Corbin (Jefferson County Commissioner),
        Chairman
    
Dennis Stuckey (Lancaster County Commissioner)
    
Mark Scott (Berks County Commissioner)
    
Daryl Miller (Bradford County Commissioner)
    
Mark Lessig (Crawford County Administrator)
    
Dominick Carnicella (Fayette County HR Director)
    
Charles Martin (Franklin County HR Associate)
    
Kevin Kodish (Mifflin County Commissioner)
    
Stephen Bridy (Northumberland County
        Commissioner)
     R
oger Bunn (Tioga County Commissioner)

 

PComp BOARD OF DIRECTORS

   Appointed By CCAP (All terms expire 12/31/15)

      Jim Martin (Adams County Commissioner)

      Doug McLinko (Bradford County Commissioner)

      Joan McMillen (Clearfield County Commissioner)

      Dan Vogler (Lawrence County Commissioner),
         Chairman

      Naomi English (Sullivan County Chief Clerk)

      Derek Williams (Tioga County Chief Clerk)

      Vicky Botjer (Wayne County Chief Clerk)
    

   Elected By Members (All terms expire 12/31/16)

      Al Ambrosini (Fayette County Commissioner)
         2, 2A, 3rd & 4th
Classes)

      Patricia Evanko (Indiana County
         Commissioner) (6th Class), Vice
Chairman

      Kirt Morris (Bedford County Commissioner)
          6th Class)

      Dee Robinson (Union County Chief Clerk) (7th
          and 8th Class),
Secretary/Treasurer

      Jean Zore (Elk County Chief Clerk) (At Large)

      Otis Riden (Mifflin County Commissioner) 
          (At Large)

 

   Appointed by the PComp Board

      Pam Humbert (Bedford - Somerset MH/MR HR
         Director), County -
Related Entities
         Representative

      Rosemary Orner (SEDA-COG, Executive
         Assistant, Management),
County-Related
         Entities Representative

                   

PCoRP BOARD OF DIRECTORS

   Appointed By CCAP (All terms expire 12/31/15)

      Frank Staudenmeier (Schuylkill County
         Commissioner), Chairman

      Gail Kipp (Columbia County Chief Clerk), Vice
          Chairwoman

      Bill Gaylord (Wyoming County Chief Clerk),
           Secretary/Treasurer

      Paul Crooks (Bedford County Commissioner
      J
amie Wolgemuth (Lebanon County Chief Clerk)

      Paul L. Rudy, Jr. (Perry County Commissioner)

      Erick Coolidge (Tioga County Commissioner)

                                                            

   Elected By Members (All terms expire 12/31/16)

      Tyler Courtney (Westmoreland County
         Commissioner) (2A & 3rd Class)

      Krista Middleton (Centre County Risk
         Management Coordinator) (4th &
5th Class)

      June Sorg (Elk County Commissioner) (6th
          Class)

      Norm Wimer (Forest County Commissioner)
           (7th & 8th Class)

      Dee Robinson (Union County Chief Clerk) (At
            Large)

      Gary O'Korn (Huntingdon County
            Commissioner) (At Large)
 

                   

PELICAN Subscribers Advisory Committee
    
Class A Members
       
Kelly Andrisano (Executive Director, PACAH
           (2017), President
       
James Aurand (Administrator, Susque-View
           Home) (2016)

        Dennis Biondo (Executive Director, John J. Kane
           (Centers) (2015)
       
Terry Brennan (Administrator, Berks Heim)
           (2015)

        Diane Cleary (Vermont Director) (2016)

        Molly Hess (Administrator, Philadelphia Nursing
           Home) (2015)

        Marlin Peck (Administrator, York County Home)
           (2017), Vice President

        Edna Youngster (Risk Management
           Coordinator/Investigative Nurse,
           (
Gracedale Nursing Home) (2017)

     

     Class B Members

        Andrew Naugle (Administrator, Saxony Health
           Center), (2016)

 

PUBLIC INSTITUTION MEDICAL COST CONTAINMENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS (PIMCC)
    
Appointed Members (term ends 12/31/16)
       
Dave Kovach (Columbia County Commissioner),
           Chairman
       
Eloise Ahner (Carbon County Administrator)
       
Kevin Deparlos (Lycoming County Warden)

        Kevin Kodish (Mifflin County Commissioner)

           (Act 22 Representative), Vice Chairman
       
Terry Browning (Tioga County Warden)

 
    
Elected Members (term ends 12/31/15)
       
Michelle Shedden (Bradford County Chief
           Clerk), Secretary/Treasurer
        
Jeff Hornberger (Clarion County Warden)
       
Andrea McCue (Lancaster County Chief Clerk)
           (Act 22 Representative)
       
Bruce Herdman (Philadelphia Prison System
           Chief of Medical
Operations) (Act 22
           Representative)
       
Dominick DeRose (Dauphin County Warden)
           (Act 22 Representative)
 

 

CCAP UC TRUSTEES

     Appointed By CCAP

        Derek Williams (Tioga County Chief Clerk)
           (12/31/16), Chairman

        Kevin Barnhardt (Berks County Commissioner)
           (12/31/15)

        Mark Agutter (Bradford County HR director)
           (12/31/16)

        Travis Monroe (Bucks County Interim Human
           Resources Director)
(12/31/15)

        Robb Green (York County Controller)
           (12/31/16)

                      

     Elected By Members

        Ed Dimattio (Erie County Council Member), 2A
           and 3rd Classes
Representative (12/31/15)
       
Chuck Witmer (Centre County Controller) 4th
           and 5th Classes
Representative (12/31/15)

        Butch Campbell (Clarion County
           Commissioner), 6th Class
Representative,
           12/31/16), Vice Chairman
       
Ron Williams (Wyoming County Commissioner),
           7th and 8th Class
Representative (12/31/15),
           Secretary

        Jeff Thomas (Huntingdon County
           Commissioner), At Large
Representative
           (12/31/16)

Spring Workshops are Right Around the Corner!  
By Linda Rosito, Insurance Training Director
The spring season of workshops held by the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania Insurance Programs begins this month. We have a great spring workshop season planned for you! Spring Registration has a new look and is now open! Please Register Online . If you have any issues or questions about the new process, please contact us .

 

As with every workshop season we like to offer topics we receive from our attendees as well as hot topic items. We truly value your ideas and suggestions.

 

Here is the workshop schedule for this spring. 

 

MARCH
26 Defensive Driving Course
APRIL
1 Controlling B20:B39Workers Compensation Costs
2 KEYS: What Were They Thinking?
7 Prioritize, Organize and Simplify
7 KEYS: What Were They Thinking?
10 PCoRP Loss Control Workshop
15 KEYS: Engaging Your Staff and Improving Morale
16 Defensive Driving Course
16 Prioritize, Organize and Simplify
21 Defensive Driving Course
23 Prioritize, Organize and Simplify
23 Polish Your Skills as a Spokesman
28 Applying Incident Command System and the "All Hazards" Approach to Emergency Management
30 KEYS: HR Boot Camp
MAY
5 Prioritize, Organize and Simplify
5 KEYS: What Were They Thinking?
12 KEYS: Engaging Your Staff and Improving Morale
13 KEYS: What Were They Thinking?
20 Maintenance Workshop
21 Prison Risk Management Workshop
29 County Risk Managers Council
JUNE
3 County Risk Managers Council

We have added a Defensive Driving Class (DDC) to the western part of the state. Just a reminder these courses are now free to members of PComp, PCoRP and COBALT. There's a follow up training to our popular active shooter session last spring. This workshop, Applying the Incident Command System and the "All Hazards" Approach to Emergency Management, will be held in State College.

 

If you have not already received your copy of the spring Glimpse you should be receiving that this week. Inside the Glimpse there are descriptions, locations, dates and times of all our training programs for the spring. If you would like additional copies, please contact us.

 

Please keep in mind that most of our training sessions are free (if sponsored by an insurance program in which your employer is a member) AND for PCoRP, PComp and UC Trust members you can SAVE MONEY off your insurance costs by attending training sessions. If you aren't sure if your county is a member of these programs please refer to the Member Listing.

 

We continue our partnership with the Academy for Excellence in County Government and are offering several opportunities for both required courses as well as electives. For additional information please refer to Upcoming Academy Events.

 

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact Linda Rosito or Jenn James at (800) 895-9039.

 

Thank you for your continued support of the CCAP Insurance Programs trainings.

 

We hope to see you this spring! 

Best Practices Tip -

Unemployment Benefit Eligibility Determination: When to Appeal  

By Equifax, Claims Administrator for the CCAP UC Trust
  

Purpose of the Appeal Process

 

Eligibility for unemployment compensation, benefit amounts and the length of time benefits are available are determined by state law. The appeal process affords both the employers and the claimants the opportunity to request a review of how those eligibility rules were applied to a specific employment separation or change in employment status.

 

Claim Responses vs. Appeals

 

Responding to unemployment claims with information describing a separation of employment or a change in status is necessary to assist state agencies in making accurate eligibility decisions. While you may respond to a claim with all the facts, the facts of your separation may not be sufficient to meet the state guidelines for a disqualification or a non-charge to your account. In contrast to the claim response, an appeal is your request for the state to assign a hearing officer to review the facts of a particular case because you believe the eligibility rules have not been properly applied. Requesting an appeal is not always necessary for every eligibility determination.

 

When to Appeal

 

If you disagree with a decision that the claimant is allowed benefits or that your unemployment account is subject to charges on a particular claim and wish to file an appeal, you will need to present evidence to support your argument that the state's decision is incorrect. For example, in a Voluntary Quit case, you will need to argue that the claimant did not have good cause to quit, and in a Discharge case, you will need to prove the employee's discharge was for misconduct. As the appealing party, you bear the responsibility to provide the evidence that supports your position. This can be done effectively with:

  • First hand witness testimony
  • A written resignation
  • Warning notices
  • An admission by the claimant
  • Written policy prohibiting the claimant's actions
  • The claimant's acknowledgement of receipt of the policy 

Tip: What you think may have happened is not nearly as important as what you can prove.

 

Keep in mind that witness statements, even if properly authenticated, are hearsay and may not be sufficient to meet the burden of proof. If a claimant appears and denies the contents, the claimant's first-hand testimony will typically outweigh the employer's written statements. First hand testimony is always the strongest evidence.

 

Voluntary Resignations (Good Cause)

 

While the burden for showing good cause rests with the claimant, it's best to be prepared to offer an argument that good cause did not exist or the reason the claimant gave for quitting is not factually correct. Here are some common issues that make winning quit cases more difficult:

  • No documentation regarding the reason the claimant left employment
  • An employer significantly changed the claimant's work hours, pay or job duties
  • An employer took no action to investigate employee complaints of unsafe work conditions or harassment
  • An employer gave an employee the choice of resigning or being discharged 

Discharges (Misconduct)

 

For purposes of unemployment eligibility, a single instance of most policy violations will not be considered misconduct, but rather repeated violations of the same rule or policy after being warned. Not all violations of company policy are misconduct. Claimants who are discharged for poor job performance are rarely denied benefits unless you can prove the claimant was able to do the job to your satisfaction and did not. Following are some common issues that result in employers losing discharge cases:

  • No final warning
  • Not following stated company discipline policy
  • No documentation of past policy violations
  • Not taking disciplinary action within a reasonable time after the policy violation
  • Discharge for an accumulation of incidents as opposed to for a specific final incident 

Deciding to Appeal

 

If you disagree with the eligibility decision and you have documentation and testimony to support your argument, a formal appeal and request for hearing can be filed. If all relevant documentary evidence was not already submitted with the claim response, it should be submitted with the appeal. Once the notice of appeal has been received, prepare to present your case. Understanding when to file an appeal will help to conserve your organization's time and resources while achieving the best possible results.

 

NOTE: UC Trust Members should discuss the option to appeal with your Equifax Claim Representative first. Once the notice of appeal has been received, your Equifax claim and hearing consultants will be able to help you prepare to present your case or assign an experienced hearing representative to assist you.

 

For more information about the unemployment claim process, Equifax Workforce Solutions or the CCAP UC Trust, contact Julia Jackson at CCAP Insurance Programs, (800) 895-9039.

Poison Prevention Tips 

by Maureen McMahon, CPS, ARM, Loss Control
Specialist 

National Poison Prevention Week, the third week in March each year, is a week nationally designated to highlight the dangers of poisonings and how to prevent them.

Unless noted, the safety tips below were adapted from the American Association of Poison Control Centers' poison prevention tips for children and adults and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website.

DRUGS AND MEDICINE

Only take prescription medications that are prescribed to you by a healthcare professional. Misusing or abusing prescription or over-the-counter medications is not a "safe" alternative to illicit substance abuse.

Never take larger or more frequent doses of your medications, particularly prescription pain medications, to try to get faster or more powerful effects.

Never share or sell your prescription drugs. Keep all prescription medicines (especially prescription painkillers, such as those containing methadone, hydrocodone, or oxycodone), over-the-counter medicines (including pain or fever relievers and cough and cold medicines), vitamins and herbals in a safe place that can only be reached by people who take or give them.

Follow directions on the label when you give or take medicines. Read all warning labels. Some medicines cannot be taken safely when you take other medicines or drink alcohol.

Turn on a light when you give or take medicines at night so that you know you have the correct amount of the right medicine.

Keep medicines in their original bottles or containers.

Monitor the use of medicines prescribed for children and teenagers, such as medicines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.1

HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS

Always read the label before using a product that may be poisonous.

Keep chemical products in their original bottles or containers. Do not use food containers such as cups, bottles, or jars to store chemical products such as cleaning solutions or beauty products.

Never mix household products together. For example, mixing bleach and ammonia can result in toxic gases.

Wear protective clothing (gloves, long sleeves, long pants, socks, shoes) if you spray pesticides or other chemicals.

Turn on the fan and open windows when using chemical products such as household clean

BE PREPARED

Put the poison help number, 1-800-222-1222, on or near every home telephone and save it on your cell phone. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

BE SMART AND STORAGE

Store all medicines and household products up and away and out of sight in a cabinet where a child cannot reach them.

When you are taking or giving medicines or are using household products:

Do not put your next dose on the counter or table where children can reach them-it only takes seconds for a child to get them.

If you have to do something else while taking medicine, such as answer the phone, take any young children with you.

Secure the child safety cap completely every time you use a medicine.

After using them, do not leave medicines or household products out.  As soon as you are done with them, put them away and out of sight in a cabinet where a child cannot reach them.

Be aware of any legal or illegal drugs that guests may bring into your home. Ask guests to store drugs where children cannot find them.  Children can easily get into pillboxes, purses, backpacks or coat pockets.

OTHER TIPS

Do not call medicine "candy."

Identify poisonous plants in your house and yard and place them out of reach of children or remove them.

ALERTS

Bath Salts-Synthetic cathinones, or "bath salts" are powerful drugs that can cause hallucinations and violent behavior.

E-Cigarette Devices and Liquid Nicotine-Poison centers report an uptick in electronic cigarettes and liquid nicotine exposures.

Energy Drinks-Energy drinks can be dangerous for children or adolescents.

Laundry Detergent Packets-Highly concentrated "single-load liquid laundry packets" can cause serious harm to young children.

WHAT TO DO IF A POISONING OCCURS

Remain calm.

Call 911 if you have a poison emergency and the victim has collapsed or is not breathing. If the victim is awake and alert, dial 1-800-222-1222. Try to have this information ready:

  • victim's age and weight
  • container or bottle of the poison if available
  • time of the poison exposure
  • address where the poisoning occurred

Stay on the phone and follow the instructions from the emergency operator or poison control center.

For more information, contact the CCAP Loss Control Department at (800) 895-9039; or email us at:  

Gary Nicholson, Loss Control Services Manager

Maureen McMahon, Loss Control Specialist

Andrew Smith, Loss Control Specialist

Dennis Cutler, Loss Control Specialist

Upcoming Events
 
March 24, 2015
COMCARE Board Meeting
Hilton Harrisburg
  
April 10, 2015
PCoRP Board Meeting
The Penn Stater, St. College
  
April 17, 2015
Health Alliance
CCAP, Harrisburg

HOT TOPIC

 

Builders Risk  

Possibly because counties don't undergo construction projects every year, the issue of insurance coverage during a major renovation or construction of a new building does not come up much. Don't wait until a claim occurs to find out you don't have the correct coverage.

 

Generally, your property insurance does not include things that happen during a construction project. An example of a questionable claim would be theft of materials from a cell tower under construction. If the county owns the land, is this the responsibility of the county? Or the construction company?

 

A special type of insurance coverage, called Builders Risk, is what you need. It can be purchased by the contractor or the county, and is designed to cover materials on site, damage to the building under construction and more. Make sure you talk to the county's insurance producer for advice before seeking contracts for construction.

 

PCoRP members do have coverage for construction projects up to $250,000 in value. This limit applies to new construction projects only, renovations and remodeling of existing locations is covered up to PCoRP's full property limits. Many other carriers do not offer coverage for renovations/remodeling and require separate builders risk policies for a renovation/remodeling exposure.

 

For more information, contact Karen Cohen at CCAP.

Quote of the Month

 

"There must be a happy medium somewhere between being totally informed

a nd b lissfully unaware."
  
- Doug Larson
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Contact Us: John Sallade, Managing Director, CCAP Insurance Programs