State employee benefits head for realignment | savannahnow.com

Mixing a multibillion-dollar health contract with fierce industry protests and abortion politics is a sure recipe for turmoil.

The new State Health Benefit Plan contract tops the charts on turbulence. It could also produce a significant realignment of the state’s health care landscape.

The Department of Community Health revealed Thursday at an agency board meeting that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia will be confirmed as the winner of two major contracts in the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP), which covers more than 650,000 state employees, teachers, other school personnel, retirees and dependents.

UnitedHealthcare, which protested the initial notice to award the bid to Blue Cross, is expected to continue to fight that decision in the courts.

The agency board Thursday approved a benefit design that eliminates abortion coverage except in the case of the mother’s life being in jeopardy. The abortion restriction surfaced as a surprise benefit change this week.

The new benefit plan will also reduce premiums for many state employees and teachers, state officials said.

The Community Health board approved the new benefit plan design and rates in an unusually contested 5-3 vote, with one abstention.

via State employee benefits head for realignment | savannahnow.com.