LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 102

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102 SYNODICAL REPORTS

* Taking Steps, an insert on older adult/intergenerational ministries.
* You Want Us to Do What? a Bible study for older adults.
¢ Listening for Ministry, a case study and congregational guide.

Chaplaincy, Pastoral Counseling, and Clinical Education

* Quarterly devotional materials for people who are incarcerated.

* Prison Ministry training manual for congregations and Districts
to use as they reach out to those who are incarcerated.

* A Pastoral Touch, a quarterly newsletter for people in specialized
spiritual care.

LCMS Health Ministries

¢ Progress Notes, a quarterly newsletter for Parish Nurse District
Representatives and District Health Advocates.

¢ Parish Nurse Newsletter, a quarterly newsletter providing re-
sources to more than 1,400 people.

° A Letter of Peace and Good Health by Rev. Dr. James P. Wind,
Health Fair Manual, and Congregational Health
Ministries/Parish Nurse Manual to support congregations in
health initiatives.

* Occasional papers: “Toward a Description of Christian Mental
Health” by Rev. Dr. William Knippa; “Healing and Redemption”
by Rev. Dr. Martin Scharlemann; “Clergy Mental Health and the
Doctrine of Justification” by Rev. Dr. Robert Preus; “The Mental
Health of Clergy (and others) and Practicing the Presence of
God’s Grace” by Dr. John P. Kildahl; “Bane or Blessing: The
Body in Biblical Theology” by Rev. Dr. Dean Wenthe; “HIPAA
and the Parish Nurse” and “Parish Nursing: Opportunities for
Ministry within the Day School” by Dr. Marcia Schnorr.

Life Ministries

° That They May Have Life by former LCMS President’s Commis-
sion on the Sanctity of Life, to educate the church on end-of-life
issues.

* Real and Abundant Life by former LCMS President’s Commis-
sion on the Sanctity of Life to address a variety of pro-life top-
ics.

¢ Large Catechism on Life, developed for laity and clergy in con-
junction with CPH, featuring LCMS authors with devotions from
Scripture and Luther’s writings about life, parenting, and family.
(New in 2004.)

* Small Catechism on Life, developed with CPH and written specif-
ically for use with youth in confirmation instruction but applica-
ble for anyone interested in end-of-life issues, adoption, abortion,
chastity, and civil responsibility in light of Luther’s two-kingdom
theology. (New in 2004.)

¢ Life Library, available online at Life Ministries Web site to debut
in 2004, features hundreds of indexed articles on life topics, in-
cluding those from LCMS writers and theologians.

Matthew C. Harrison, Executive Director

R6-02
Board of Managers—Worker Benefit Plans

The increasing cost of healthcare continues to be on the fore-
front of the American landscape. According to the Kaiser Family
Foundation, the cost of healthcare is the number one worry of most
U.S. workers. In recent years businesses across America have
struggled with the dilemma of how to pay for increasing healthcare
premium costs while still offering affordable, comprehensive ben-
efits to their employees. School districts, grocery chains, and other
businesses have encountered employee strikes and walkouts due to
the contractual struggle to decide who will pay for the health bene-
fit cost increases.

It is of no surprise, then, that a major concern for the 5,886
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod congregations, schools, uni-

2004 Convention Workbook

versities, and other organizations participating in the Concordia
Health Plan (CHP) is the cost of providing healthcare benefits.
Since the 2001 convention, healthcare expenses have skyrocketed,
marked by consecutive years of double-digit percentage increases.
As the cost of healthcare adds to the already burgeoning budgets
of many LCMS organizations, they have had to make difficult fi-
nancial decisions regarding ministry and staffing. Sometimes those
decisions have meant that their workers—already on a tight bud-
get—have had to increase their share of paying for healthcare.

Worker Benefit Plans (WBP) is well aware of the concerns and
fears of both workers and employers and is vigilant about finding
ways to keep down healthcare expenses. In January 2002 WBP ne-
gotiated with network managers resulting in approximately $8.7
million in savings. The savings were made possible due to switch-
ing to the pharmaceutical manager Express Scripts (from Care-
mark), utilizing CIGNA’s managed dental program, and moving
all CHP members to managed care. ‘

In 2003 WBP conducted a test pilot in [linois enabling the em-
ployers to choose the type of health plan coverage option for their
workers. Instead of a “one-size-fits-all” style of coverage, Illinois
employers had a choice between two different coverage options for
their workers. The introduction of “Choice” in Illinois allowed em-
ployers to choose a plan coverage option that not only best fit the
needs of their particular organization, but also took into considera-
tion the needs and finances of the workers.

The Illinois test pilot led to the offering of “Choice” nationwide
in January 2004. Employers were given a choice of four plan cov-
erage options with differing contribution amounts. For the work-
ers, the differences resulted in increased copay and coinsurance
amounts. Several of the options also included a deductible. Ap-
proximately 62% of the LCMS employers participating in the CHP
chose to remain with the “no-deductible” option (Option A), 29%
chose Option B (with a $300 deductible for the worker), 5% chose
Option C (with a $500 deductible for the worker), and 3% of em-
ployers chose Option D (with a $1,000 deductible for the worker).

As a self-funded benefit program, the staff of the Worker Ben-
efit Plans, working with the Board of Managers (appointed by the
LCMS Board of Directors), is ever mindful of being good stewards
with contribution dollars entrusted to provide benefits to church
workers. In doing so, they are committed to fulfilling the mission
statement: “Worker Benefit Plans supports LCMS ministries by
providing dynamic health, disability, retirement, and death bene-
fits for church workers and their families.”

Since all specific changes in the Worker Benefit Plans are com-
municated to all participating members and employers, and all the
financial activities are distributed annually, the following are sim-
ply brief summaries about each program.

Concordia Health Plan

The Concordia Health Plan (CHP) is a comprehensive major
medical and dental plan. Included are medical benefits (a Preferred
Provider Organization program administered by either Aetna or
Blue Cross and Blue Shield), dental benefits (administered by
CIGNA Dental), mental health and substance abuse benefits along
with a Member Assistance Program (administered by ValueOp-
tions), prescription drug benefits (administered by Express Scripts),
a vision discount program for eye exams, lenses, frames, and lasik
surgery (administered by Cole Vision through Aetna), and a hear-
ing program (administered by National Ear Care Plan).

Coverage is currently provided for 22,700 members and their
28,100 dependents, a total of 50,800 individuals. Of the members,
82% are full-time workers; the remaining members are retired, dis-
abled, or on leave of absence.

The number of enrolled members has increased over the past
three years by approximately 0.6%.