On Friday, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure vetoed a narrowly adopted ordinance that essentially kills an exclusive health center proposed for county workers and their families. The ordinance was adopted December 1 by a 5-4 vote. Council President Lori Vargo Heffner, a Democrat, joined all four Republicans to vote for this ordinance. It was opposed by Council members Kevin Lott and Tara Zrinski, Council members Ron Heckman and Kerry Myers abstained.
It's pretty clear that County Council does not feel it has enough information at this point to support an exclusive health center. But the ordinance adopted contained misstatements of fact and imposed insurmountable burdens.
The health center proposed would be voluntary and offer same-day appointments as well as a wide variety of medical services that are simply unavailable at other primary care facilities. It would save between $1.44 million and $1.76 million in healthcare costs paid by the county.
Though he apparently fails to realize it, County Council member John Brown actually made the case for a health center. He started off by acknowledging, as a former Exec, the challenge that rising health costs pose. He noted that, in 2017, the County spent $11.3 million for employee health care. He noted that the total cost in 2023 is projected at $32 million. Brown's solution to rising medical costs was to reduce what was available, which nearly caused a revolt by workers. "Without doing something, and we must do something, we're on track in the next two or three years to spend $40 million a year for health care costs. ... For $100 million that we collect in taxes, $40 million of that will go to healthcare. So we need to do something." In 2017, healthcare costs averaged $16,000 per employee. In 2023, he projected it would be $24,000.
After saying that the county must do something, he voted for an ordinance that does nothing.
Without saying so, it appears that the County Council members who supported this ordinance would rather see an increase in co-pays and employee contributions to healthcare than a health center that caters to the worker and his family. When he was Executive, that's exactly what John Brown did and that's exactly what the then Republican County Council supported. McClure and the Democrats who see through this mischief are trying to help both the employee and taxpayer by reducing healthcare costs without penalizing employees.
27 comments:
I thought the County Council serves as a check to the Administration. Couldn't they simply not fund the program?
Gee whiz. Most of us on Medicare must pay copays but we are supposed to support a giveaway benefit to county employees with our tax dollars? Who the hell are they to be treated better than us who have paid county property taxes for over 40 years?
"I thought the County Council serves as a check to the Administration. Couldn't they simply not fund the program?"
Correct. There was simply no need for this ordinance. County Council clearly is not ready to support this initiative, but this ordinance basically is an attempt to close the barn dooor before the horse is even in it.
"Gee whiz. Most of us on Medicare must pay copays but we are supposed to support a giveaway benefit to county employees with our tax dollars? Who the hell are they to be treated better than us who have paid county property taxes for over 40 years?"
It is a program that actually is designed to save the county taxpayer money. Your county tax dollars are what pay for employee health benefits, and this program is projected to reduce that cost substantially.
What a hypocrite. Yesterday you praised and endorsed Tom Giovanni and want him reelected and today you are slamming his ordinance. Which is it and no I don't agree on everything bullshit. You are claiming he wants to kill this McClure project and raise taxes. This ordinance doesn't kill anything, it merely requires honest due diligence. Stop carrying his water.
This was hidden until just a few months ago, pushed with no soliciting bids and no real proof of any real savings. Is the cost savings guaranteed in the contract? County Council needs to stop McClures constant power grabs and override his veto, otherwise they are just his boot lickers.
How about some real-world wages for employees instead of this scam.
12:39, You practice the politics of division and could learn a thing or two from Tom Giovanni. I can support someone while disagreeing with his position on several issues. If I had to agree with an elected official on everything, I'd soon support no one. I support people who are transparent, accountable and willing to work with others. There is nothing remotely hypocritical about that. You, on the other hand, can basically support no one but those who agree with you on everything.
The ordinance most certainly is an attempt to kill the health center before there's even been a formal proposal. I understand those on Council who say they are not ready to support this yet and that they need to evaluate things a but more. That's one thing. What this ordinance does is keep moving the goalposts to make it impossible. It starts out with a lie, claiming there's been no projection of costs, when in fact there has been. It insists that, even though there's been one positive survey, another one must be done that goes into detail even though there is no way employees can be forced to respond. It demands competitive bidding even though I am aware of no entity that offers the same services proposed by Integrity. Not St Lukes. Not LVHN. The demand for competitive bidding is reasonable ion most instances, but here it is just being used to keep moving those goalposts farther down the field.
This was not hidden until just a few months ago. There have been two presentations and two memoranda have been supplied to County Council, addressing questions. McClure has not asked for contract approval, just concept approval. Nothing has been rushed.
This is by no means a power grab. How on earth is an employee health center a power grab? That's absurd. It in no way increases his power or authority. What it does do is provide a convenience that employees might use and like, as they have at five other locations. What it does is help the taxpayer. Employee health costs are rising, and this is an attempt to get them under control without burdening the employee or taxpayer. It actually will save the taxpayer money.
As for real-world wages, I have long supported a pay study. But I think it absurd that County Council is limiting its pay study to just the 33% of the staff who are nonunion. That totally defeats the purpose.
What those who oppose the health center really want to do is shift the cost of health care to the backs of county employees. That's what Brown did when he was Exec, and it's pretty clear that he'd like to see it done again. Rather than trying a health center, he wants to increase your co-pays as he did before and increase your contribution to health insurance as he did before.
So let's be clear about what's really going on here.
Put the exact cash savings in writing? Won't happen. Not even a minimum amount.
The concept is fine. The process has not been transparent or competitive. The baby needn't be thrown out with the bath water. But you've jumped into a bunker to defend a good idea, poorly executed, because you're carrying Lamont's water again. Get over it and come to the middle. You exemplify what's gone wrong with political discourse. But typing the Brown snark had to feel good last night, huh.
Brown is not the sharpest tool but a useful one at times. He can be friend and foe..all at once and can do it in one breath..one sentence. Gotta thank our
Exec. for vetoing this attempt to kill an idea whose time has come and it will save taxpayer money. R's are just out to block any attempt at reform that makes sense especially from a Dem. Vargo needs to step down as prez. as she is totally out of touch with reality.
Most acute illnesses in folks do not require an immediate same day appointment and will result in unneeded treatment when medical staff feel pressured to "give me something" intervention. Sometimes tincture of time and just stay home and rest a day works wonders. To suppress the symptoms of an acute illness so someone continues working just results in everyone getting the illness. County workers have plenty of paid time off to get needs met by existing services. Copays rein in some of the need for "immediate" relief.
Why are county employees entitled to cost savings unavailable to seniors on Medicare or for that matter most private health care plans. I have to pay a $20 or $30 copay for each doctor visit. And county employees can access this proposed health center as often as they want with no copay? How is that fair to county taxpayers, especially those on fixed incomes?
"Put the exact cash savings in writing? Won't happen. Not even a minimum amount."
It has been put in savings. You just don't read much. You rely on Fox News and AM talk radio. The annual savings to the county is projected at $1.44 million to $1.76 million.
"Why are county employees entitled to cost savings unavailable to seniors on Medicare or for that matter most private health care plans. I have to pay a $20 or $30 copay for each doctor visit. And county employees can access this proposed health center as often as they want with no copay? How is that fair to county taxpayers, especially those on fixed incomes?"
It's fair bc it keeps your property tax bill from going up.
"Vargo needs to step down as prez. as she is totally out of touch with reality."
There is some unnecessary animosity between Vargo Heffner and the Exec bc she would like to be the next Exec. She is letting politics get in the way of good governance. She ran on a slate opposed to Brown's policies and now is unwittingly embracing them. She needs to seek an ethics opinion on a possible conflict in this matter. If there is no conflict, I have no problem with wanting to be careful before plunging into a major financial commitment. But as I understand things, McClure has sought approval of the concept, not a specific contract. She has refused to allow this proposal from the Exec to go to Council in violation of the Home Rule Charter as well as the Sunshine Act. There's a difference between being a check on the Exec's unbridled power and a roadblock that prevents anything. Lately, she is a roadblock instead of a check.
As for her leadership, she has basically done a good job running meetings.
Vargo's minimum interaction as to council meetings should be to facilitate discussions! A county sec. could run the meeting with an agenda in hand. Lori is trying to grab the reins away from the Exec. and that is not her job! She is not the queen of the county! Watch the expenditures and help council reach consensus. Democracy frowns on dictators!
Typical American individualism. If I can’t benefit from it neither, then no one gets it.
And this might come to a surprise to you but county employees pay real estate taxes in Northampton county as well. We actually also pay City of Easton taxes, even though most of us don’t live in the City.
Ah, yes. Pennsylvania conservatives never fail to be predictable when they question and fight against any programs designed to help other working class residents in their county.
Trust me, you spend more on your spiked slushies from Pavlish beverage than you’ll ever spend on this health center. SMH.
"You exemplify what's gone wrong with political discourse. But typing the Brown snark had to feel good last night, huh."
I reported accurately what he said about the rising healthcare costs. He did vote to do nothing about it after specifically saying the county needed to do something. Regardless whether this is a snark, it is an accurate account of what happened.
He actually said a bit more. He bragged he was able to effect more savings by increasing co-pays and employee contributions, and that all it cost him was a $30k consultant fee (no bid). I could and probably should have included his bragging in my story.
So it's very clear to anyone who watched his remarks at that meeting that he wants to screw the county worker. Three Rs and one Dem are making his solution more likely.
McClure might be a cheap bastard who is unwilling to pay people, but he has long recognized the importance of providing good medical care to workers as an offset to such shitty wages.
Exactly. When John Brown was in office, he thought it was a good idea to extort more money from the already poor county employees, and we happily voted his dumbass out of office.
Bernie, you nailed it with this story.
Talk about "INCOMPETENCE". If what you state about John Brown stating he paid a consultant $30K as a consultant fee (no Bid) is factual, He got bad advice. Once you come to work for the County your benefits are considered part of your wages and may not be reduced/diminished in any way. This has been challenged in the courts and upheld on every challenge. Employee benefits may be changed however, but only if their benefits are improved. Unions benefits must be negotiated and the results (contract) approved by Council.
Shame on John Brown. He and his legal staff should Know better.
You and McClure have made it almost certain that council will slow down this arrogant and autorotative secret contract. Your character acetalization of Ms. Hefener has already annoyed the overwhelming majority of council Except for McClure's reliable bobbleheads the rest are aware of your game. You continue to make it sound as if Hefenr is somehow breaking laws, yet council's real attorney disagrees. Inserted of your continual attacks on council why not discuss why the other Pa county solicited bids from five or six companies before picking this one. McClure and his crew never bothered and just announced this is the company. Why? What was secretly discussed and-promised? Any issues with that.
Also, if not overturned I know council has no intention of giving McClure cover on a silly resolution he doesn't need to do what he assays says he can do anyway.
You guys may have snatched defeat from Victory with your evil game.
Ms. Shafinsky,
First, stop trying to dictate your messages so that you can post messages that actually make sense.
Second, Ms. Vargo-Heffner's refusal to submit an Executive resolution to Council is both a violation of the HRC as well as the Sunshine Act. Under the HRC, the Exec has the duty to "recommend such matters for legislative action as may be in the best interests of the County." Dec. See Sec. 302(3). She has arbitrarily taken that away. Moreover she has taken this official action without a public meeting. This violates the Sunshine Act. She clearly is breaking two laws. I have no idea whether the Council Solicitor has been asked about this, but he should check it out between slices of pizza. I am less sanguine whether she has a conflict as a matter of law, but she needs to reach out to the Ethics Commission. The advisory opinions I have read convince me she is conflicted.
Third, since when would I ever give a rat's ass what anyone on Council thinks of me? I am not here to be their pals. I am here to cast a spotlight on what is going on in government. Most people in government don't like that. Too bad.
Fourth, the Exec has resisted having this matter competitively bid, but so what? Council can insist on it and just refuse to endorse any contract unless it is competitively bid. There's no need for a separate ordinance when the Admin Code already spells out how things are done.
Fifth, McClure took this matter to Council once he was persuaded himself and knew that it was popular with the workers. He has hidden nothing. Your suggestion of some sort of secret deal is insulting ,especially coming from a body that has taken official action on Exec proposals without a public meeting. If anyone is acting secretly, it is you.
The bottom line here is that McClure is trying to do his job by reducing the costs of medical care by $1.77 million with a voluntary and exclusive health center. He is trying to save money, both for the worker and the taxpayer. Council member John Brown would rather see it done by increasing co-pays and employee contributions to healthcare even though that is illegal.
At least five members of Council want to give its workers the shaft, just as Brown did when he was Exec. So let's be clear about what is really going on here.
Let's see how that plays out in next year's district races.
It would be nice if access to this proposed health center could be extended to retired NORCO employees too young to qualify for Medicare.
I don't have confidence in that. Always think twice when somebody tells you they're going to save you money. Something smells fishy to me.
"It would save between $1.44 million and $1.76 million in healthcare costs paid by the county"
If that is true put it in the contrafact with a penalty of not reached. They won't and you know it. All promises, ifs and smoke.
Really? Would you support the health center if the actual contract did make a connection between payments and savings? Or would you move the goalposts again? It five members of County Council indicate they would support this if there was some sort of contractual connection between savings and payment, I think this would be a done deal. But it is clear to me that some members of County Council are opposed to this no matter what. Goffredo, for example, has been unalterably opposed. Brown recognizes something must be done, but seems to think that increasing employee co-pays and employee contributions to healthcare is the only solution. Vargo-Heffner is conflicted but insists on weighing in anyway, and wants to see multiple bidders and feels rushed even though Council has had this proposal since August. She also would like to be county exec and would hate to vote for anything that might actually work and make McClure look good. Cusick and Giovanni have been relatively quiet but no doubt have no desire to counter their GOP colleagues. In addition, the Rs like Vargo-Heffner are leery of voting for something that might actually work bc it would hand McClure another argument in favor of re-election. In short, some of the opposition to this is political. There's been little in the way of Council support. Zrinski is probably McClure's biggest rubber stamp, but is terrible when she attempts to argue points. She would do well to speak a little less. Lott, quite frankly, has often been MIA. Heckman is all over the place, trying to agree with everyone. Myers voted against this ordinance, but has actually spoken against the health center in most of his pronouncements.
If you take the politics away and look at this issue solely on its merits, it represents a novel approach to reducing healthcare costs in a way that county employees might actually appreciate. There are only one real question: will this really save money? That should be what guides Council instead of politics. If Council wants to know if it saves money, it can (1) speak to the actuaries like John Hopkins who have independently confirmed the savings: (2) speak to any og the five locations that is using this health center; and (3) scrutinize very carefully McClure's argument that this is best as a sole source bid. The underlying goal should always be the best interests of the county, not politics.
"It would be nice if access to this proposed health center could be extended to retired NORCO employees too young to qualify for Medicare."
I do know McClure would like to include retirees if he can. I know that some medical insurance plans for retirees are not self-funded, and this throws a monkey wrench into things. Some tell me it won't work for retirees; some say it will. Integrity has no problem with it. The first step is getting the concept approved.
Not all employees live or own property in Northampton county
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