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Legislature Calls For GIC Study |
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SEPTEMBER 2006 - Legislative leaders
have created a special commission to perform an
in-depth study of the health insurance benefits
offered through the state’s Group Insurance
Commission (GIC).
Originally added as a floor amendment by Representative
Martin Walsh (D-Boston) and House Ways and Means
Chairman Robert DeLeo, Senate leaders endorsed the
study and agreed to include it in the final version
of the FY07 Budget. The measure, section 104 of Chapter
139 Acts of 2006, was vetoed by Governor Mitt Romney
in July, but was overridden by both branches of the
Legislature.
Association President Ralph White is named as one
of thirteen representatives on the study commission,
which will be chaired by the co-chairmen of the Joint
Committee on Public Service.
The commission’s task is to “consider
the range of benefits that are or should be provided
as well as the current and anticipated future cost
of providing them... [and] may make recommendations
on how best to divide the costs between the commonwealth.
The commission shall also study the operation and
structure of the group insurance commission.” The
commission must report its findings to the Legislature
by February 1, 2007.
Association officials feel strongly
that the commission will provide a forum by which
longstanding disagreements with the GIC can be
addressed. “At the top
of our agenda has to be the Medicare Part B reimbursement.
Retirees have been shortchanged for four years now
and it’s about time for the GIC to own up to
its responsibility,” said White. “The
governor vetoed this study because he does not want
these issues addressed. Shedding some light on things
never hurts.”
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Healthcare 
