Doctors' Benefits Upset Board
Posted on: Friday, 15 July 2005, 09:01 CDT
The four school physicians for the Lancaster School District get a nominal salary, $5,100 each, but they also get health insurance from the district, the School Board was surprised to learn Tuesday night.
The board was running through routine appointments during its annual reorganizational meeting when a question from board member Lorraine Bona triggered a discussion that raised a red flag for a board that is grappling with a contingency budget.
"We were never told they receive health benefits. I have a problem with that," said board member Marie MacKay.
The district has been providing health insurance for the four doctors from Lancaster Depew Pediatrics for the past four years, district officials said.
The district pays about $8,600 for each employee who gets an HMO family plan, or $13,600 for anyone who opts for Traditional Blue Cross Blue Shield, Edward Myszka, assistant superintendent for business, said after the meeting. Employees contribute 6 percent of the cost of an HMO or 21 percent of the cost of Blue Cross.
The doctors are considered district employees, rather than contractors. That means that, in addition to their salaries and health benefits, they are enrolled in the state employees retirement system -- which also was news to the board.
Each of the doctors -- Mark Bezbatchenko, Elizabeth Davis, Michael Rabice and Michael Terranova -- has been working for the district for at least seven years, according to payroll records. Officials said the physicians perform physicals for students, bus drivers and teachers and attend Lancaster football games.
Superintendent Thomas J. Markle said he thought the compensation package was in line with what other districts provide for their doctors.
"I wouldn't say it's out of range, necessarily, for the volume and expectations," he said.
He said that Springville, the district he previously worked in, paid one doctor a salary of $25,000 and provided health insurance.
The board voted unanimously to table the doctors' reappointments until it receives more information about the total cost of the compensation package.
e-mail: mpasciak@buffnews.com
Source: Buffalo News
Related Articles
- U-M Health System and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Announce Marianne Udow As Director for Joint Venture
- Research and Markets: Profiles of 60 Providers of Health Cash Insurance Products Such As VIVAS, Halifax and BUPA Are Featured Inside 2007's Edition of Health Cash Insurance Report
- Safeway Partners With Health Care Insurers on New Medicare Prescription Drug Education Program
- Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, Inc. (CDPHP) Selects ikaSystems' Total Business Solution for Its Small and Large Group Products
- Hacienda La Puente Unified School District Board OKs $5.7 Million in Cuts
- Four East Valley Schools Awarded for Excellence: Kyrene, Mesa Campuses Among 13 Honored in State
- Capital District Physicians' Health Plan Selects Health Dialog to Provide Care Management Services
- Capital District Physicians Health Plan Implements AMISYS Advance
- Health-Care Insurance Increases Outpace Wage Increases
- Health Group Seeks to Eliminate Sodas in Schools
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds