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272863 . ._.. . i . . . . . . WHITE - CITV CLERK . PINK - FINANCE � G I TY OF SA I NT PA LT L Council CANARV - DEPARTMENT � J�D .(�11.T1 � F1Ie NO. ��2 �� 6LUE - MAVOR � i Council Resolution Presented By �' � Referred To Committee: Date Out of Committee By Date WHEREAS, on qctober 31, 1q78, President Carter signed into law an amend- ment to the 196�+ Civil ;Ri�hts Act. The amendment makes 3.t the responsibility of employers to treat pre�nancy the same as ar�y other condition for a11 employment rela,ted purposes, such�as health care covera.ge. The law (PL 95-555) aPP��s to all employers who emp y fifteen or �re employees. The compliance date for the City of Sai.nt Paul is�ay 1, 1979, and WIiEREAS, the� city's present contrac� limits ma,turnity benefits to $50 and that conception must occur while the coverage is in fbrce and which limitations or time requirements are not applicable to other diseases or injuries, and WHEREAS, th� Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota proposed to amend our contract �to comply; with Public I�aw No. 95 as per letter dated April lOth attached, and WHIItEAS, thi�s change will be made at no additional cost for the remainder of the contract yeax Qnding December 31, 1979; now therefar�e be it RESOLVED, ttaa.t the Council of the City of Saint Paul hereby authorize Blue Cross and Blue S�ield of Minnesota to prepare the proper amendments aadif`y3.ng the contract with the�City of Saint Pau1. to comply with the afore-mentioned. public la.w, and be it FINALLY RESQLVID, that the City C1erk send a copy of this resolution to Blue Cross and Blue S�ield of Minnesota. COUNCILMEN ' Requested by Department of: Yeas Nays Butler � [n Favor Hozza Hunt I.evine d __ Against BY — Maddox ' Showalter Tedes • MaY �, ig79 Form pro d by torney Adopted b ouncil: Datei � Certif d Passe Council c � BY B �#p rvv by ;1�lavor: � _ �AY � App v d y Mayor for Su m' ion to Council BY �,() — BY : �y�'L �g�t�MED MAY � 21979 . . _ , , i . Dear Employee/Group Health Plan member: We are pleased t� inform you of some changes effective April 29, 1979, in the pregnancy benefits contained in your Group Heaith Plan program. These changes will provide additional protection for child-bearing-age women mem- bers of the Plan' and will bring our program into compliance with a new federal law requfring that pregnancy benefits be provided on the same basis as group benefits for other conditions. � The changes are: 1. The benefits of the contract covering a woman member at termination of pregnancy will be furnished. In• other words it is no longer necessa�y to have coverage at conception in order to receive bene- fits at termination of pregnancy. 2. Convers�ely, no benefits will be furnished at termination of preg- nancy unless the woman is then covered by an active Group Health Plan contract. If the contractholder severs employment and this causes ia woman's Group Health Plan coverage to end before termina- tion of pregnancy, all pregnancy benefits are lost at that point. Therefoxe, the contractholder should usually exercise his or her privilel�e to continue group coverage if Plan pregnancy benefits are desired. This privilege is limited, so see your personnel office 'for details. 3. Any pregnancy benefit in the contract which is paid on an indemnity (money benefit) basis will be chan�ed to yield a benefit which is equivalent to benefits for "any other illness." As a one time e�ception to 2, above, if a woman is covered by a Group Health contract at conception beginning prior to April 29, 1979, the hospital benefit of the contract will be provided on termination of pregnancy if she is not covered by another group contract. Sincerely, '� . . , � � ' ti s � ��� � � FA�� <� � � � ������ ��,��-�i��C�����iC%�"�z�r���� FrLEo I. 2500 COMO AVENUE,ST.PAUL,MN 55108 '•�j� Z�i � �: }��f ��J� 4� ► �, , csi2�sai-sioo CiTY �L�nK, ' ST P,�UL� MfMM«� April 20, 1979 City Council City of St. Pau� c/o City Clerk I 386 city Ha1I ' St. Paul, Niinne�ota 55102 StJBJECT: The N�w Pregnancy Discrimination Act The purpose of this letter is to inform you of certain provisions of the new Pregaancy D�.scrimination Act and of the ar_tion which Group Healch Plan ha5 take:i to br�ng the benefits pravided u.r,.der your group contract inco co3pli.�r.ce with, this law. �Jn October 31, 1978, President Carte'r signed inte ldw the Pregnar�cy �3iscri�n- ination rlct (PL'9�-555) , �n ame�zdment to the 19h� Civil Rights Act. Z'he Act ma�c4s it the re�ponsibili*y of ��mplevers to treat pY•egnancy the samN as any c�rl:ex condition'! for all emp'�oyment-r�lated purposes such as health care c�-uerage. ' C�vcr��e The law 3pplies to all employers who employ 15 ar raore emnloyees. Tlie law cavers fe;*�ale e�ployees, married or single, iinder eiti�er single or family ����erage. It a�plies to all HhiO and insurance programs incl.uding self in- su�ar.t_e. F�i�.hc,irg?� this l�w does not directly apply to de�endent spouses and d�penc3ent children, other federal and state statutes rsay r_equire such coverage. �'r�r tl:is reason, and ta pYOVide unifoi:r, coverage, Group 'riealth Plan is ��tend�n� t?iese heFiefits ao bot:� leper.den�, s�ouses ar.d dependent chilcren and to all ��oups regardle�s of size. Benefit Change 'I ].. There �.i-11 be no Taaiting per�_o�. for fiospital �regnancv beaefits in yo�.ir �Y011p T'c^.t;3Y�)_��5 C�f WIlEIl COriCG['•i����11 OCCllrY2C.. Your present��roup CiiTil:r2Ct p:o•:iues .tli �� hnspi.ta.). bc.�.�r.ri�� ta:c rrt�;n�a�}r w�11 he pai.d on7y if concep- . L�ion acr_tirs w;�i7.e Pla.i ^_o�.*�_ra;� i> i>>. force. :i�,��:c t�e ,�ew i�ca nc� 'vJ81�1:1F f�erioci can e applied t:a pre�,n�.n�ic�s wi��ich :�., rc>t� a;;pl�..ed t^ o�her r.:ondi-- tions for w ich bt�ne�its are �a;��ble su�h as 3'.1 append��tor�� o: r�:pair of a broken bouhe. , '�,�.. m.��..8 -2- 2. The extension of hospital benefits for pre4nancies beyond the termination of employment no�a grovided bv v�ur group c.ontract will be discontinued for pregnancies commencing on or after Apr 29. 1979. You should also be aware of the following points: a. If STl employer extends coverage for employees and dependents when such et�ployees are totally disabled on the date of termination of full-time employment, then coverage nust also be extended to em- ployees who are totally disabled upon employment t�ez�nination because of pregnancy. b. If an employer continues to pay premiums for employees disabled on the date they terminate full-time employment, then premiums must be paid for female employees terminating full-time employ- ment because �f toral disability caused by pregnancy. If an employee terminates en:plo}�r,:ent for reasons other than disability, he or she should be encouraged to retain grou� ceverage for the extension geriod of up to 6 months or when eli�ible. for other group ,.overage, whichever is first, in erder to help ensur�• thaL r.:aternity bcn�fits (including routine nursery care) will be covered an the sar�e basis as prior to the employment termination. 3. Any pregnancy benefits in yeur contract which �re payable on an. indem�ity ba�is will be modified to cur_form wi.th the cor,tract benefits for sickness and injury. � ��� � Effective Date The effective date of this new benefit is Apr 29,19?9, for group contracts in existence on October 31, 1978. A letter witl follow changing the language of the group master contract to coincide with this program. No Premium Increase There will be no increase in Grot� Health P1an rates at present because of this benefit change. Higher costs, if any, will be reTl:cted in your next contract r.�n��a3?. r3r�. Nu reduction in the level of other benefiLS is ailowed under the law until October 31, 1979, in non-union situations and in t:nion situations the level of benefits may not be reduced until the terminaCion of the existing union manage- ment agreement or October 31, 197�, ��Thichever occurs first. A sample letter is enclosed i�hich can be uW�d to tell emplDyee-members of your Gruiip f�ealth program about this benefit cl:m.ige. If you have any qiiestions, � please contact John Thames, Manag�� of Registration und ITnrerw'riting, at 641-3117. Sincerely, . � ,� �� � , . �",� . _, f>%'f�.r 1 /�y� ; r, .. / i r �A..C;.IL•-�%. �/ '�� ! I�aurici: J. 1�;Cka��'' General Mar�ager � MJM/lau Enclosure , ., r .�. ,. . < , .. � . . . . . � I�'1 . - � Y . . .. . . � . . , ' . , , �� � � � ' c.r `-� . , ,� r, ... • . . . '. . , .. ' . . . . L` . � . '. . 1 ' . . . . . .. ' . . . , . . . ' ' , , � . '. . . . . . . . . ,. � . . . . ., . . . . . . ... , . . � ��� � . � , .. . . . . � . . . . , ' . . � , � �� .. � . . ' . . . . . . ' , ' , . � .. . . � � . � / \ . . . ' , . ,.� .. ' . . , . , - , . ' � � .. , � �Y 1�. 1� . , � , , , . 1fr. Je� 3,ia ; . Perio�l� purt.ar�n� . . _ � Rao4 '�ESS, �y I�,� � . . . ? " 31t. �I►u1r` �qo�a , �r�i�t � A� 3ro�r' �`ormatc3�., � �r 2e�tsr o! ari�uy�Hs�,�t PL�in f ` Lt�a. Ln e#:+o��i�rt ar� t�ifi�a; �to brt�ag-#dr� l���r �rou�► e��t�at�i� � iet.�;ttay M�tix tb� �i1w �g�n� D��ctr3n3x�atiarn �. � ; , , Very-trn�y yaur+�* . � ' � , . � , , _ , , . Rps+� l�li�t � � , . CitJ► t�.s� ' . � � � , • , �/1't'l�aclt,, ' � . , 4, : ABOiI�� � , �, � . , . 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Box 43560 Customer Service (612)456-5050 St. Paul, Minnesota 55164 M11 Customer Service (612)450-833J Apri1 10 , 1979 i Mr. John Dev.Zin Employer Benefits Coordinator Ci ty of St. PauZ 265 City H�1Z St. Pau1, MN 55102 Dear John, B1ue Cross and BZue Shield of Minnesota proposes to amend tne existir�g contract with the City of St. Pau1 and School District 625 to incZude the provisions of PubZic Law �5 xelating td maternity care as outlined in our Zettex of March 1�, 1979. This change wi11 be made at no additionaZ cost for the remainder oif the contract year ending December 31, Z979. However added benefits paid under this amenc�rnent wi1Z undoubtedZy� reduce the group's reserve. This changei wi11 be m,ade effective Ma� 1, 1979 in accordance wi th the 1 aw, and amendmen ts to the certi fi cate wi ll be prepared fo�,r distribution prior to that date. You s truly, : ����� � Donald P. D}ix Sr. Acct Ex�cutive I DPD:j1m I , . . . � . . . f' . w � e �, ; If you as the em�loyer provide payment of charges for employees who are disabled on the date they terminate full-time employment then you must also provide premium for a female � employee who t�rminates full-time employment because of total disability caused by preg- nancy. , � If an employee terminates employment for reasons other than disability he or she should be encouraged to retain group coverage for the 6 month extension period in order to help ensure that maternity b�enefits (including routine nursery care) will be covered on the same basis as prior to his or her termination. If the employee ahooses not to take the 6 month extension orif he or she still needs maternity coverage after the 6 month extension, you should encourage the employee to obtain a BCBSIVI conversion policy to ensure that maternity coverage will be available. If an employee t�rminates full-time employment and the employee or his or her dependent is totally disabled on the date of termination, Major Medical coverage may be extended to cover maternity withoult payment of charges. C. On May 1, 1979�BCBSM will remove limitations and exclusions relating to pregnancy which are €ound in ben�fits such as Diagnostic X-ray and Laboratory or Major Medical,etc. Female dependents and fQmale employees will receive the same benefits. D. Some employee �rograms cunently provide "fully paid" benefits (Usual, Customary and Reasonable chazg� programs) for other conditions, but limit pregnancy to a flat rate payment of a certain amo�tnt of money. To comply with the law,as of May 1, 1979 if full payment is provided for.other conditions, then full payment will also be made for pregnancy. As of May 1, 1979 these new benefits will be effective for your group and claims will be paid accordingly. If your Goverage does not currently provide the same benefit for pregnancy as for any . other condition, there'will be a rate increase to reflect these statutorily mandated increased bene- fits. Within the next few months, you will be informed about the amount of additional monthly charges needed to cover the increased cost of these benefits. Since additional benef�ts will be paid beginning May 1, 1979, monthly charges must be increased effective May 1, 1979. Due to the magnitude of the task of reviewing all rates,not all groups will be contacted prior to ]Iv1ay 1, 1979. If you aze contacted subsequent to May 1, 1979 your monthly . charge increase will be,prarated back to May 1, 1979. The effect on your rates will depend on the additional benefits req�iired for your specific group. Enclosed is a sample netice to your employees which informs them of the new law and its effects. Please contact your BC$SM marketing representative if you have any further questions. Sincerely, �t' ' � t !yG'l�I�' James Q. Regnier President � , , , , > . �"`�'���� Blue Cross a� : . Blue Shield : ���`� d Mi�nesota ,,- 3535 Blue Cross Road General& Long Distance (612)450-8000 P.O. Box 43560 Customer Service (6121 456-5050 St. Paul, Minnesota 55164 MII Customer Service (612)450-8331 TO: All Group Accounts DATE: Mazch 12, 1979 RE: Pregnancy Benefit I -The New Law-General . II -Specific Affects on Your Blue Cross/Blue Shield Program � III - Suggested Communication With Your Employees Dear Health Coverage Coordinator: On October 31, 1978,President Carter signed into Law an amendment to the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The amendment makes it the responsibility of employers to treat pregnancy the same as any other condition�for all employment-related purposes such as health care coverage. _ The following is an explanation of the law and Blue Cross a�d Blue Shield of Minnesota's under- atanding of how it affects your group health care program. Tlie law (PL 95-555) applies to all employers who employ 15 or more employees. Blue Cross and Blue Shield groups of 2-14 will also be affected through the uniform administration which we must employ. The law coveis female employees, married or single with either single or family coverage. It applies to all employer-employee benefit programs including HMO membership as well as self insurance. The effective date of the law is October 3 i, 1978, however, there is a 180 day period before the benefits must be in place for programs of health benefts in existence on October 31, 1978. New benefit programs initiated after Octqber 31, 1978 must comply with the law now. You shUUid be awaze that no reduction irt the level of other benefits is allowed under the law until October 31, 1979 in t�on-union situations and in union situations the level of�benefits may not be reduced until the termination of the existing union management agreement or October 31, 1979 whichever occurs first. � To assist employer groups covered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota in complying with thc iaw,the following steps have been taken: A. Many health care programs prior to the new law have had the requirement that conception must occur while coverage was in force for pregnancy benefits to be paid. Under the new law no waiting period can be applied for pregnancy unless an equal waiting period is applied to such services as appendectomy and other conditions for which benefits are paid. Therefore, � effective May 1, 1979, there will be no waiting period for pregnancy in your group regardless of when conception occurred. B. In order to treat pregnancy as other conditions,the extension for pregnancies now provided by most BCBSM group policies will be discontinued for pregnancies commencing on or after May l, 1979. Except for the coverage under the disability features described below, an employee must have paid coverage in force on the date services are rendered. If coverage is extended for employees and dependents who are totally disabled on the date the employee terminated full-time employment, then coverage must also be extended to them if they are totaIly disabled because of pregnancy. � r � , , , , ��"ic����.`,�'`� � �t �, Civil Senrice Commission $ j t: � � AUL Director of Personnel Mr.A.R.(Dlck)Zangs,Chalrman ' � � � � Thomas D. Gleason o�.George O. Bem PERS � L OFFICE Mn.Marylyn Deneen � Assistant Director Bemard P.Wright ' . � � � � • i��.f ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA 55102 ' V�� � . � G '� � i c� � � April 12, 1979 APR 1 2 ?979 MAYOR'S QFfIC� Mayor George Latimer 3�+7 Ci-�y Ha11. i Saint Paul, Minriesota Dear May�r Latimer: Attached hereto is a resolution which we suggest you propose to the City Council for pas�age in order that our contract with the Blue Cross and B1ue Shield of Minnesota wi11 conform to the requixements of Public Law No. 95• Respectflil.�y, � � tititi G �� � 0 C. DEVLIN ' loyee Benefits Coordinator Att. � ) �� � � �� � ��-� `CD-�.� I' �;a. � > ` �� , I ���. ERN�rrOH ! � l, 9 ' �t � v z ^+ o � 'I�M � y � yf, yy . `M�hAGEME��r MEMBER �, ��� ' �:L'�''`iZ' sJi+' ;i�L:t:.�:^ �''.��.U�l=. �� _ �:� ���� ;�:_�:;; �,;;"` ° 1 0.������:c o.�• �rcl�: cz�c_i� co�j�cTr� ` ;• 1.,. _ � I ; .` � '� ~:1.�:�}• � . � : s o..�:'�•'�� �:.;� � ''�:i\��� � ^��f � D a t e ; Apri 1 16, 1979 �` �:� ', G � �'�i ��; !`�i � � f� � P (� � `� , �' O : �ainr !°aul Cii;� Councii . Fs� C� �1l = C��f3riit�7E.'� 0il I ANCE, MANAGEMENT AND PERSONNEL _ . . (,�� � RUBY HUNT;chaifman, makes fihe fotic�.ving reporfi on C.F. � Ordinance - (3) Q Resol�'tion - : � '. . - �} Ofh er � - _ - I �IL� : - - �The Finance Committ'ee, at its meeting of April 16, 1979, recommended approvai of the fol l owi ng: - - l . Resalution transferring 19Z9 budget funds from Contingent Reserve to Parking � � : - Meter Monitor Codes to.provide funds to place twa additional full-time Parking - Meter Manitors '�on the street. - - - � 2. Resolution to ddjust� the age at which applicants may apply for positions in - the City Service to conform with the new Federal Retirement Law. � 3: Resolution to r�odify the B1ue Cross-Blue Shield contract fior increased . : ma�ternity benefits without additional premium charges. . j . . . � i _ . I - "';C�' ilt�Y�L SEVF:tiT1-. ��T.COR S:�I\T F.1L�, �t_►\\E5`J�:1. Sjic?