Written by Max Brantley, Arkansas Times
The state Board of Finance took up today the question of dealing with a $70 million shortfall expected next year in the public school employee health insurance program.
It heard a variety of ideas about addressing the shortfall and was encouraged to consider a motion for the legislature to consider, perhaps at its next meeting on June 29.
Among the items of discussion:
DISPARITY: An analysis that shows the state provides far more support for state employee insurance (which covers legislators) than for public school employees.
PREMIUM INCREASES: It discussed several proposals for addressing the $70 million shortfalls in the school employee program. Even with a $35 million contribution approved by the legislature for the 2022 fiscal year, a cash-flow deficit would continue in all the proposals. And depending on the type of insurance and status of the employee, all the alternatives showed sharp increases in the amount employees would have to pay.
Read the full article HERE.
