Resolution 155-2003
Commissioner McCoy
RESOLUTION NO. 155 - 2003
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE
COUNTY FLORIDA REQUESTING MONROE COUNTY BE ALLOWED TO APPLY
FOR AND PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM
BEGINNING FISCAL YEAR 2003-2004, PURSUANT TO SECTION 110.1228,
FLORIDA STATUTES.
WHEREAS, a critical issue currently facing Monroe County employees, their
dependents, and retirees is a major reduction in health care benefits and prescription drug
benefits, along with a substantial increase of premium costs to be borne by the employees
and retirees; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County's current employee, dependent, and retiree health
benefits plan is projected to cost approximately 20% of all the ad valorem taxes imposed
and collected by Monroe County; and
WHEREAS, the cost of health care and prescription drugs in the United States has
reached such a critical stage that the states are pursuing various plans to contain or reduce
costs; and
WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court will be deciding the authority of a
state's attempts to stem the rising costs of health care of medical providers in Kentucky
Ass'n of Health Plans, Inc. v. Miller, Case No. 00-1471; and
WHEREAS, the viability of a state plan designed to lower the costs of prescription
drugs in Maine will soon be determined by the U. S. Supreme Court in Pharmaceutical
Research & Mfrs. Of Am. V. Concannon, Case No. 01-188; and
WHEREAS, concomitant with other states efforts to reduce health care and
prescription drug costs, the Florida Legislature has attempted to provide some relief to
rising costs by enacting Section 110.1228, Florida Statutes, which authorized small
counties to apply for and participate in the state group health insurance program and the
state prescription drug coverage program; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County is a small county as that term is defined in Section
110.1228, Florida Statutes; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Management Services is authorized by Section
110.1228, Florida Statutes, to adopt rules necessary to administer participation by a small
county in the state group health insurance program and the state prescription drug
coverage program; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Management Services has failed to adopt or
implement any rules as authorized, and refuses to accept or consider applications from
small counties to participate in the state programs; and
WHEREAS, the section of the Department of Management Services dealing with the
group health insurance program and the prescription drug coverage program is undergoing
"privatization" and no one in that agency can predict when implementing rules will be
adopted; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County has been continuously burdened by mandates for
programs required by the federal and state governments, and for which the federal and
state governments have provided no funding or totally inadequate funding with which to
administer the mandated programs; and
WHEREAS, additional and costly administrative burdens are imposed upon the county
because the State of Florida continues to micro-manage county government in Monroe
County through the device of designating the Florida Keys to be an "Area of Critical State
Concern"; and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida has been so indifferent in its stewardship of Monroe
County under the authority of the Area of Critical State Concern that Monroe County must
now pay over $5 million dollars for which liability the state is directly responsible but is not
obligated to pay any portion thereof; and
WHEREAS, the unique geographical makeup of the Florida Keys, combined with
severely limited affordable housing, low wages, and high health care costs, provides an
environment that has the highest cost of living per capita in the State of Florida; and
WHEREAS, it is now time for the State of Florida to realize it's financial impact in
addressing the problems of Monroe County and to take a positive, professional, and caring
attitude towards providing viable, cost-effective solutions to some of the problems facing
the residents of Monroe County; and
WHEREAS, one area of concern in which the State of Florida can demonstrate its
ability and willingness to provide meaningful assistance to Monroe County's residents is the
cost of health care benefits and prescription drug costs; and
WHEREAS, one method of providing this meaningful assistance is through the
creation of a "pilot program" under the provisions of Section 110.1228, Florida Statutes, to
provide substantial relief to the residents of Monroe County in the areas of cost
containment and provision of meaningful health benefits and prescription drug services;
NOW, THEREFORE, it is requested that Monroe County, Florida be allowed to apply
for and participate in the State group health insurance program and the State prescription
drug coverage program beginning in fiscal year 2003-2004.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
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Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 17th day of April, 2~~?; ~ ~
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Mayor Spehar ves n:'''... "'Tl
,/::;,?;-~~,'~~"-M~, v.or Pro Tern Nelson ves C)~:..," CJl ?
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(>/-~~'"~missioner McCoy yes ~. s: -0 :::0
!"'."\~<iS'v 1f~t;ftr~SiOner Neugent yes :<~~ ~ ~
,,:. '/i~r~'ioner Rice BOARD OF COUN: COM~ss7oNERS ~
.::/ ~:Att~~."~~ L. KOLHAGE, CLERK OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
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By:
Mayor/Chairperson