UWC-Insurance Committee Minutes
November 19, 2007

Time: 8:30AM

Members Present: Elinda Boyles, Peggy Dillow, Steve Doster, Steve Gregory, Vicci Felts, Denise Gregory, Gayle Massie, Jim Reneau, Clifford Poirot
Members Absent: Denise Brockett

Old Business:
Meeting time: The next meeting will be December 10 at 8:30. However, this time will not work for committee members in Spring Quarter, so January 16, 4-5 Pm will be the first meeting of the Spring Quarter.

Minute taking: No one volunteered to take minutes.

New Business:
Grant-Funded Health Insurance Committee Training: Members attending the Insurance Training Sessions, Oct. 14 &15 in Columbus have been sharing and discussing information.

Define committee’s mission and scope: Members voiced agreement that the training sessions in Columbus helped to define the committees’ mission and scope.

Develop goals and strategies for future committee meetings: Members discussed the option to break into two subcommittees, Wellness Promotion and Health Insurance. Both areas need to have options explored more in depth. Having sub committees, would allow more time outside the committee. With both options directly affecting each other, findings and discussions will be reported and reviewed at monthly insurance committee meeting. Elinda Boyles, Steve Doster, and Clifford Poirot will review the insurance data and report. Gayle Massie, Vicci Felts, Peggy Dillow, Steve Gregory and Denise Gregory will explore Wellness program options and report.

Operating Policies & procedures, ie proxy votes, observers, representation: Members agreed that proxy votes were not necessary as the committee doesn’t need such a formal protocol. The committee will meet monthly as recommended at the training session. There was no opposition to observers present at meetings. Representation is covered in the SEA contract.

Relationship with Anthem: March will be the cut off for Anthem. The committee will be exploring healthcare options for the future. Anthem is being invited to our meeting in January. That way they will have a full year of data to present to the committee. Anthem is also being invited to our December meeting to present what options they have in the way of Wellness Programs.

Wellness Audio conference Nov. 27: Vicci Felts has made arrangements for the “webinar” to be held in the President’s Conference room.

Wellness Program: Denise Gregory offered many ideas to begin a wellness program on campus. It was decided to focus at present on a weight reduction program for campus-wide participation. She reported that in talking with Anthem, there may be a connection in the future for Anthem and Weight Watchers. Past reporting by Anthem revealed a high use of insurance that is connected to being overweight, so it appeared ironic that presently, Anthem does not cover any expenses related to weight loss, except for surgery. It was the decision of the committee to explore the option of getting Weight Watchers on campus as it is the only weight loss program in the area at present. Implementing it by the first of the year would attract more employees as many would be setting resolutions for the New Year. Also, this would be an economical way of increasing awareness on campus regarding the weight reduction and wellness connection. Denise will check into getting Weight watchers on campus and Gayle will assist in documentation for such a need on campus and promotion of the program.

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 AM

Gayle D. Massie, RN, MSN