From: sfstandard.com.
HEALTHCARE HAVOC: Health insurance policies don’t usually make for exciting news. But that’s not the case this month in San Francisco.
A nonprofit advocating for city retiree benefits alleges that the Health Service Board, responsible in part for overseeing healthcare plans for former employees, broke the law in getting a Blue Shield of California health insurance contract approved.
In June, Dr. Stephen Follansbee, a mayoral appointee to the board, was the deciding vote against changing from UnitedHealthcare, telling The Standard he was concerned about Blue Shield’s quality of care and access to services. Shortly after his decision, Follansbee got news that he’d been yanked from the board — and that another vote would take place with the newly appointed Dr. Fiona Wilson, who went on to approve the Blue Shield contract. The contract, which still needs the approval of the Board of Supervisors, promises to save the city money during a gloomy budgetary moment.
The change in insurance plans will affect more than 17,000 people.
However, a letter from Protect Our Benefits, dated July 16, alleges that procedural rules were violated in getting Blue Shield approved — and retirees worry that the new plan could be disruptive for them. The City Attorney’s Office confirmed that it received the nonprofit’s letter Friday but brushed off the suggestion of improprieties.
“The Health Service Board’s decision to approve the change in health plans was within its legal authority,” a spokesperson for the office wrote.
The nonprofit thinks otherwise.
“It’s an illegal vote,” said Fred Sanchez, president of Protect Our Benefits.
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