[HISTORY: Adopted by the Suffolk County Legislature 12-17-1991 by Res. No.
1031-1991 (Ch. 768 of the 1985 Code). Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Amended 6-17-2014 by L.L. No. 32-2014]
The County Comptroller is hereby authorized to enter into a
self-funded benefits program for the purpose of paying hospital, major
medical and prescription drug claims and other benefit-related costs
pursuant to the plan document which was developed from benefit information
provided through the New York State Empire Plan documents on behalf
of the employees of Suffolk County through separate accounts created
by the County Comptroller.
The self-funded health benefit program shall be known as the
"Employee Medical Health Plan of Suffolk County," with an effective
implementation date of January 1, 1992.
The Employee Medical Health Plan of Suffolk County shall be
overseen by a labor management committee responsible for policy decisions
regarding fund expenditures, final decisions on medical payment appeals
and all other executive decisions affecting this program. The management
members of the committee shall consist of a representative from the
County Executive's Office, Labor Relations, Office of the Comptroller:
Risk Management and Benefit Division, Legislative Budget Review Office,
the Chairman of the Personnel Committee of the Legislature and the
Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the Legislature. Committee
members from labor shall be appointed by the Suffolk County Association
of Municipal Employees, Suffolk County Patrolmen's Benevolent
Association, Suffolk County Superior Officers Association, Suffolk
County Correction Officers Association and Suffolk County Community
College Faculty Association, with a sixth member to be appointed by
the employee coalition. Each of the 12 members shall have an individual
vote. A nonvoting advisory medical representative will be appointed
to the committee by the County Medical Director.
The Comptroller is hereby authorized to enter contractual arrangements
with Choice Care Managed Systems, Inc., to provide administrative
services and managed care and maintain and monitor a provider network
and act as an overall coordinator to the program and Empire Blue Cross
for the purpose of providing hospital benefits, National Medical Health
Care for the payment of prescription drugs and Baxter Healthcare Corporation,
Prescription Service Division, for the payment of long-term mail order
prescription needs.
Resolution No. 323-1964, which originally authorized participation
of the County of Suffolk in the New York State Health Insurance Plan,
and thereafter known as the "Empire Plan," is hereby repealed as of
the implementation date of the Employee Medical Health Plan of Suffolk
County.
