to health benefits in 2010
If you’re in the state’s Empire Plan, look for these benefit changes, authorized in the 2007-2011 PS&T contract, to start January 1, 2010
.
New Federal Parity Law
In addition to the negotiated benefit changes, additional changes to the Empire Plan Mental Health and Substance Abuse Program take effect January 1, 2010, under The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.
This law requires the Empire Plan to provide benefits for the treatment of mental health and substance abuse disorders in full parity with the benefits for other medical services.
However, the federal regulations to implement the law are not yet final. The information provided below is based on OptumHealth’s analysis and expectations of how Empire Plan benefits will be affected.
Freedom to choose beats out flu shot
mandate
By DEBORAH A. MILES
Victory came not only to PEF, but to health care workers across New York, October 22 when the state rescinded the regulation requiring certain health care workers to receive the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccination, or face the possibility of losing their jobs.
“This was the proper and appropriate action for the state to take,” said PEF President Ken Brynien. “This was an extremely passionate issue for many of our members, especially our 5,000 health care workers.”
The state withdrew the mandate six days after PEF acquired an unprecedented restraining order halting the forced vaccinations and was aggressively moving ahead with its lawsuit to nullify and void the emergency regulation.
Brynien said the state’s final decision reflects the importance of protecting the rights of workers to make informed choices as individuals in deciding whether or not to be vaccinated, and not based on a condition of employment.
Robert
Masiello was one PEF member who felt so strongly about this issue, he
became a plaintiff in PEF’s lawsuit.
Masiello is a senior laboratory equipment designer at Helen Hayes Hospital in Rockland County.
“We were told it was a condition of our employment to receive the vaccines,” Masiello said. “I felt we could yield to another form of a non-invasive type of action, but not an invasive procedure.
There are people on both sides of this issue, but the first step was having the opportunity to choose what is right for you as an individual.
“I felt very strongly about this,” Masiello said. “To have someone tell me, after 34 years of employment, I can’t work anymore because I choose not to be forced to have these vaccines is unacceptable. I was glad to step-up and be a part of making the state realize the mandate was inappropriate.”
Brynien said PEF will continue to encourage its members to get vaccinated against the seasonal and H1N1 flu, as it always has. The union’s opposition was with the regulation being a condition of employment.
Brynien also said the state should focus on better public education for voluntary vaccinations.
By DEBORAH A. MILES
Victory came not only to PEF, but to health care workers across New York, October 22 when the state rescinded the regulation requiring certain health care workers to receive the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccination, or face the possibility of losing their jobs.
“This was the proper and appropriate action for the state to take,” said PEF President Ken Brynien. “This was an extremely passionate issue for many of our members, especially our 5,000 health care workers.”
The state withdrew the mandate six days after PEF acquired an unprecedented restraining order halting the forced vaccinations and was aggressively moving ahead with its lawsuit to nullify and void the emergency regulation.
Brynien said the state’s final decision reflects the importance of protecting the rights of workers to make informed choices as individuals in deciding whether or not to be vaccinated, and not based on a condition of employment.
Robert
Masiello was one PEF member who felt so strongly about this issue, he
became a plaintiff in PEF’s lawsuit.Masiello is a senior laboratory equipment designer at Helen Hayes Hospital in Rockland County.
“We were told it was a condition of our employment to receive the vaccines,” Masiello said. “I felt we could yield to another form of a non-invasive type of action, but not an invasive procedure.
There are people on both sides of this issue, but the first step was having the opportunity to choose what is right for you as an individual.
“I felt very strongly about this,” Masiello said. “To have someone tell me, after 34 years of employment, I can’t work anymore because I choose not to be forced to have these vaccines is unacceptable. I was glad to step-up and be a part of making the state realize the mandate was inappropriate.”
Brynien said PEF will continue to encourage its members to get vaccinated against the seasonal and H1N1 flu, as it always has. The union’s opposition was with the regulation being a condition of employment.
Brynien also said the state should focus on better public education for voluntary vaccinations.
Once the new regs are announced, this information could change. Any changes will be reported in The Communicator and online at www.pef.org under Health Benefits.
