Notes from the December 10-11 Board Meeting

One of the most important presentation at this quarter's Board meeting will be 

Notes from May 22, 2024 Board Meeting

Great news, health insurance rates will not increase in FY25.  Issues w/ Express Scripts are being resolved. Investment returns exceeded benchmarks. While there will/should be an increase in the annuity of those who retired over 20 years in January 2025, this covers 27 percent of retirees.  I hope the Board will discuss retirement increases in the upcoming meetings in August and December.

December 5-6:  ERS Board Meeting

  My first Board meeting went well.  In fact, two of the appointed board members who were sitting next to me complimented me on asking questions.  At one of my orientation sessions, a couple of the executive staff commented that they had not been asked as many questions in previous board orientation sessions.

The Tuesday session focused on the retirement funds' fiscal status.  The lege appropriated enough funds to eliminate the unfunded liability for the Law Enforcement and Custodial Officer Supplemental Retirement Fund (LECOSRF) and the Judicial Retirement System (JRS) Plans.  The 88th lege did provide $1.9 billion to augment the ERS Retirement Plan.  This supplement will allow ERS to increase the monthly check for those of us who have been retired for twenty years or more in January 2025.  This annuity increase will be three percent of one's monthly check w/ a maximum of $100.  I will be going to the investment division meeting in January to discuss w/ them how returns could be improved to provide other's w/ an increase.

ERS will need to more actively discuss w/ the 89th lege funding to provide all retired state employees w/ an increase comparable to that provided to retired teachers.  I estimate that providing a 13th check to all retirees would require a one-time appropriation of almost $1 billion from the legislature.  An alternative, similar to the lump sum that teachers received, would require a $450 million appropriation.  While I would like ERS to take more risk, they have justifications for requiring appropriations from the lege.

The Wednesday meeting focused on benefits.  ERS is very aware of the issues w/ the United Advantage plan and Austin area providers.  I made a few efforts to ask why ERS doesn't use its importance to United and local providers to get a resolution.  ERS is probably the second-largest provider of insurance coverage in the state.  Only TRS is bigger.  ERS is also a large insurance provider for those in the Austin area.  I will continue to pester the ERS benefits group to ensure we can obtain services from all Austin area providers w/out having to file for reimbursement.  I was told that Blaise Duran, the acting head of Group Benefits, is related to Susan Combs.

While following bureaucratic rules was never my forte, should you have any questions or concerns, please email me at stuart.greenfield@ers.texas.gov and sjg@austin.rr.com.  As an ERS Board member, I cannot "lobby." However, I have already met w/ the four groups, AFSCME, RSEA, TPEA, and TSEU, that represent active and retired state employees.  I will continue to do so to improve both active and retired employee compensation. 

ERS Statement on Benefit Increase

The state should continue to have beaucoup dollars as the Certification Revenue Estimate (CRE) shows an ending cash balance in 2025 of $18.3 billion.

February 5:  Increase in Drug Prices

On one's first prescription, there is a $50 deductible each of us is responsible for. That may explain the $50 dollar difference for your first prescription. One should compare the pricing at Express Scripts w/ that from GoodRx.com and apply for a GoodRx card.  You can use the card at Walmart, HEB, CVS, and Walgreens.

January 5:  Austin Radiology Associates (ARA) status update

I thought I had uncovered a way to have ARA send one bill to UHC even though ARA is not in-network.  Unfortunately, the process only works for those requiring continuity of care.  So, if you've been receiving scans for treatment over the past year, you should call UHC and obtain an interaction or referral number.  One can then use this number when booking an appointment at ARA.  Here's a link to other radiological services.

One can also do a Google search for"radiological services near Kyle tx".  Replace Kyle w/ the area you live in.

October 19:  Austin Radiology Associates (ARA) status update

I was at an orientation session at ERS today and asked about the status of United Health Care and ARA. The parties are still negotiating, and ARA will now accept appointments from UHC members. However, ARA will require payment, so one will need to file a claim w/ UHC. It is not the most brilliant move by both parties, as ARA will need to pay a credit card processing fee, and UHC will have to process a member submission, which is more complex than directly paying the provider.

As I learn more, I will keep everyone updated.

September 20:  Letter from Corrections Officer's Wife wrt COLA

I received a letter from the wife of a corrections officer who retired in 1997.  While he did receive the COLA and 13th check in 2000, since then, bubkes.  I want to share my response to this letter and the document "ERS statement on the status of the ERS Retirement Plan and increases for retirees." 

It would have been informative had ERS made its status document available to all retirees.  They have the email addresses of many/most retirees, and informing them of the status of a supplement should have been a no-brainer.  Nothing in that document violated any state constitutional amendment, state law, or agency rule or regulation.  I will make every effort to improve the information flow between ERS and, retirees and active employees.

August 2:  Greenfield elected to serve on ERS Board of Trustees