HARRISBURG – A resolution aimed at studying the cost-savings associated with merging school district health care plans was introduced after input from local taxpayers, school board members, health care experts and others, according to its sponsor Senator David G. Argall (R-29).
Argall said the goal is to find cost-savings. “This issue has been kicked around in prior years but never been pursued,” Argall said. “The resolution will give lawmakers a roadmap as to how to create efficiencies within our 500 public school districts.”
Senate Resolution 250 will direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to evaluate the costs and savings associated with consolidating health care plans for public school employees across the state.
Specifically, Argall’s resolution will look at the cost of current health care plans and the cost of the current benefits over the next five years. The study will also look at the cost of regionalizing health care plans compared to one overall state plan for all school employees and provide the anticipated administrative, technological and staffing costs associated with implementing such reforms. Finally, the major difference from prior studies is weighing the impact of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
Argall hopes the resolution will provide a roadmap to saving tax dollars.
“The goal is not to harm current public school employee benefits, but pool resources together to get a better product at a lower cost,” Argall said.