Employee Health

Maryland's first-in-the-nation law to compel Wal-Mart to spend more on employee health care suffered another setback yesterday, providing fresh incentive for legislative leaders in Annapolis to explore ways to boost insurance coverage that do not involve the retailing giant. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit upheld a lower court finding that struck down Maryland's legislation. A divided three-judge panel ruled that the state's Fair Share Health Care Act was incompatible with federal rules that promote uniform treatment of employees.

Mid Atlantic Medical Services Inc., the Rockville HMO operator, said yesterday it expects to begin settlement discussions soon on a federal audit that said that it overcharged for premiums on federal employee health insurance from 1992 to MAMSI announced Wednesday, when it released its third quarter financial results, that it was setting aside $16.5 million for the possible settlement. It had disclosed the audit in August, in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.Elizabeth Sammis, a MAMSI senior director and spokeswoman, said the company had received the draft audit in May, had responded to the draft and was awaiting a reply from the federal Office of Personnel Management, which administers the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program.

TODAY IS YOUR first day at your new job. You're given the typical forms to fill out.You complete a questionnaire about your current state of health, including questions about family medical history and allergies. What happens to that information after you provide it? What happens if you confide in a company health professional at your workplace about a worsening ulcer, a difficult pregnancy or a chronic ailment?Most individuals assume that their personal health information will be kept confidential, but few laws exist to protect this kind of information.

If there's one thing Jerome Gotthainer says he doesn't want, it's another managed health care plan interested in profits first and patients last.The New Jersey native now finds himself in a place -- the helm of Johns Hopkins Health System's new venture into the managed health care business for employers -- to steer Hopkins' new ship in a different direction and, he hopes, shape the direction of managed health care in the region, if not the country.He's...

It's been two years since Russell Long and Al Ankrum ditched their jobs and jumped into one of health care's curious trends.Specifically, what the two did in 1994 was launch what's known as a business health care purchasing coalition -- a new version of that tried and true consumer standby, the co-op.It seems that many these days, from big corporations to teachers' unions, are willing to join up to see if together they can get better employee health care contracts with the major managed care and health maintenance organizations.

WASHINGTON -- Federal workers were busy plotting strategies to fend off government budget-cutters as Congress reconvened this week.In the new Congress, which opened yesterday, lawmakers are likely to take up several key issues that affect federal workers. Thus, many employees are worried they will bear the brunt of anticipated changes in health care and retirement benefits and pay rates."To some extent, we're going to be playing defense," said Bruce Moyer, executive director of the Federal Managers Association in Virginia.

The Anne Arundel firefighters union filed suit yesterday in Circuit Court to block the county from implementing its new health care plan, saying the cost to its members is still unknown.The Anne Arundel County Professional Firefighters Association, Local 1563, is asking for a court order to prevent the county from issuing notices of the plan -- scheduled for Sunday -- that will require many employees to abandon their current health care plans.A hearing on the request is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today before Judge Warren B. Duckett Jr.The firefighters union, which represents 570 career firefighters, says the delay is necessary to give an arbitrator time to resolve two grievances about health care filed by county employees.

Although employees at the Sykesville post office complained about poor air quality in the building, officials didn't take action until a congressman intervened."

Disgruntled county employee unions are threatening to go to court over changes in their health care benefits that the County Council adopted Monday night.Dennis Howell, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 70, which represents the county's patrol officers, said he would be "remiss in my duties" if he didn't investigate binding arbitration or legal action to stop what he says are violations of his union's contract.In addition, Helen Simpson, president of the union that represents clerical and technical employees, and LeRoy Wilkison, president of the firefighters union, said they are considering action to redress contract violations.

Health insurance is a major issue for all Americans. With costs rising three times the overall rate of inflation, as use of expensive new medical technologies and medicines increases, as employees are forced to pay much higher contributions toward what was once a "fringe benefit" of employment - it is a subject that will receive renewed attention in Congress under the new administration.For most people, health insurance is tied to their employment (or to government Medicare or Medicaid programs)

Four years ago, when Maryland legislators approved what became known as the Wal-Mart bill - a mandate that would have forced the retailing giant to either pay a minimum amount for employee health benefits or a hefty penalty to the state - it was derided by the company as both bad public policy and illegal. The latter objection proved to be true. It was thrown out by a federal appeals court as a violation of federal law that limits states' ability to regulate employee benefits. But the reasoning behind the proposal was sound: If companies are to compete on a level playing field, how can some be burdened with the obligation of providing increasingly expensive health care insurance while others are not?

Maryland's first-in-the-nation law to compel Wal-Mart to spend more on employee health care suffered another setback yesterday, providing fresh incentive for legislative leaders in Annapolis to explore ways to boost insurance coverage that do not involve the retailing giant. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit upheld a lower court finding that struck down Maryland's legislation. A divided three-judge panel ruled that the state's Fair Share Health Care Act was incompatible with federal rules that promote uniform treatment of employees.

RICHMOND, Va. -- Attorneys for the state argued before a federal appeals court yesterday to preserve Maryland's first-in-the-nation statute to force Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to spend more on employee benefits, but lawmakers in Annapolis have already begun looking for other ways to expand health care access. Maryland's bill, known as the Fair Share Health Care Act, drew national attention a year ago amid intensifying pressure for the giant retailer to change its business practices. But the measure was struck down in July by a lower-court judge on the grounds that it ran afoul of a federal law that promotes uniform treatment of employees.

Howard County Democrats are eager to restart the discussion about whether retail giant Wal-Mart should pay more for employee health care in Maryland, judging from debates at two candidate forums this week for General Assembly candidates. County Executive James N. Robey, a Democratic candidate for the state Senate in District 13, raised the issue at both forums, one held by the North Laurel Civic Association Tuesday night and the second by the League of Women Voters at Howard Community College Wednesday, which also was televised.

Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley began running the fifth television advertisement of his gubernatorial campaign yesterday, focusing on a health care platform he has rolled out over the past several weeks. Without mentioning his opponent by name, the 30-second spot suggests Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. has "sided with the big insurance companies," a reference to this year's debate over employee health care costs at Wal-Mart, the campaign said. What the ad says: The ad starts with white text on a black background that reads, "healthcare we can afford."

It didn't take long for the spin to start on the decision of U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz to strike down Maryland's "Wal-Mart law." The head of the state's Department of Business and Economic Development uses the law as Exhibit A in his insufferable campaign to bad-mouth Maryland's business climate. Our (better) argument against the law is that requiring large employers - in effect, only Wal-Mart - to devote 8 percent of payroll toward employee health care was unfair and selective.

A courtroom challenge to a Maryland law requiring Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to increase spending for employee health care should be tossed out because the legislation gives the retail giant several alternatives, including setting up first-aid stations or creating health savings accounts for workers, lawyers for the state said yesterday. In February, a retail trade group filed suit on behalf of the discounter to strike down the so- called Wal-Mart law passed earlier this year by the General Assembly, saying federal rules don't allow states to specify companies' benefits.

Wal-Mart law poses threat to business Dan Rodricks just doesn't get it ("Bad for business? The short answer: Ha!" April 23). Yes, the Wal-Mart bill applies only to companies with 10,000 or more employees. But Mr. Rodricks seems to forget that Del. James W. Hubbard also introduced legislation that would have required all companies to provide health insurance. With diligent work, the business community was able to defeat that onerous legislation. But passing the Wal-Mart bill in Maryland has emboldened those who would require all businesses to provide health insurance.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- The president and chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. yesterday called "ridiculous" the Maryland law that requires his company to spend more on employee health care but said it wouldn't deter Wal-Mart from expanding in the state or anywhere it deems fit. H. Lee Scott made the remarks during a conference with reporters here in the city where the world's largest retailer is headquartered. The company began holding such media events a year ago to help its image and to respond publicly to mounting criticism about its business and labor practices.

WASHINGTON -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc., under growing pressure in many states to improve health care benefits, said yesterday that it will expand coverage for its employees and build more than 50 in-store health clinics. At the same time, the nation's No. 1 private employer said in a news release that government and business must "work together to solve this challenge" of rising health care costs. The company said that on Sunday, at the annual winter meeting here of the National Governors Association, chief executive H. Lee Scott Jr. will call on state lawmakers to work with companies.