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County May Pass On Hiring Smokers

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By JULIA FERRANTE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 28, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Pasco County government offices could soon become smoke-free.

County commissioners on Tuesday directed their staff and attorneys to look into changing policy so that new employees would have to commit to being nonsmokers.

Commissioner Michael Cox, who sits on the county's insurance committee, suggested the idea after the board hired Aetna as its new insurance provider. As part of its contract with the county, Aetna will give the county $20,000 for wellness programs that could include smoking cessation.

Commission Chairman Ted Schrader noted that Sarasota County implemented a similar program via a new ordinance.

Manatee County implemented a smoke-free worker policy five years ago, County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said, although that county is self-insured, he said.

"It's a carrot-and-stick approach," the county attorney said. "You get a more reduced health plan if you continue to smoke."

Cox said the goal of such a program is "to have as healthy an environment as we can."

Schrader questioned whether such a program would be discrimination.

County Administrator John Gallagher said his staff will research the issue.

The county stands to save an estimated $960,000 in insurance costs next fiscal year by signing on with Aetna. Employees currently are insured by Blue Cross for about $486 a month. Aetna's rate will be $465 a month. Costs for family members also would decrease by about 4.5 percent.

The county solicited bids from several insurers, including Blue Cross, which proposed a 4.75 percent increase from this year's rates, Risk Manager Jane Calano said. Humana's bid would have resulted in a 2.5 percent increase. United's rate was the same as the Blue Cross rate this year. Cigna offered a rate 4.8 percent higher than the current one.

Cox suggested last year that the board solicit bids from other insurance carriers after the Pasco firefighters union complained the rates were too high. The insurance committee last year negotiated a reduction from long-time provider Blue Cross, which initially proposed a 13 percent rate increase from the 2006-07 rates. Blue Cross came down to a 6 percent increase, then no increase.

Employee insurance policies would change from Blue Cross to Aetna in August and September, Calano said.

Aetna has not promised to hold rates steady next year.

"We have a concern that next year Aetna will raise rates considerably, and if they do we'll have to deal with it," Cox said. "But now we have a little bit more bargaining leverage."

Also Tuesday, commissioners declared June hurricane awareness month in Pasco. Hurricane season begins June 1 and ends in November.

The board also recognized the Pasco Library System for receiving the 2008 Library of the Year award from the Florida Library Association.

Property Appraiser Mike Wells, a former county commissioner, urged the board in this tough budget year to spare the library system.

Reporter Julia Ferrante can be reached at (813) 948-4220 or jferrante@tampatrib.com.

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