At their Thursday night meeting, Northampton County Council voted 5-4 to reject a $3.8 million contract with Integrity Health to establish a voluntary health center for most primary care for county employees with no co-pays. This project has been described as a win for county staff, who could seek and obtain medical care with same-day appointments. It has also been described as a win for the county, which expects that this center will save money.
The project was supported by Council members Ken Kraft, Jeff Warren, Kelly Keegan and Ron Heckman, all of whom are Democrats. It was opposed by Council President Lori Vargo Heffner and Council member Jeff Corpora, both of whom are Democrats. It was also opposed by Republican Council members John Goffredo, John Brown and Tom Giovanni.
Kraft and Keegan suggested that Vargo-Heffner, who is employed by St. Luke's, is conflicted. She responded that she sought an opinion from the state ethics commission and has no conflict. This assertion was corroborated by Council Solicitor Chris Spadoni.
Kraft also argued that employee health care "is going in the wrong direction," and that they are being forced to contribute more of their income for health care. "This will save money," Kraft argued, but acknowledged that support requires "a leap of faith."
Council member Goffredo noted this measure was voted down before (in 2023) based on the same pro and con arguments. "When you tell me government is going to do something cheaper, and I have to take a leap of faith on it, every one of my instincts is telling me it's a bad idea."
Kandsye McClure (no relation to the county exec) once stated, "Take a leap of faith. You will either land somewhere new or learn to fly."
27 comments:
The landing can be a crash! You accept as fact any nonsense that McClure or Barron feed you. If this is a sure thing but it in writing. As for tax increases. With All th RE money coming in from the evil warehouses and apartments plus the federal dollar giveaway. Mccure and Barron can look like a genius. They will milk it dry, and the next guy will be stuck. The kraft line of there will be a tax increase was the same lie that was used when you and your cohorts tried to dump Gracedale. It was a lie then and it is a lie now!!
….Or you fall and break every bone in your body
I don’t think employees want to take a leap of faith with healthcare
Leaps of faith rarely work in government. We've all seen the movie and know how it ends. "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
GOOD!
Obstruction, but not for obstructions sake. They know it’ll work. They don’t want to give Monty a win heading into an Election year.
I’m with Goffredo. It always costs more than the original projection with the government.
John Brown has a plan to re-institute co-insurance. If you’re new to the County, ask around about co-insurance.
Dead horse, meet this blog.
6:48, Actually, the health center could be a millstone around McClure's neck if the projected savings are not realized. And in the first year, costs are definitely going to exceed savings. It could very well be a negative issue and hurt him. Sometimes I think it is obstruction for the sake of obstruction, but at other times, I think County Council members are just wary because (1) a failure would come back on them as well and (2) the Rs on Council have an ingrained distrust of government. It is a philosophical and political disagreement.
Kandsye McClure (no relation to the county exec) once stated, "Take a leap of faith. You will either land somewhere new or learn to fly."
This might simultaneously be the dumbest and most dangerous statement ever uttered. There are many more outcomes that are likely from taking a leap of faith, and most not nearly as rosy as the ones stated in that quote.
More importantly, why do taxpayers have to take a leap of faith?
Why not the provider GUARANTEEING lower costs and providing concrete amounts that the county would save each year? If those guaranteed savings are not achieved, the contract would automatically terminate and the county would be paid back whatever the actual shortage in savings is.
That would of course allow taxpayers (and council) to fairly evaluate the return on investment and protect the taxpayers. But actual benchmarks would be a bit messy for politicians who want to claim they’re fixing a problem (without any actual accountability, of course).
It would also be a dangerous precedent as the public might insist on other contracts and bills being written with actual measurement standards in them. No politician wants that to happen of course, since they only want to be judged on their intentions, not their actual results.
Why not have the employees reap the benefits of any savings, but be liable for any increases if the plans doesn’t actually lower costs?
That way the taxpayer has no risk.
8:17, The health center resolution was part of the agenda on Thursday and, though the result was predictable, I feel obligated to report on it and the pre-vote debate.
Just think if county employees were given the steps they were supposed to be given in the past years we wouldn't even be having this conversation. With every employee that didn't receive a step. That is less money going into the health benefits fund. Our contributions are based off our 40 hour work week. So when ppl like McClure think they are helping the tax payer by not giving steps he is actually hurting them. Just kicking the can down the road.
And that president of residual union OMG. He forgot to kiss the ring and was looking for a pat on the head saying good boy from McClure.
Once again keep screwing the county employees it will come back and bite the tax payers eventually.
“Sure Things” are now the standard. Worth remembering.
80% of them want to try it. The largest labor union in the County “100%” supports it. You’re just a liar.
Don’t you worry “tax payers”, if you won’t pay for this health center, we’ll use your money for corporate buyouts!
Most of you don’t know how our economy really works.
Bernie - Please find out answer out to this: Why doesn't McClure just join one of the local health networks? It has to be cheaper then doing their own? I assume for St. Lukes or LVHN to take on 1800 patient's, would be a minimal cost to them? They already have networks with multiple doctors, facilities, etc. Unless I am missing something, seems like a slam dunk.
You may make the least sense of anyone who comments here, yes ?
Lori Vargo Heffner is ethically challenged and I would argue corrupt. Forget her 3K taxpayer vacation to Florida. She has her hand out to businesses who do business or seek to do business with the County. She improperly uses her office for personal gain.
6:26, if you would argue she is corrupt, why not identify yourself and take responsibility for your words? Kraft and Keegan suggested she was conflicted on the health center, but that only hardens positions. If she was a YES vote, a conflict might matter. She's a NO vote, so it does not matter in a county where the HRC requires 5 votes to adopt an ordinance or resolution.
As far as being corrupt is concerned, the implication of your statement is that she is soliciting contributions from county vendors. So far as I know, so does McClure. He even takes contributions from people who owe their jobs to him. If Vargo Heffner is corrupt, then so is McClure.
Hate the game, not the playa. Work to outlaw campaign contributions of this sort on a county level. I won't hold my breath. By the way, I tried several times.
That must be Keegan commenting. I hear she is as mean and nasty as they come. Too bad she was put on council by McClure.
What is up with Keegan's videos on Facebook?? Every time a vote doesn't go her way she rails about it on video. Haven't seen this kind of behavior from other council members ever. Self-promotion??
I love how the union president tried to spin “100%” worker support. Well yes, if you only ask your yes men, you will only hear yes. The employees want a living wage. Yes, no co pay is nice, but that still doesn’t pay rent.
If you don’t go to the doctor a lot, this health center means nothing. The deductible still went from $400 to $1500. The wages are a joke. There are people with Master’s degrees making $15/hr. Maybe use this money to pay us a living wages rather than spending it on something that might save money down the road
She is a narcissist and her TikTok is nonsense. She makes a fool of herself. She is being used by McClure now that he owns her.
If she will benefit personally by a vote failing, there is a conflict of interest. So yes a no vote does matter Bernie.
@12:10pm Lori is that you advocating for your employer again?
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