Notes from March 28, 2017
Posted by Mark Weber
ALLISON MANNO - WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HEALTH CARE: A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE
Speaker Allison Manno offered a timely look at U.S. health care, close on the heels of a stalled effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
Speaker Allison Manno offered a timely look at U.S. health care, close on the heels of a stalled effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. She is senior vice president of Health e(fx), a 120-employee firm that provides data insights to employers trying to implement health-care programs under the ACA mandates approved seven years ago. Her company serves 400 customer firms that file about 4.5 million 1095 forms annually.
Allison outlined the changes in the now-stalled ACA replacement, and said it now appears that all parties will need to collaborate to improve what exists now in order to lower premiums and drug prices, for example. “The only way to do that is to get everyone working together,” she said, although some state-by- state regulation changes are still expected to occur.
She said there are a number of important steps that employers can take in the meantime: remain compliant with existing laws; minimize their risk; minimize the headaches inherent in administering health benefits under the current law; know when to make an offer of coverage; and leverage the forecasting and modeling analytics before making strategic benefit-plan decisions.
Announcements
- Register on the club’s website for the Above & Beyond event 6 p.m. April 25 at Eden Prairie High School to honor seniors who have overcome great obstacles to graduate this school year. The cost is down to $25, and it’s a good way to introduce Rotary to a prospective member. Donations are being taken for scholarships that will help awarded to students to purchase post-secondary textbooks.
- We’re sad to see Angela Wandera and Yvonne Selcer leave the club. Angela is joining a Bloomington club that better fits her schedule. Yvonne is turning her volunteerism elsewhere, as she no longer represents Eden Prairie in the Legislature.
- The Vocational Ethics Luncheon will be held 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 20 at Edina Country Club. Watch for the sign-up sheet at meetings or register on the club website.
- More people are needed for the Park Cleanup that will be 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 22, at Flying Cloud ball fields. You can sign up online.
- You can also sign up online now for the Test Drive: Next Stop Reality program at Eden Prairie High School on May 18.
Spotlight on Bill Gaddis
New club member Bill Gaddis is a Wisconsinite and fan of the Packers and Badgers. He worked in the hospitality industry for years, then moved in 2014 to the Twin Cities, where he worked in sales. He’s currently in between jobs but is interested in getting back into sales, possibly insurance sales. He moved to Eden Prairie in October after living in St. Louis Park, and has been active as a Rotarian over the last 11 years. That includes being active at the District 5950 level. In his free time he likes to bike and follow sports – in fact, he’s a diehard Cubs fan. Welcome to the club, Bill.Happy Fines
We were happy, and willing to offer money as proof. Roger Jorgensen was happy to say that the upcoming Above & Beyond event can be an important and moving showcase of Rotary’s work. George Esbensen, fire chief, was happy to accommodate people’s prescription-drug disposal issues by bringing special disposal bags to a future meeting; at other times you can get disposal bags at the Police Department. Jay Simpson was happy about the recent birth of a niece. Cathy Haukedahl was happy about a recent prize-winning escapade that also included her daughter as a winner. Pastor Rod was happy about a recent visit to Florida, where friends were visited and the sun was shining. John Goergen was happy about joining the club and a recent trip to New Zealand.Visitors
Louise Manno - Guest of Speaker
Ale Pena Gonzalez - Exchange Student
Bailey DeMets and Parker Hewitt- Student Interns