The simple answer is not much progress.
Council president James Green promised at a Sept. 13 council meeting that the Perkins administration would meet with representatives of the Willis Knighton last week ( Sept. 19 - 23).
No meeting was scheduled in response to inquiry by WK. Supposedly it is to happen this week (Sept. 26 - 30).
The Health Care Trust Fund Board (HCTFB) has a meeting this Fri., Sept 30 at 3 p.m. in the council chambers at Government Plaza.
The Perkins administration has advised that "the proposed three-tier plan was not approved, additional options for the related savings of approximately $700,000 will be introduced including a revised 3-tier plan and a 2-tier plan.
"The following changes were adopted by the HCFTB meeting and approved by the council:
Group Medicare Blue Advantage Plan , which will be optional for retirees
Prescription Savings Plan
Increase Employee Contributions by 5%
Adoption of Standard as ancillary benefits provider
Adoption of Total Benefits Solutions as Benefit Administrator System."
Ads run the Sun. Sept 18 and Sept. 26 Shreveport Times by Ochsner appears to reflect the 3-tier plan that was NOT adopted by the HCTFB.
Seemingly the best solution to this growing health insurance quagmire is to require Blue Cross/Ochsner and Aetna/Wk present their final and best offer to the HCTFB. This would allow the board to select the plan with both the greatest savings and inclusion for city employees and retirees.
Seemingly the HCTFB and the Perkins administration have only focussed on dollar savings with no consideration of the plight of retirees who have had no cost of living adjustments to retiree pay for over 20 years.
This attitude is repugnant to the pleas for more police and fire, while many of those retirees have incurred substantial health issues related to their service for the city.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.