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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Hi Donovan, and other interested Visionaries,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Donovan, I appreciate your historic perspective because it’s
been a very long time since I was a student, so I’ve not kept up on the student
perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>I wonder if perhaps some things have changed since you last
checked?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The state pool for employees -- and therefore for faculty &
staff at BSU, LCSC, & ISU – also include a lifetime $1M lifetime maximum,
just like UI, and this $1M lifetime limit goes back to at least 7/1/2006. This
can be conveniently confirmed by checking out the particulars here:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><a href="http://adm.idaho.gov/insurance/contracts.htm"><span
style='color:windowtext'>http://adm.idaho.gov/insurance/contracts.htm</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>So, a higher than usual lifetime limit at the UI can’t be an
explanation for why health insurance is so much more expensive for UI employees
than for other state employees.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>It’s of interest to note, too, that NIC (faculty & staff) has
equal or higher lifetime maximums, and also allows parents to cover children <b>regardless
of educational status</b> until age 25.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Due to the financial strain the high costs of indigent student
health care was putting on counties (and not just Latah County), I understand
why the SBOE adopted the mandatory insurance requirement. However, there do
seem to be some significant differences between implementation at the various
colleges. I don’t know why, for instance the UI requires domestic undergrad students
not otherwise covered to purchase student health insurance if they are enrolled
in four credit hours in a semester while ISU students don’t have to purchase it
unless they are enrolled in 12 credit hours.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Could that be part of what you were thinking of, Donovan?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>With respect to student health insurance, my concern remains
that with LCSC, BSU, & ISU coming together to form a pool, UI students will
face significantly higher premiums, just as UI employees have faced. This
would be detrimental not only to the students & their families, but it
would also have a negative impact on the UI’s ability to competitively recruit
students.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Donovan, I hope life is treating you well – I miss your
participation even though I do understand. And, thank you for sticking your
neck out to offer your comments in this discussion!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Take Gentle Care,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Saundra Lund<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Moscow, ID<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good
people to do nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>~ Edmund Burke<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>***** Original material contained herein is Copyright 2009
through life plus 70 years, Saundra Lund. Do not copy, forward, excerpt,
or reproduce outside the Vision 2020 forum without the express written
permission of the author.*****<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Donovan Arnold
[mailto:donovanjarnold2008@yahoo.com] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, September 07, 2009 4:26 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'Moscow Vision 2020'; Saundra Lund<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] UI Student Health Insurance Question<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0>
<tr>
<td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal>Saundra,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>I do not like to post on the V because people steal
your identity, post using your name, and it gets hostile and mean in here. I
think this ruins the reputation of good people, and turns nice people into
rude people. Moscow is a wonderful town, with wonderful people. I think that
the conversations on the V reflect a negative and inaccurate image of the
Palouse Community and what the people are really like. However, I am making
an exception here because Health Care is an important issue to me. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>As I understood the case to be, the reason faculty, staff,
and students have to pay such high premiums with high deductibles for insurance
is because it has a $1 million in lifetime coverage and $500,000 per annual
period. BSU, LCSC, ISU, NIC, College of Idaho, NNU, don’t have this. BSU,
for example is only $100,000. A typical PPO Blue Cross plan only has about
$250,000. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>This level of coverage for UI students and faculty is
excessive and not necessary for two reasons. First, anyone who endures $1
million in medical damage and is not a millionaire would simply declare
bankruptcy. Students and teachers usually are not millionaires, so have no
assets worth $1 million to protect from medical debt collects, except maybe a
house which would be protected in bankruptcy. And second, anyone who endured
$1 million in medical damages probably would not be at fault and have other
avenues to pay for such expenses. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>My understanding is that the $1 million coverage is to
cover the UI from costly civil suits and Gritman from having to cover the
costs of underinsured and uninsured college students. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Other colleges and universities around the state have a
general population of non-students to absorb financial losses and several
hospitals to spread the costs out. Moscow is mostly students and poorly paid
teachers and service workers who cannot make up for indigent medical care,
and has only one hospital to endure the losses, Gritman. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>UI insurance also is higher because it doesn’t have a
pre-existing condition exclusions like other health insurance companies do.
UI must cover every single student taking more than one class that isn’t
already covered by a $500,000 policy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The third reason that UI has to pay more is because
insurance is virtually mandatory, you have to purchase it, and so they can
charge just about anything they want and you have to pay it. If health
insurance was optional, insurance companies would have to lower their rates
to attract students and faculty on the lower end of the pay scale, nor would
most people buy one million in coverage. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>In my opinion, the simplest way to legally make insurance
more affordable would be get the Latah County Government to divert county funds
away from Gritman that go to pay for indigent care and return it to
University Staff, Students, and Faculty that pay the insurance. Gritman is a
non-profit. Or, reduce the $1,000,000 to closer to $100,000 which would be
reasonable. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Gritman benefits from your high premiums and sky-high
deductibles because it still gets Idaho State dollars for indigent care
regardless of if it uses those funds for indigent care. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> The County benefits from your high premiums and sky-high
deductibles because it doesn’t have to use funds from the general fund to
support Gritman, it is more than self sufficient. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The University benefits from your high premiums and
sky-high deductibles because it is immune from the costs of medical lawsuits.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Local businesses and property owners benefit from it
because the County doesn’t have to extract as much money from them in
property taxes to pay Gritman for the medical care of indigent students and
poorly compensated UI faculty and staff. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Everyone benefits from this plan, except of course,
students, faculty, and staff who have to pay those high premiums and sky-high
deductibles. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Saundra, while many teachers, staff, and students will
support your well intentioned efforts, I don’t think you will find many
powerful allies in this battle because most of the influential people in
Latah are benefiting from this plan directly or indirectly in some way or
another and will fight you to keep it in place. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>My suggestion however, would be to petition to change
county law because there are only two people you need to convince to change
the law. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Best of Luck to You,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Donovan Arnold<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><br>
<br>
--- On <b>Sun, 9/6/09, Saundra Lund <i><v2020@ssl.fastmail.fm></i></b>
wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>
From: Saundra Lund <v2020@ssl.fastmail.fm><br>
Subject: [Vision2020] UI Student Health Insurance Question<br>
To: "'Moscow Vision 2020'" <vision2020@moscow.com><br>
Cc: donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com<br>
Date: Sunday, September 6, 2009, 10:11 PM<o:p></o:p></p>
<div id=yiv911566625>
<div>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Visionaries:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Yes, I am on a health insurance kick since finding out the
cost for UI employee families is so much higher that it has financially
forced something like 68% of employees into a high deductible plan while
employees at LCSC, BSU, and ISU continue to have access to quality affordable
health insurance.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>I've heard rumblings about displeasure with the student health
insurance situation. Donovan, if you're still reading, could you please
refresh our memories about what your concerns were?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>In any case, when reading through information I was able to
find in State Board of Education (SBOE) minutes, it looks like LCSC, BSU,
& ISU joined together to form a Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
Consortium last fall.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Does anyone know why the UI isn't participating in the SHIP
Consortium? As always, those who don’t wish to comment publicly can be
assured of confidentiality regarding anything you share with me privately.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>My concern is that by not participating in a larger pool, UI
students will face the same kind of ***significantly higher*** premiums and
inferior coverage UI employees have been slammed by the last 18 months or
so. It’s a no brainer that if mandatory student health insurance costs
go the way of employee health insurance costs at the UI, this would have a
negative impact on the UI’s ability to competitively recruit and retain
students.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Saundra Lund</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Here’s some interesting info that was presented to the SBOE in
April:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><a
href="http://www.boardofed.idaho.gov/meetings/2009/04_16_09/08_BAHR-FIN_April_09.pdf"
target="_blank"><u><span style='color:blue'>http://www.boardofed.idaho.gov/meetings/2009/04_16_09/08_BAHR-FIN_April_09.pdf</span></u></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>(pp 57-58)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>As
healthcare costs continue to soar, pooling to manage costs through a
purchasing consortium is becoming more common among institutions of higher
education. When universities band together to purchase student insurance,
they can increase their purchasing power and provide higher quality care
while increasing the predictability and stability of costs. To that end, in
the fall of 2008, Boise State University, Idaho State University, and Lewis
and Clark State College joined together to form a Student Health Insurance
Plan (SHIP) Consortium.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>In addition
to piloting the concept of a consortium, the institutions, in conjunction
with the Idaho Division of Purchasing, are implementing a procurement</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>methodology
focused on obtaining the “Best Value Vendor” based on research performed at
Arizona State University (ASU). ASU has been engaged, using grant funding, to
consult with the Consortium on this new methodology.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Once
formed, the Consortium developed a project plan and identified major
stakeholders, several of whom are now part of the core project team. The
project has been divided into three phases:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>1. Request
for Information (RFI) - Completed</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:2.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>a. An RFI
was developed to identify potential barriers to a successful Consortium and
to educate the vendor community about the procurement. As part of the RFI,
the Consortium held both stakeholder and vendor informational meetings.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>2. Request
for Proposal (RFP) – Underway</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:2.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>a. The
Consortium is currently documenting baseline performance metrics and a
measurement plan. The draft RFP will quickly follow.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:2.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>b. A final
RFP will be issued at the end of July 2009</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>3. Proposal
Phase</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:2.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>a.
Pre-award is scheduled for November with the final contract to be presented
to the Board in April 2010 for approval.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>IMPACT</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>In addition
to managing costs while maximizing coverage, the Consortium is using this
project as an opportunity to pilot the Best Value procurement process.
The Best Value process embeds post-award reporting to continually measure
performance throughout the life of the contract. Both the contractor and the
institutions are reviewed to evaluate efficiency in delivery of services.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The
benefits of using the Best Value process include increased accountability of
vendors and institutions, streamlined internal processes focused on value and
efficiency, reduced disputes and litigation, and more transparent processes.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>STAFF
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The RFI
vendor meeting was held on January 9, 2009 for the purpose of </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>i.
Introducing the SHIP Consortium project to potential vendors (20 individuals
were in attendance from many vendors)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>ii.
Introducing the Best Value concept to vendors</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>iii.
Answering questions and addressed comments</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Representatives
from each school, DOP and from 4 vendors attended the Best Value Conference
by Arizona State in Phoenix in February.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Institution
representatives will present a brief presentation and will be available for
questions.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This
consortium of institutions joining together to purchase student insurance,
which will provide higher quality care while increasing the predictability
and stability of costs, is an example of a method to increase the purchasing
power of the institutions that can applied in other areas of operations.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Currently
the University of Idaho is not contemplating joining the Consortium and is
requesting the Board approve a 5-year contract for student health insurance
in a separate agenda. Even though University of Idaho may not be part of the
initial statewide SHIP Consortium, they should be able to join at a later
time should they decide it is cost beneficial to them while maintaining
coverage.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>
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