CalPERS board approves rate hikes - Dallas Business Journal:

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percent increase in health care premiumds Wednesday for its membersin 2010, Basicv health maintenance organization rates will rise an averagd of 3.4 percent next year, down from almosrt 6.6 percent in 2009. Basic preferree provider organization rates will increase anaveragw 3.3 percent, while the pensioh fund’s association plans for highwayg patrol, correctional and peace officerw will rise 1 percent . Medicare members will see an averagre increaseof 1.1 percent. “These rates were the result of bette r health care practices by our membere and hard work by our boarcdand staff,” CalPERS board president Rob Fecknerd said in a press release.
“Thisz is good news for our members who arefacing furloughs, pay cuts and difficultf economic times.” Basic HMO rates for area CalPERx run from a low of 0.32 percent for Blue Shield Net Value to a high of 4.9 percenr for Kaiser. The Kaiser rates were achieve d by aligning them with the Blue Shieldbenefiy design. Kaiser will eliminate chiropracticbenefits (whicu are not provided by Kaiser and the plan will increase copayments for a 100-dayy supply of prescription drugs.
Rates are baseed on several factors, including a group’s use of health care services andbenefit package, said Kathleen Kaiser’s executive director for public policyt advocacy, legal and government relations. “Oudr 2010 rate reflects our partnership with CalPER to work together on new preventive care programx to try to reduce its costz andthe group’s utilization trends and benefit she said in an e-mail.