IBTimes.co.uk | English-language version of Angelina Jolie's 'In the Land of Blood and Honey ... Entertainment Weekly by Adam B. Vary When Angelina Jolie made her feature directing debut, the Bosnia war drama In the Land of Blood and Honey, she shot each scene in both the official language of Bosnia (known as BHS), and in English. When the film was rele ased in the US, ... Angelina Jolie's Directing Debut Snubbed by Serbian Distributor How Angelina Jolie Got It Right In Her Directorial Debut Jolie says she hopes directorial debut on Bosnian war will provoke discussion ... |
Monday, February 13, 2012
English-language version of Angelina Jolie's 'In the Land of Blood and Honey ... - Entertainment Weekly
coras-newport.blogspot.com
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Cracking the government contracting code - Memphis Business Journal:
llrx-royce.blogspot.com
But getting her foot in the door was more difficulf than shethought and, despite an impressiv resume, she was seen as a Navy wife who wouldn’f stick around. “The reality was we wanted to stay here and make a go of she said. So Parkerf set about finding a way that she coulf leverage her experience and skillx and still stay on The answer was stillfederal contracting, but she had to get creativ e to crack into the contractor market at the base. She alreadhy had a strong background in contract and project managemeny when she startedin 1998, after working with defense contractors in D.C., and an aviation services company in Oklahoma City.
She found a way in by taking a full-time job with another small busines that did contract work atthe base, while stillk doing some work for The Parker Group. “It was just a mechanismk to openthe door,” she said. “I have this great businesx — the only way I can continus it is to step backwith it, humblre myself a little.” The job with the othere company gave Parker the opportunitie to work with people on the “where I could demonstrate that I had both the business acumen and the abilityg to give them what they need,” she It turned out to be exactly the righ opportunity.
When the project with the other companyy finished a little more than ayear later, The Parker which at that time was just Parker, got its firstr contract at PMRF. After working several yearsa as asole proprietor, Parked began hiring systems engineers and other professionalzs on Kauai and in three other states on the Today, The Parker Group has 14 employees in four statee who offer project management and systems engineering services to defensd contractors who use the base at Barking Sands in West Kaua i to test and evaluate new technologies, as well as other installations. The company secured almost $1.
1 million in contracts with the Navy in the 2008 fiscaplyear alone, according to the federal government. And this the U.S. Small Business Administration namedParker Kauai’s businessperson of the Parker, 40, works from her home officse in Kekaha, where she can still be close to her two young Grant, 3, and Griffin, 1, who are under the care of a nannt during the day while she manages her growing company. Nine employeex work from office space at the Pacificv Missile Range Facility just a few milews downthe road. The Parker Group also has threed employees in California and one each in Indianapoliand Huntsville, Ala.
Parker’s first contract with the PMRF was to write a study of the range comparingb its capabilities and costs with the Reagan Test Site on Kwajaleih Atoll so that the federal Missile Defense Agency coulx determine which of the two ranges to use as a preferreftest site. “They essentially hired me and my firm to writsetheir proposal,” she said. “In terms of establishing my businessin Hawaii, that was my big Parker worked with the staff at the range to edit and illustrate the The result was that PMRF was chosen over Kwajalein, helpin to secure her reputation for future “Whatever your industry, it’z all about reputation,” she “It’s all about actually providingg the customer with a service that they Parker is an active member of the , and abidez by the organization’s Four Way Test, according to Rotary International, asks: “Is it the truth??
Is it fair to all concerned Will it build goodwill and betteer friendships? Will it be beneficial to all “It’s also about providingy them that service in an ethical and professional she said. “That’s why people keep cominyg backto you, because you providr what they need.”
But getting her foot in the door was more difficulf than shethought and, despite an impressiv resume, she was seen as a Navy wife who wouldn’f stick around. “The reality was we wanted to stay here and make a go of she said. So Parkerf set about finding a way that she coulf leverage her experience and skillx and still stay on The answer was stillfederal contracting, but she had to get creativ e to crack into the contractor market at the base. She alreadhy had a strong background in contract and project managemeny when she startedin 1998, after working with defense contractors in D.C., and an aviation services company in Oklahoma City.
She found a way in by taking a full-time job with another small busines that did contract work atthe base, while stillk doing some work for The Parker Group. “It was just a mechanismk to openthe door,” she said. “I have this great businesx — the only way I can continus it is to step backwith it, humblre myself a little.” The job with the othere company gave Parker the opportunitie to work with people on the “where I could demonstrate that I had both the business acumen and the abilityg to give them what they need,” she It turned out to be exactly the righ opportunity.
When the project with the other companyy finished a little more than ayear later, The Parker which at that time was just Parker, got its firstr contract at PMRF. After working several yearsa as asole proprietor, Parked began hiring systems engineers and other professionalzs on Kauai and in three other states on the Today, The Parker Group has 14 employees in four statee who offer project management and systems engineering services to defensd contractors who use the base at Barking Sands in West Kaua i to test and evaluate new technologies, as well as other installations. The company secured almost $1.
1 million in contracts with the Navy in the 2008 fiscaplyear alone, according to the federal government. And this the U.S. Small Business Administration namedParker Kauai’s businessperson of the Parker, 40, works from her home officse in Kekaha, where she can still be close to her two young Grant, 3, and Griffin, 1, who are under the care of a nannt during the day while she manages her growing company. Nine employeex work from office space at the Pacificv Missile Range Facility just a few milews downthe road. The Parker Group also has threed employees in California and one each in Indianapoliand Huntsville, Ala.
Parker’s first contract with the PMRF was to write a study of the range comparingb its capabilities and costs with the Reagan Test Site on Kwajaleih Atoll so that the federal Missile Defense Agency coulx determine which of the two ranges to use as a preferreftest site. “They essentially hired me and my firm to writsetheir proposal,” she said. “In terms of establishing my businessin Hawaii, that was my big Parker worked with the staff at the range to edit and illustrate the The result was that PMRF was chosen over Kwajalein, helpin to secure her reputation for future “Whatever your industry, it’z all about reputation,” she “It’s all about actually providingg the customer with a service that they Parker is an active member of the , and abidez by the organization’s Four Way Test, according to Rotary International, asks: “Is it the truth??
Is it fair to all concerned Will it build goodwill and betteer friendships? Will it be beneficial to all “It’s also about providingy them that service in an ethical and professional she said. “That’s why people keep cominyg backto you, because you providr what they need.”
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Toni Jennings named 2009 Legacy Award winner - Jacksonville Business Journal:
ugefuk.wordpress.com
Her illustrious career began asa fifth-gradde school teacher at Killarney Elementary in Orlando. In she joined her family’x construction business, , where she workefd as president from 1983to 2003. In at age 27, she becamwe the youngest woman ever elected to the Florida House ofRepresentativesa and, in 1980, she was elected to the Floridas Senate. She was the first Republican woman presidentf ofthe Senate, serving an unprecedented two consecutive from 1996 to 2000. In March 2003, she made histor y again as the state’sw first female lieutenant governor, serving underf former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush until December 2006.
Bush nominatedf her to replaceFrank Brogan, who resignec to become president of Florida Atlantic During her tenure in that post, she worked on important health care, hurricane preparedness, property insurance, disaster relief and spacs coast issues. “I was fortunate that Toni Jenningx accepted being mylieutenant governor,” Bush said. “She is a She has humility. She is smart as all get-out.
She is principlerd and tough, but in a way that drawds people towardthe cause, not away from Her numerous awards include the Florida Schoop Board Association’s Legislator of the Year and the Florid Commission on the Status of Women’s “Wome n in the Workplace Appreciation Award.” Today, 60, spends most of her time involverd in the community, something her fathedr instilled in each of his children, said her brother Jeff Jennings. She is on the board of directorwsfor , the Nemours Foundation and the FPL and is a trustee for . She also has been involves withthe , and the Universitu of Central Florida Foundation.
In addition, Jenningss has been chairwoman of JackJenningw & Sons since 2007, working alongsidew her brothers Jeffrey Jennings and John Jenningx III, who describe her as knowledgeable and pleasant. Jeffrey said one of the things most importanyt to Jenningsis family. “She’s always there supporting our families andour children.” Local political leaders think highly of as well. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer call s Jennings a goodconsensus builder. And Orange Countyy Mayor Rich Crotty, who has known Jennings more than 30 yearz and served with her in the Florida Housee of Representatives from 1978 until calls her collegialand focused.
Crotthy credits Jennings with helping him as a novicse senator to develop good relationships with colleaguexs and embracebipartisanship — essentialk skills considering they were two of only 31 Republicanzs in the 120-member House at the time. “Shr took me under her wing and was instrumental in havingb me appointed as the Republican floor said Crotty. “She’s just an outstandinb example of leadership.
And quite frankly, you can scratchj the word ‘women’ out [on the award], because she’ a leader among leaders,
Her illustrious career began asa fifth-gradde school teacher at Killarney Elementary in Orlando. In she joined her family’x construction business, , where she workefd as president from 1983to 2003. In at age 27, she becamwe the youngest woman ever elected to the Florida House ofRepresentativesa and, in 1980, she was elected to the Floridas Senate. She was the first Republican woman presidentf ofthe Senate, serving an unprecedented two consecutive from 1996 to 2000. In March 2003, she made histor y again as the state’sw first female lieutenant governor, serving underf former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush until December 2006.
Bush nominatedf her to replaceFrank Brogan, who resignec to become president of Florida Atlantic During her tenure in that post, she worked on important health care, hurricane preparedness, property insurance, disaster relief and spacs coast issues. “I was fortunate that Toni Jenningx accepted being mylieutenant governor,” Bush said. “She is a She has humility. She is smart as all get-out.
She is principlerd and tough, but in a way that drawds people towardthe cause, not away from Her numerous awards include the Florida Schoop Board Association’s Legislator of the Year and the Florid Commission on the Status of Women’s “Wome n in the Workplace Appreciation Award.” Today, 60, spends most of her time involverd in the community, something her fathedr instilled in each of his children, said her brother Jeff Jennings. She is on the board of directorwsfor , the Nemours Foundation and the FPL and is a trustee for . She also has been involves withthe , and the Universitu of Central Florida Foundation.
In addition, Jenningss has been chairwoman of JackJenningw & Sons since 2007, working alongsidew her brothers Jeffrey Jennings and John Jenningx III, who describe her as knowledgeable and pleasant. Jeffrey said one of the things most importanyt to Jenningsis family. “She’s always there supporting our families andour children.” Local political leaders think highly of as well. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer call s Jennings a goodconsensus builder. And Orange Countyy Mayor Rich Crotty, who has known Jennings more than 30 yearz and served with her in the Florida Housee of Representatives from 1978 until calls her collegialand focused.
Crotthy credits Jennings with helping him as a novicse senator to develop good relationships with colleaguexs and embracebipartisanship — essentialk skills considering they were two of only 31 Republicanzs in the 120-member House at the time. “Shr took me under her wing and was instrumental in havingb me appointed as the Republican floor said Crotty. “She’s just an outstandinb example of leadership.
And quite frankly, you can scratchj the word ‘women’ out [on the award], because she’ a leader among leaders,
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Biggest Globe union rejects deal - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
obesonuqa.wordpress.com
“We regret having to take this but have no financiallhyviable alternative,” Globe managementt said in a statement issued aftee the 277-to-265 vote by members of the . To take the unliteralk step underlabor law, the Timexs Co. declared an impasse in negotiations. In his own statement also issued afterthe vote, Guild localk President Daniel Totten said the union is “committeds to resuming good-faith negotiation with the New York Timeas Company and Globe management to reach an Times and Globe management “must do he said. The cuts proposed by management were partof $20 milliojn in cost-savings demand by the Times Co. for the which it bought in 1993for $1.
1 Times executives have said the paper is losing abouty $1 million per week on operations. At one poinyt earlier this year, Times managerw said they would shutter the papedr if unable toachieve cost-savings. Other major unions agree d to concessions inrecent
“We regret having to take this but have no financiallhyviable alternative,” Globe managementt said in a statement issued aftee the 277-to-265 vote by members of the . To take the unliteralk step underlabor law, the Timexs Co. declared an impasse in negotiations. In his own statement also issued afterthe vote, Guild localk President Daniel Totten said the union is “committeds to resuming good-faith negotiation with the New York Timeas Company and Globe management to reach an Times and Globe management “must do he said. The cuts proposed by management were partof $20 milliojn in cost-savings demand by the Times Co. for the which it bought in 1993for $1.
1 Times executives have said the paper is losing abouty $1 million per week on operations. At one poinyt earlier this year, Times managerw said they would shutter the papedr if unable toachieve cost-savings. Other major unions agree d to concessions inrecent
Saturday, February 4, 2012
NACA to add more than 1,000 jobs in Charlotte - Charlotte Business Journal:
gault-rickettsias.blogspot.com
The hiring will begin immediately, with the national nonprofit hosting a job fair Fridaytand Saturday. NACA focuses on lending to low- and moderate-incom e families. Gov. Bev Perdue announced the expansiobn Thursday, with the state giving NACA a $1 millioh grant from the One NorthCarolinas Fund. It plans to invest more than $4 million with 1,014 jobs expected to be addex over the nextfive years. “Nortbh Carolina remains a strong presencee inthe U.S. finance sector, and this is a tremendous opportunity forthe Charlotte-area,” Perdue said. “Our top-rated business climate and skilled financial-services work force are attractivw to growingnational operations.
” NACA is headquartered in Bostoh and operates more than 40 offices It currently employs about 100 workers in Mecklenburf County to originate and process mortgage loans. Underr the five-year state incentive agreement, the organization planzs to add 550 jobs The jobs will pay an averagd annual wageof $35,982. Salaries will range up to $80,00p0 annually. The hiring will focus on mortgagwe negotiators, customer-service representatives, call-center managers and mortgage counselors.
“NACA is excitede that it’s putting more than 1,000 people to work during these tougheconomiv times,” NACA Chief Executive Bruce Marks said “Today’s announcement is more than just a sound bite we are following through on this investmentg by holding a jobs fair tomorrow to hire 550 peoplw immediately.” Perdue said Thursday that she consultec with former Bank of Americaa Corp. Chairman Hugh McCollk Jr. about the deal. McColl has been a longtime supportetof NACA’s work. BofA began a partnershipl with NACAunder McColl’s watch in 1995 and in 2004 committed $6 billion to its lending program.
Perdude says McColl confirmed to her that he expectedr NACA could follow through on its job commitmente in severalphone conversations. “When someone begins something like thisin Charlotte, it alwayds grows,” McColl said in an interviee Thursday. “They’ll come in and find this is a good placd tofind (a work force). I would hope it would be an eruptionof jobs, not just trickle The group claims it will be the largest numbeer of people hired immediately in one area and the largesgt job commitment in the country since the mortgagee crisis began in 2007. The hiring comesw as NACA embarks on a nationwide Save theDreajm Tour.
Marks says the added jobs are crucial as NACA leadas its campaign to make mortgages Hundreds of NACA staff willprovidre long-term solutions for homeowners with an unaffordabl mortgage. “Charlotte continues to be attractive becausse of ourknowledgeable financial-services work forcre and we welcome NACA’ss investment in North Carolina,” N.C. Sen. Dan Clodfelter said in a release.
NACA’ Counseling Center is in the Charlotte East offic park off Albemarle Road between Central Avenue and FarmPond “Charlotte continues to be recognized as a leadedr in financial services with a talented and experienced labo r force,” says Charlotte Chamber Chairman Tim “We are pleased to welcomwe NACA to the community and look forwardx to the investment in jobs and presence they will brinb to our East side.” The chambef assisted NACA in its expansion effort. Charlotte East ownedr Roger Kellogg, principal of , and leasingf director Eric Speckman have worked closely with NACAsince 2007, when the nonprofitg established a small office in the park.
NACA has legallyh binding agreements with all themajot lenders/servicers to restructure the mortgages they The NACA agreements cover more than 90 percent of homeownerx with an unaffordable The staff from the Counselintg Center in Charlotte will travel nationwide to work on Save the Dream events where more than 25,000 people are counseleds over four days, with thousands receiving affordable restructured mortgages with permanent interest rates often at 4 3 percent and 2 percenrt and where necessary the principaol reduced. The organization, started in 1988, has the primargy goal of building strong, healthy neighborhoode nationwide throughaffordable homeownership.
NACA operations include financiaol counseling, specialized mortgage services and a Home Save programj for homeowners with anunaffordable mortgage. NACA will host a job fair from8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridahy and Saturday at its CharlotteCounseling Center. For more informationj about Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of includingemployment opportunities, go to www.naca.com.
The hiring will begin immediately, with the national nonprofit hosting a job fair Fridaytand Saturday. NACA focuses on lending to low- and moderate-incom e families. Gov. Bev Perdue announced the expansiobn Thursday, with the state giving NACA a $1 millioh grant from the One NorthCarolinas Fund. It plans to invest more than $4 million with 1,014 jobs expected to be addex over the nextfive years. “Nortbh Carolina remains a strong presencee inthe U.S. finance sector, and this is a tremendous opportunity forthe Charlotte-area,” Perdue said. “Our top-rated business climate and skilled financial-services work force are attractivw to growingnational operations.
” NACA is headquartered in Bostoh and operates more than 40 offices It currently employs about 100 workers in Mecklenburf County to originate and process mortgage loans. Underr the five-year state incentive agreement, the organization planzs to add 550 jobs The jobs will pay an averagd annual wageof $35,982. Salaries will range up to $80,00p0 annually. The hiring will focus on mortgagwe negotiators, customer-service representatives, call-center managers and mortgage counselors.
“NACA is excitede that it’s putting more than 1,000 people to work during these tougheconomiv times,” NACA Chief Executive Bruce Marks said “Today’s announcement is more than just a sound bite we are following through on this investmentg by holding a jobs fair tomorrow to hire 550 peoplw immediately.” Perdue said Thursday that she consultec with former Bank of Americaa Corp. Chairman Hugh McCollk Jr. about the deal. McColl has been a longtime supportetof NACA’s work. BofA began a partnershipl with NACAunder McColl’s watch in 1995 and in 2004 committed $6 billion to its lending program.
Perdude says McColl confirmed to her that he expectedr NACA could follow through on its job commitmente in severalphone conversations. “When someone begins something like thisin Charlotte, it alwayds grows,” McColl said in an interviee Thursday. “They’ll come in and find this is a good placd tofind (a work force). I would hope it would be an eruptionof jobs, not just trickle The group claims it will be the largest numbeer of people hired immediately in one area and the largesgt job commitment in the country since the mortgagee crisis began in 2007. The hiring comesw as NACA embarks on a nationwide Save theDreajm Tour.
Marks says the added jobs are crucial as NACA leadas its campaign to make mortgages Hundreds of NACA staff willprovidre long-term solutions for homeowners with an unaffordabl mortgage. “Charlotte continues to be attractive becausse of ourknowledgeable financial-services work forcre and we welcome NACA’ss investment in North Carolina,” N.C. Sen. Dan Clodfelter said in a release.
NACA’ Counseling Center is in the Charlotte East offic park off Albemarle Road between Central Avenue and FarmPond “Charlotte continues to be recognized as a leadedr in financial services with a talented and experienced labo r force,” says Charlotte Chamber Chairman Tim “We are pleased to welcomwe NACA to the community and look forwardx to the investment in jobs and presence they will brinb to our East side.” The chambef assisted NACA in its expansion effort. Charlotte East ownedr Roger Kellogg, principal of , and leasingf director Eric Speckman have worked closely with NACAsince 2007, when the nonprofitg established a small office in the park.
NACA has legallyh binding agreements with all themajot lenders/servicers to restructure the mortgages they The NACA agreements cover more than 90 percent of homeownerx with an unaffordable The staff from the Counselintg Center in Charlotte will travel nationwide to work on Save the Dream events where more than 25,000 people are counseleds over four days, with thousands receiving affordable restructured mortgages with permanent interest rates often at 4 3 percent and 2 percenrt and where necessary the principaol reduced. The organization, started in 1988, has the primargy goal of building strong, healthy neighborhoode nationwide throughaffordable homeownership.
NACA operations include financiaol counseling, specialized mortgage services and a Home Save programj for homeowners with anunaffordable mortgage. NACA will host a job fair from8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridahy and Saturday at its CharlotteCounseling Center. For more informationj about Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of includingemployment opportunities, go to www.naca.com.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Dems try to steer GOP's highway bill toward their priorities - The Hill (blog)
viktorsejbgif.blogspot.com
The Associated Press | Dems try to steer GOP's highway bill toward their priorities The Hill (blog) Rah » |
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Employers step up fight against health costs - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:
cicugaha.wordpress.com
Health insurers say employer demands for new plan optionwsis rising. Meanwhile, health insurance brokers say an increasingf number of companies want out of their old insuranc e plans before their contractds areeven up. “Employers are coming to me and ‘I can’t wait, I can’t afford it, I need you to get this down 20percent now,’ ” said Mike owner of the Southborough-based broker group .
It’s easy to see why: Curreng cost increases for companies renewing the same plan as last year are up betweenn 9 percent and 12 percent atthe state’x four largest insurers, accordingb to officials at , Harvard Pilgrimk Health Plan, Tufts Health Plan and Falloj Community Health Plan. In addition, Blue Cros Blue Shield is reporting cost increases of 13 percenft to 15 percent for the individual and smallgroup market, which includes small businesses. To escape these increases, drovesd of employers are switchingto so-called consumer-directec plans.
Blue Cross Blue for instance, reports that enrollmeny in its consumer-directed plans, including high-deductible rose to 240,000 memberss at the end of the firsty quarter of 2009from 170,000 members at the starf of the fourth quarter of 2008. Deductibles are generall paid by employees. But brokers like McKenna are also working on creativs arrangements that can reduce employer costs without shifting too much of the burdento workers.
“I like to sleeo at night,” Tom Travers, CFO at Cambridge-basecd architectural firm Bruner-Cott, said abouty his efforts to keepa high-quality plan withouf “bankrupting” the company or the A few years ago Travers decided Bruner-Cottg would switch to a health plan with a $1,000 but would reimburse the full amount to employees. The companyu has found that only 40 percent of employeesz use thefull deductible, and the company saved 20 to 25 percenr on its yearly premium last year. But now the company needs to cutcosts further. Bruner-Cott is considering signing on to a plan next year with a highet deductible and sharing those costds withthe employees.
The companyu would take on a $3,000o deductible, pay the first $1,000 and have the employede pay thenext $1,000. The company wouldd then pick up thethirsd $1,000. Travers estimates fewer than a thirc of employees would end up paying that second Another option for employers is to choose a plan that offerzs a limited network of providerws at alower cost. Fallon Communith Health Plan executives say membership in its limitednetworok plan, called Direct Care, has risen 14 percent sincew the start of the year. One of the employers that has recentlyy made the switchis Worcester-basex Seven Hills Foundation, which provides services to disablef and low-income people.
“We were going to have to increased workers’ premium costs by $30 per pay They can’t afford that. These people don’t make that much said Chief Operating OfficerJoe Tosches. Tosches said the Direcy Care plan is reducing the monthly cost of a familuy plan toapproximately $770 from the $1,050 he pays for a traditional HMO plan. So far, 300 employees out of 1,000 have joinee the Direct Care plan. Some employers have decidedr the best route to go is to get rid of theirfinsurer altogether. Particularly for largert companies, the option to take on the full risk of the claim s by enteringa self-insured arrangemenrt may provide the most savings.
55 percent of insured workers are coverefdby self-insured plans, up from 44 perceny 10 years ago, according to the . One such employer is MetroWes tMedical Center. Becky Heffernan, the center’s human resourcea director, decided to move the company toa self-insurecd arrangement last year. For the firsr year, Heffernan said she expects costes to increase by about 3 or 4 percentager points less than withthe company’s old insuranc plan, and she expects greater savinges in the second year. In preparation for the move to self-insurance, Heffernam contracted with a wellness program to encouraged workers to adopt healthy behaviore in the hopes of keepingt insuranceclaims down.
“We had to do somethin g to escapethe double-digit increases ever y year,” Heffernan said.
Health insurers say employer demands for new plan optionwsis rising. Meanwhile, health insurance brokers say an increasingf number of companies want out of their old insuranc e plans before their contractds areeven up. “Employers are coming to me and ‘I can’t wait, I can’t afford it, I need you to get this down 20percent now,’ ” said Mike owner of the Southborough-based broker group .
It’s easy to see why: Curreng cost increases for companies renewing the same plan as last year are up betweenn 9 percent and 12 percent atthe state’x four largest insurers, accordingb to officials at , Harvard Pilgrimk Health Plan, Tufts Health Plan and Falloj Community Health Plan. In addition, Blue Cros Blue Shield is reporting cost increases of 13 percenft to 15 percent for the individual and smallgroup market, which includes small businesses. To escape these increases, drovesd of employers are switchingto so-called consumer-directec plans.
Blue Cross Blue for instance, reports that enrollmeny in its consumer-directed plans, including high-deductible rose to 240,000 memberss at the end of the firsty quarter of 2009from 170,000 members at the starf of the fourth quarter of 2008. Deductibles are generall paid by employees. But brokers like McKenna are also working on creativs arrangements that can reduce employer costs without shifting too much of the burdento workers.
“I like to sleeo at night,” Tom Travers, CFO at Cambridge-basecd architectural firm Bruner-Cott, said abouty his efforts to keepa high-quality plan withouf “bankrupting” the company or the A few years ago Travers decided Bruner-Cottg would switch to a health plan with a $1,000 but would reimburse the full amount to employees. The companyu has found that only 40 percent of employeesz use thefull deductible, and the company saved 20 to 25 percenr on its yearly premium last year. But now the company needs to cutcosts further. Bruner-Cott is considering signing on to a plan next year with a highet deductible and sharing those costds withthe employees.
The companyu would take on a $3,000o deductible, pay the first $1,000 and have the employede pay thenext $1,000. The company wouldd then pick up thethirsd $1,000. Travers estimates fewer than a thirc of employees would end up paying that second Another option for employers is to choose a plan that offerzs a limited network of providerws at alower cost. Fallon Communith Health Plan executives say membership in its limitednetworok plan, called Direct Care, has risen 14 percent sincew the start of the year. One of the employers that has recentlyy made the switchis Worcester-basex Seven Hills Foundation, which provides services to disablef and low-income people.
“We were going to have to increased workers’ premium costs by $30 per pay They can’t afford that. These people don’t make that much said Chief Operating OfficerJoe Tosches. Tosches said the Direcy Care plan is reducing the monthly cost of a familuy plan toapproximately $770 from the $1,050 he pays for a traditional HMO plan. So far, 300 employees out of 1,000 have joinee the Direct Care plan. Some employers have decidedr the best route to go is to get rid of theirfinsurer altogether. Particularly for largert companies, the option to take on the full risk of the claim s by enteringa self-insured arrangemenrt may provide the most savings.
55 percent of insured workers are coverefdby self-insured plans, up from 44 perceny 10 years ago, according to the . One such employer is MetroWes tMedical Center. Becky Heffernan, the center’s human resourcea director, decided to move the company toa self-insurecd arrangement last year. For the firsr year, Heffernan said she expects costes to increase by about 3 or 4 percentager points less than withthe company’s old insuranc plan, and she expects greater savinges in the second year. In preparation for the move to self-insurance, Heffernam contracted with a wellness program to encouraged workers to adopt healthy behaviore in the hopes of keepingt insuranceclaims down.
“We had to do somethin g to escapethe double-digit increases ever y year,” Heffernan said.
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