| Resolution Number: | 2015-D021 |
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| Title: | On the Topic of the Denominational Health Plan |
| Legislative Action Taken: | Rejected |
| Final Text: | |
Resolution died with adjournment. See Legislative History for original text of resolution.
| Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Salt Lake City, 2015 (New York: General Convention, 2015), p. 400. |
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Legislative History
| Author: | The Very Rev. Brian Coleman |
|---|---|
| Originating House: | House of Bishops |
| Originating Committee: | Church Pension Fund |
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops Committee on Church Pension Fund presented its Report #7 on Resolution D021 (Reevaluate the Denominational Health Plan Mandate) and moved adoption with amendment.
Original Text of Resolution:
(D021)
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 78th General Convention instruct the Church Medical Trust to reevaluate the Denominational Health Plan mandate previously approved by General Convention (GC 2009-A177 and GC 2012-B026), with consideration for the impact that the Affordable Care Act and the subsequently created Health Insurance Exchanges have had on health insurance costs and coverage; and be it further
Resolved, That the Church Medical Trust seek to alleviate the unanticipated and disproportionate financial burden that participation in the Denominational Health Plan has had on parishes in the midwestern United States; and be it further
Resolved, That the Church Medical Trust advise plan participants of the tax implications for clergy and lay employees covered under the Denominational Health Plan with respect to the ACA excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage; and be it further
Resolved, That the 78th General Convention instruct the Church Medical Trust to implement a plan with minimal variance in premium costs from diocese to diocese, thereby reducing cost differences for similar health insurance coverage between dioceses and regions of The Episcopal Church; and be it further
Resolved, That if the Church Medical Trust cannot offer competitively priced healthcare plans under the Denominational Health Plan in comparison to plans available in each region of the country, it allow dioceses to seek comparable health insurance quotes for coverage equivalent to or greater than that offered by the Church Medical Trust for all of its employees and parishes; and be it further
Resolved, That the Church Medical Trust, when presented with such a health insurance quote from a diocese, will either reduce the cost of the Denominational Health Plan to the amount of the quote or allow the diocese to opt out of the Denominational Health Plan, and that any diocese that has opted out of the Denominational Health Plan must annually submit its quote for the next year’s health insurance plan and provide for the opportunity for the Church Medical Trust to match the price quoted.
Committee Amendment:
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 78th General Convention instruct the Church Medical Trust to continue to reevaluate the Denominational Health Plan mandate previously approved by General Convention (GC 2009-A177 and GC 2012-B026), with consideration for the impact that the Affordable Care Act and the subsequently created Health Insurance Exchanges have had on health insurance costs and coverage; and be it further
Resolved, That the Church Medical Trust seek to alleviate the
unanticipated and disproportionate financial burden that participation in the
Denominational Health Plan has had on parishes in the midwestern United States;
and be it further
Resolved, That the Church Medical Trust advise plan
participants of the tax implications for clergy and lay employees covered under
the Denominational Health Plan with respect to the ACA excise tax on high cost
employer-sponsored health coverage; and be it further
Resolved, That the 78th General Convention instruct the
Church Medical Trust to implement a plan with minimal variance in premium costs
from diocese to diocese, thereby reducing cost differences for similar health
insurance coverage between dioceses and regions of The Episcopal Church; and be
it further
Resolved, That if the Church Medical Trust cannot offer
competitively priced healthcare plans under the Denominational Health Plan in
comparison to plans available in each region of the country, it allow dioceses
to seek comparable health insurance quotes for coverage equivalent to or
greater than that offered by the Church Medical Trust for all of its employees
and parishes; and be it further
Resolved, That the Church Medical Trust, when presented with
such a health insurance quote from a diocese, will either reduce the cost of
the Denominational Health Plan to the amount of the quote or allow the diocese
to opt out of the Denominational Health Plan, and that any diocese that has
opted out of the Denominational Health Plan must annually submit its quote for
the next year’s health insurance plan and provide for the opportunity for the
Church Medical Trust to match the price quoted.
Resolved, That, in its ongoing evaluation, the Church Medical Trust give special attention to the geographically disproportionate financial burden that participation in the Denominational Health Plan reportedly has had on some parishes and dioceses.
Motion carried
Resolution adopted with amendment
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #191)
House of Deputies
The House of Deputies Committee on Church Pension Fund presented its Report #3 on HB Message #191 on Resolution D021 (Reevaluate the Denominational Health Plan Mandate) and moved concurrence.
Deputy Frazier of West Missouri moved to amend the resolution.
Proposed Amendment:
Add a third Resolve:
Resolved, That each diocese be permitted to develop a process whereby a Faith Community can petition for permission to provide comparable health insurance coverage outside the Denominational Health Plan.
Point of Order
Deputy Beard of Kentucky inquired whether the amendment was in conflict with Canon I.8.3. The President declared the House at ease while she conferred with the Chancellor.
The President called the House to order at 4:01 p.m. and called on the Chancellor. The Chancellor clarified that the details of the Denominational Health Plan had not been placed in the canons and thus the amendment was not in conflict with the canons. The President declared the amendment in order.
Deputy King of Western New York moved to end debate on the amendment.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
An electronic vote was taken on the amendment.
Motion carried
Amendment adopted
Deputy Wood of New York moved to end debate on the resolution.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
An electronic vote was taken on the resolution.
Motion carried
Resolution adopted with amendment
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #296)
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops Committee on Church Pension Fund presented its Report #10 on HD Message #296 on Resolution D021 (Reevaluate the Denominational Health Plan Mandate) and moved to refer the resolution to a CCAB.
The Rt. Rev. Scott Hayashi, Bishop of Utah, moved an amendment.
Proposed Amendment:
Delete the third Resolve in its entirety.
The question was called.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on the amendment.
Motion carried
Amendment adopted
The question was called.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on Resolution D021 as amended.
Motion carried
Resolution referred
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #273)
Resolution Died With Adjournment.
| Abstract: | The 78th General Convention rejects a request that the CPG reevaluate the Denominational Health Plan mandate in light of the Affordable Care Act and other local diocesan considerations. |
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| Notes: | The Committee was discharged of resolutions A178, D042 and D049 in favor of Resolution 2015-D021. |