Board of Ed Thanks Voters for Approving Capital Funding Plan

WATERTOWN — As the Board of Education meeting commenced on Monday, November 14, Superintendent Dr. Alison Villanueva thanked voters for approving the capital funding that will allow work to begin on school roofs and heating systems.

The board then expressed sincere gratitude and appreciation to Brandi Sawyer-Emmans of Eastern Band Cherokee descent for her donation of $10,000 to Watertown Public Schools through the Institute for American Indian Studies, so students in grades three through eight can experience the museum before the end of the year.

Ms. Sawyer-Emmans and Darlene Kascak, director of education of IAIS and of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, planned the informative outreach programs for Watertown students.

The education board noted that IAIS strives to educate everyone who walks through the doors by providing engaging exhibits, interactive and informative programs, and a space for reflection and learning.

Later in the meeting, the education board also approved an annual subscription to the Heroes of Liberty book series for each of the Watertown Elementary Schools libraries in memory of Ellie Mae Kuslis, which is a gift of the Water-Oak Community Women's Club.

They also accepted 750 boxes of school supplies from Staples of Watertown.

During the meeting, the board listened to an overview of the school district's current Cigna Insurance Plan.

The members had previously heard information on how the school district has the opportunity to access to the Connecticut Partnership Plan that is a point of service health insurance plan administered by Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield in its October 24 board meeting.

On November 14, Alex Madlener, M.D., CFP, consultant with R&J Self-Funded Insurance, explained that there are a variety of ways to approach a better health experience while maintaining costs.

He recalled that there were cost overruns a few years ago as well as concerns regarding information access, which prompted a review that determined Cigna would be the best provider going forward.

"It wasn't an easy switch," Dr. Madlener said, adding that it was necessary to match plan requirements during union negotiations but the performance of the plan has saved millions of dollars.

The presentation showed overall medical spend down 2.9 percent and pharmacy is up 15.6 percent, for a total increase of 1.6 percent, which the plan representatives described as favorable.

Steerable ER visits are 41.8 percent below norm and high-cost claimants' cost is down year over year at 10 percent.

Well visits are 3.6 percentage points above the norm.

Forty-four percent of the population has a chronic condition, driving 74 percent of the spend.

A coaching program is addressing diabetic conditions, at no cost to the member, prompting cost avoidance by keeping the member healthy and out of the hospital.

The recommendations coming from the current healthcare plan are to consider negotiation and implementation of Cigna Health Matters Preferred Care medical management and driving more members to Your Health First chronic coaching and the Diabetes Prevention Program.

According to the presentation, Cigna Pharmacy Essential Utilization Management increases affordability for enrolled plan customers and for the town of Watertown by offering members Step Therapy, Prior Authorizations, and Quantity Limits where appropriate.

There are communication campaigns that could be used to alert members to plan changes and there are incentives through Cigna MotivateMe, which promotes wellness visits.

Enhancements are coming in 2023, including Cigna Price Assure and Pathwell Specialty Rx.

The self-funded renewal projection will be completed and issued by January 2023, with Watertown's own claim experience used to establish claim projection and working rates.

Stop loss renewal will also be issued in January.

Dr. Madlener cautioned that a switch to the state plan would reduce the town's control as the plan members were grouped with others. That grouping might impact outcomes and therefore costs.

The board followed up the presentation by asking about claims that are denied.

Cigna Senior Account Executive Michael Donnelly explained how doctors review treatment decisions using criteria that is widely accepted by the American Medical Association. He noted that the review is minimal with basic prior authorization in the plan.

He said the rate of denial is probably zero. "I don't want to leave you with the impression that the rate of review is zero."

One board member strongly endorsed the idea of wellness actions, such as blood test screening and programs that address chronic conditions, commenting that she is happy to see the school district considering these initiatives.

Dr. Villanueva confirmed that cost avoidance has allowed the district to stay under budget.

Before the meeting adjourned, the education board adjusted the 2022-2023 District Calendar to include Juneteenth, Monday, June 19, 2023, as a federal holiday.

The board plans that Wednesday, June 14, will be the last day of school; the holiday would only be implemented should the school year extend due to snow days.