NorCo Employee Health Center on Life Support, but Still Alive

Last week, Northampton County Council voted 5-4 to reject a $3.7 million contract with Integrity Health for a voluntary and exclusive employee health center that would charge no co-pays and is projected to save the county money. While this vote certainly puts this proposal on life support, it is still very much alive. 

In November, Northampton County voters will Council District members. 

In District 1, Democrat Kevin Lott, a Yes vote, is stepping down. Democrat Ken Kraft is running against Republican Bill Rowe. If Kraft is elected, which seems likely in a heavily Democratic district, he will vote for a health center. Republican Bill Rowe might support it as well. I have not discussed this issue with him. 

In District 2, Democrat turned Republican Kerry Myers, a No vote, is stepping down, He will be succeeded by Democrat Kelly Keegan, who has no opposition. She is a Yes vote. 

In District 3, Republican John Cusick, a Yes vote, is stepping down. He will be succeeded by either Democrat Jeffrey Warren, a Yes vote, or Casey Foreman, whose views are unknown. District 3 is more competitive than District 1, but leans Democratic.

In District 4, Tom Giovanni, a No vote, is running unopposed. 

After November's election, it is likely that the health center will pick up one vote. That will turn a 5-4 vote against into a 5-4 vote in favor.  

NorCo Council Considers Contract For Voluntary Employee Health Center

Northampton County Council yesterday considered a $3,724,711 contract with Integrity Health for a voluntary and exclusive employee health center over the next five years. It's mostly a standard county contract, but also includes performance guarantees that Council members John Goffredo and Tom Giovanni suggested. 

"How do we know it's going to save money if we have so many unknowns?" asked Goffredo. Fiscal Affairs Director Steve Barron said that patient advocacy alone would result in huge savings, as well as a replacement for urgent care. "I'm confident it will save money. ... It will work." 

Goffredo said he really dislikes the idea of the county getting into the healthcare business. He said there are too many "I don't knows." If it passes, he hopes it works, but said it is silly to build a health center in an area that has so many of them. 

The health center will be available for anyone covered by Northampton County health plans, including the spouse and children. Retirees might be included in the future. 

Council member John Cusick applauded the administration for agreeing to put this matter out to bid, something he said should have been done from the beginning. He added this service is far from free. It is costing county taxpayers $3.7 million over five years. Barron agreed, but added that when employees use the health center, it will dramatically reduce the cost of services that would be provided on the outside.  Barron responded, "If the services we provide at the health center cost us $7 million, and in the same year it would cost is $15 million to provide those health services, but we get it cheaper through the health center and our employees don't have to pay anything, I want to run it through the health center."

Cusick said he would support the health center. "It is a benefit for the employees." He thanked Councilmember Tom Giovanni for the work he out into the review of the proposals. 

Northampton County currently spends $26,000 a year on average for each employee in health care costs.

Council member John Brown said he opposes the health center. "It is favorable to the employee, but it is not favorable to the taxpayer," he said. "There are other options that this administration has not pursued." Those other options would involve increasing co-pays or employee contributions to health care. Zrinski responded the employee health center would incentivize workers to stay. "We're investing in our employees and our futures."

Council member Ron Heckman, originally skeptical, has come around. He said the current health care system is "crazy. Yes, we have plenty of specialists, but good luck getting an appointment in the next few months." He said it would divert people from emergency rooms and urgent centers. 

Mark Caliguire of Integrity said the health center in concierge health care, but it saves money to the taxpayer. He noted that the county spends far more than $3.7 million for healthcare now. 

Northampton County Council will vote on the contract tonight. 

Why Dent Voted Against Trumpcare

“I am disappointed the House passed this bill that I believe will increase health insurance costs particularly for low-to-moderate income Americans, increase the number of uninsured by as much as 24 million people, and undermine important protections for those living with pre-existing conditions. It is my hope that cooler heads will prevail in the Senate and that they will produce a better bill that is focused on improving the health care for all Americans rather than the haphazardly constructed and hastily considered House bill. Health care reform should be about the improving care for the American people.  Too much time and energy has been spent on meeting arbitrary deadlines and artificial timelines, all to improve the budget baseline for tax reform. We must and can do better.”

Dent to Vote No on Trump's Healthcare Bill

U.S. Representative Charlie Dent will vote No on the American Health Care Act today and explains why:

“The American health care system is in need of reform. The Affordable Care Act, which I voted against seven years ago, has failed to live up to the promises of the previous Administration. Too many Americans have seen their health care costs rise, insurers are fleeing the marketplace, and businesses are struggling under the increased costs and regulations. In Pennsylvania the average 2017 premium increase for all individual market plans was 32%, and 68% of counties have only one or two insurers offering plans on the exchange. Clearly something must be done.

"Over the past few weeks, I have diligently reviewed the American Health Care Act and recently proposed Amendments. I have spoken with constituents, leaders in the health care patient and provider community, Republican and Democrat Governors, Senators, the President and many others. After careful deliberation, I cannot support the bill and will oppose it. I believe this bill, in its current form, will lead to the loss of coverage and make insurance unaffordable for too many Americans, particularly for low-to-moderate income and older individuals. We have an important opportunity to enact reforms that will result in real health care transformation--bringing down costs and improving health outcomes. This legislation misses the mark.

"I hope that the House can step back from this vote and arbitrary deadline to focus on getting health care reform done right to ensure that American families have access to affordable health care.”

Gracedale Nurses Victim of Unfair Labor Practice

Back in October, an arbitrator upheld claims by AFSCME Local 1435, the union representing about 850 workers at Gracedale. When NorCo Executive John Brown decided to reduce health care benefits, he had an obligation to bargain for it. This lapse, according to Brown himself, could end up costing the County $1 million.

Now comes word, from The Morning Call's Anthony Salamone, that the County has now found itself at the wrong end of an unfair labor practice determination, courtesy of the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. This is on basically the same issue, but involves about 50 nursers. They are represented by the Steelworkers Union, headed up by Mean Jerry Green.

Green tells me that the nurses have gone without a contract since 2010.

He expected differently. When he was running for executive, John Brown promised Jerry that he'd meet with him if he was elected. When that happened, Jerry called for an appointment. But Brown was going on vacation, and told him to call later. Jerry did, and has yet to sit down with Brown.

The person he has been dealing with is none other than Cathy Allen, Brown's most trusted ally in his administration. She was so inexperienced when it came to human relations that she actually thought she could punish corrections officers who have already been disciplined once for an offense. She has been at the county helm in negotiations with Jerry, and has been attempting to go backwards.

Incidentally, tha pay for a registered nurse with no seniority is about $23.75. Guess what it is for a registered nurse with ten years? $23.75. Guess what it is for a registered nurse with 20 years? $23.75. That's about $10 per hour below the average wage paid to registered nurses in Pa.

That's why Gracedale can't keep nurses, according to Jerry.

When Allen began negotiating, she actually wanted to go backwards, just like she wanted to impose multiple punishments for the same offense at the jail. A person who makes that kind of basic error would think nothing of unilaterally reducing benefits without consulting the union.

When you look at the ruling, check out the procedural history. The County was obviously dragging its feet.

The County has been directed to start bargaining in good faith. The ruling below should be posted conspicuoulsy. The County has 20 days to reinstate the health care benefits it unilaterally eliminated.

Pa Labor Board Rules Against NorCo

Council, 300 Workers, Ask Brown to Relent on Health Care Cuts

Despite impassioned pleas from Northampton County workers at a Council meeting two weeks ago, Executive John Brown has refused to budge on health plan reductions he's imposed unilaterally. In fact, shortly before last night's Council meeting, he introduced a no-tax budget for next year that keeps their wages flat. In addition, Easton Mayor Sal Panto has proposed a 1.95% commuter tax that will mean a reduction in wages for the 900 County employees working in Easton. So last night, close to 300 people, nearly all of them County employees, crammed into Courtroom #1, They were there to ask Brown to change his mind. They were there to ask Council to help them,

One visitor unable to fit into Courtroom #1 was the AFSCME 15' high Fat Cat. He suddenly appeared next to the Courthouse about an hour or so before the meeting. AFSCME is the labor union that represents most Northampton County workers. Wearing a John Brown sign around its neck, this Fastidious Feline was wringing the neck of a hapless worker. Union members rallied alongside, as cars driving by honked their horns

Corrections Officers Union Prez Tom Davis

After this mini-rally, the raucous crowd filed into Courtroom #1, cheering for union agent Justus James and Council member Lamont McClure. They booed just as loudly when Executive Brown made his way into the room, smiling.

Sitting in the seat usually occupied by a President Judge, Council President Peg Ferraro did a commendable job of making sure that everyone who wanted to speak was able to do so, with only minimal interruption.

AFSCME union agent Justus James was both the leadoff and cleanup hitter, getting two opportunities to speak, thanks to some employees who surrendered their time to him.

Allison Moyer, a LPN at Gracedale
(billed at birth)

"We will not go silent into the night," he warned Executive Brown. He complained bitterly about the 10% coinsurance along with a $13,200 cap on medical coverage for many families. He complimented former Executive John Stoffa, who refused to impose these changes last year because they would hurt the worker. "We need to have a conversation," James told Brown. "The employees are not a number. The employees matter."

Tom Davis, President of the Corrections Officers' union, pointed out that the jail is now 30 officers short. He stated he's approached Brown about this matter three times, noting that it creates a dangerous situation for officers who are forced to work overtime. "Do you know what it's like to work a day shift after working a night shift?" he asked, noting that some officers are forced to do this three times a week.

"Brown always says he's evaluating the situation," noted Davis. "Well, sir, you've been on the job long enough!"

Lehigh Tp's Mike Myers spoke against
public sector unions

Davis also complained that when Brown laid out his changes for the prison staff, he told them to "feel free to shop around" if they objected. He felt that was an invitation to quit.

Another jail employee, Wanda Heitzman, called the short staffing a "recipe for disaster."

Kelly Higgins, a Gracedale LPN who put herself through school, thanked Brown for placing her "one step closer to foreclosure."  She agreed that some benefit reductions might be necessary, but "give it to us in little bits," Noting that lives from paycheck to paycheck, she warned, "We're not going away and we're not going away quietly."

Justus James - "Hell No to the co-insurance"

Jerry Green, a union agent for the USW representing the nurses at Gracedale, charged Brown with "fixing the budget on the backs of workers." He added that nurses have been working without a new contract for five years.

Though nearly everyone at the meeting were opposed to Brown's health plan reductions, he had some supporters.

Bethlehem Township resident Ben Hedrick, a regular attendee at Northampton County Council meetings, told the audience, "I have been where you are now." But he asked them to consider fixed income senior citizens like himself.

Another packed house

More strident was Lehigh Township resident Mike Myers, who got angrier as he spoke."I learned how to budget," he admonished the crowd. "I speak for the taxpayer," he announced, accusing the unions of "extortionist ways of collective bargaining. "Is mob rule going to be the way we do this?"he asked. He also told Council, "If you guys don't have the backbone to stand up to the union shop, shut up and get off the podium."

Myers' comments brought one last speaker, a Gracedale maid, to the podium. Carrying a sign that asked Brown if his health plan was going to be modified, she handed it to him as she went up to speak.

Employee's gift to Brown ended up
in a garbage can

Council member Hayden Phillips quickly left the dais, removed the sign and placed it aside. At the end of the meeting, it was found in the garbage.

As people spoke against Brown's health plan changes, some began yelling at Council member Glenn Geissinger to "pay attention to the speakers." Ferraro reminded the crowd that they need to be respectful, and some responded that applies to Geissinger, too.

Executive Brown declined to respond to any of the speakers, choosing instead to make some brief remarks about his proposed no-tax-hike budget.

But Council responded.

Bob Werner introduced a nonbinding resolution that, after a minor amendment suggested by Ferraro, called on Brown to change his health plan to reduce its financial hardship. Werner acknowledged his resolution "isn't worth the paper it's written on," but wants Brown to know that Council is siding with the employees.

All Democratic members of Council, along with Republican Peg Ferraro, voted for the Resolution. Republicans Mat Benol, Glenn Geissinger and Hayden Phillips were opposed. Seth Vaughn abstained, and it was adopted by a 5-3-1 vote.

Scott Parsons asked why Vaughn abstained, and he explained that the resolution is meaningless. But he voted for an equally meaningless commuter tax resolution in his very next vote.