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INSURANCE MATTERS
A Newsletter for Members of the CCAP Insurance Programs
Owned by Members, Governed by Members, Service to Members
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| Specialty Lines | |
Hello ,
Over the past several years we have really emphasized the value of counties having active safety committees. We have seen the impact on county claims costs over time from the continuous good work of safety committees.
Of course, the fact that state law requires all self insurers for workers' compensation insurance (which every member of PComp is) to have a safety committee is also a strong point in our argument.
It is also important to point out the value to the employee or elected official brought from serving on a safety committee. Most don't do it for some extra pay or the really cool business cards. When we talk with safety committee members, what we hear most often is a desire to help make the workplace safer for employees and the public. Some have joined the committee because of a specific issue, such as fixing a problem or improving a policy. Others want to see the county do something different with training, or pay more attention to preventing claims.
We see a lot of safety committee members at our loss control training workshops. They enjoy attending and interacting with their counterparts from other counties, and we notice how much they enjoy getting sample policies and stealing good ideas from other counties.
Lastly, we also hear comments about the ability of the committee members to communicate directly with the county commissioners. For some this is admittedly a challenge, as they are not used to this, but for others it nice to have the ability to work with the commissioners on safety issues.
I will also add a personal thought. As a manager, when I am evaluating an employee I am always impressed to see they have volunteered to serve on a committee or help with a special project. I like the initiative and team orientation this action indicates. Make sure you call us when you need help with something,
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| NACo-Nationwide scholarship open to kids and grandkids of NRS retirement plan participants | |
Article provided by the National Association of Counties (NACo)
 For the sixth straight year, four high school seniors will earn $2,000 for college from the NACo-Nationwide Scholarship. Winning applicants will be chosen based on a short essay describing why it is important for a public sector employee to start saving early for retirement. Applicants must be the child or grandchild of a participant in NACo's Deferred Compensation Program, administered by Nationwide Retirement Solutions. More information is available at www.nrsforu.com/scholarship or contact Julia Jackson, CCAP Employee Benefits Program Manager, at (800) 895-9039 x 3305.
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| COMCARE HealthChoices Awards | |
By Christie Ward, Captive Programs Manager
At their annual Delegates' Meeting, COMCARE (the County Managed Care Resource) held its second annual awards ceremony to honor the best and the brightest working in managed behavioral health care, HealthChoices.
Honored this year were three extraordinary individuals who bring incredible experience, dedication and creativity to their positions. Also honored was a model treatment program seeing phenomenal results.
Award recipients were:
David McAdoo - County Collaboration Award
CEO, Southwest Behavioral Health Management, Inc.
Deborah Duffy - MH/MR Administrator of the Year Award Administrator, Lycoming/Clinton joinder
Barbara Miklos - SCA Advocacy Award
Case Manager, Armstrong/Indiana Counties
Common Ground - Model Program of the Year Award
A program of Northwestern Human Services partnering with Community Care Behavioral Health and Carbon-Monroe-Pike MH/MR.
For more information on our winners, COMCARE or the awards program, please contact Christie Ward at (800) 895-9039 or send an e-mail to cward@pacounties.org.
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| Aligning to redefine human resources in county government | |
By Julia Jackson, CCAP Employee Benefits Program Manager
2010 was the beginning of a new era for Pennsylvania county human resource professionals. For the first time this group of individuals was given a unified voice across the commonwealth through the development of the Society of County Human Resource Professionals of Pennsylvania (SCHRPP), a not-for-profit organization designed to advance the mission of human resources in Pennsylvania's 67 counties. In its first year of operation over 100 individuals joined this new organization, representing 30 counties and four county related entities.
SCHRPP recognizes the fact that operating in local government human resources is very different from the private sector. County human resource professionals, and other staff members such as chief clerks managing the county human resource functions, often encounter many unique challenges and obstacles. To meet the demands of these challenges and obstacles, SCHRPP offers its members valuable training and education, online resources, legal services, legislative advocacy, mentorship, a certification program, and an annual membership in the national Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Membership is open for 2011 and applications are available online at www.schrpp.org. Membership in SCHRPP is exclusive to Pennsylvania county human resource personnel, and chief clerks and other personnel in counties without designated human resource personnel. Membership is available to all human resource personnel from all county facilities, county related entities and county affiliated human service programs. Vendor memberships and sponsorship opportunities are also available.
For more information about the Society for County Human Resource Professionals of Pennsylvania, contact Julia Jackson, CCAP Employee Benefits Program Manager and SCHRPP Executive Director, at (800) 895-9039 x 3305.
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| Slip and fall risk assessment: onsite facility survey and slip meter | |
by Bob Lauzonis, Loss Control Specialist
Slips, trips and falls are leading causes of workplace injuries. These injuries not only increase county operational costs, but also contribute to indirect costs such as higher insurance premiums and lost productivity. CCAP's loss control specialists can assist to identify slip, trip and fall hazards, exposures and offer practical solutions for improvement. All county and county-related-entities can benefit from this "extra set of eyes" that may recognize dangerous conditions that have existed for some time without being noticed.
ONSITE FACILITY SURVEY
The on-site facility survey is the primary focus of the assessment. Your CCAP Loss Control Specialist surveys your buildings and grounds, documenting and photographing the location of all potential walking/working surface hazards.
In addition and as needed, floor surfaces are measured using a digital slip meter to identify areas of particular concern. Administrative policies, such as those regarding snow removal, floor maintenance procedures and staff footwear, are also evaluated. We can also provide training for your employees regarding slip and fall awareness/prevention using examples found during the survey.
FORMAL REPORT
Later on and after the on-site survey, you will receive a report including descriptions and photos of observed hazards, the locations where they were found and suggested solutions and recommendations to improve and mitigate the potential hazard or problem area(s).
Our slip meter efforts will follow the ANSI Standard ANSI-ASSE A1264.2-2006, Standard for the Provision of Slip Resistance on Walking-Working Surfaces. Our slip meter can only be utilized on clean and dry floor conditions. Also, the slip meter can only be utilized with your Loss Control Specialist present and who will conduct the slip meter survey(s).
COUNT ON CCAP LOSS CONTROL FOR THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE YOU NEED
Your CCAP Loss Control Specialist is ready to help you develop a pro-active risk management "game plan" that will help to reduce injuries in your workplace.
To set up a slip and fall risk assessment and survey, contact your CCAP Loss Control Specialist by telephone or send an email. Please call (800)-895-9039 or by email as follows:
Gary Nicholson, Senior Loss Control Specialist, gnicholson@pacounties.org
Greg Cunnigham, Loss Control Specialist, gcunningham@pacounties.org
Bruce Mitchell, Loss Control Services Manager, bmitchel@pacounties.org
Bob Lauzonis, Loss Control Specialist, telephone: (412)-276-2722, blauzonis@pacounties.org
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| Debit/credit card acceptance options for counties: Adding convenience and focusing on security | |
By Jessica Seiders, Marketing Representative, PLGIT
The practice of making financial transactions more efficient and convenient is not a new trend where local governments are concerned, and PLGIT has always made efforts to address the needs of its investors. In recent articles, we have presented the benefits of PLGIT's Easy Online Network (EON), the use of Purchasing Cards and other programs in a world where transactions are steadily moving from "paper to plastic."
Another example of this trend, PLGIT's credit and debit card acceptance program, provides benefits for both a township and its residents. In a 2008 PLGIT survey of its investors, more than 80% of respondents indicated that they were either "very" or "somewhat" interested in adding a credit or debit card payment option for their citizens. The appeal of this program is clear: it enables residents to pay utility bills and to apply for permits, licenses and registrations, all on their own schedule.
BENEFITS OF CREDIT/DEBIT CARD PAYMENT OPTIONS
Paying by credit or debit has become commonplace for consumers. When counties also provide this option, residents benefit from:
- Convenience. Residents have the choice of paying either over the counter, via telephone or online with most credit cards or directly from a checking account.
- Speed. A "Shopping Cart" feature allows residents to complete multiple transactions online at one time.
- Reduced delinquency. By setting up an electronic payment option, and by eliminating the delays of paper check transactions, a resident can help assure that payment for services are received and recorded within the designated deadline.
- Accuracy. Residents can receive immediate notification that their payment was made.
And the benefits to accepting credit/debit cards are every bit as notable for counties and other municipalities:
- Improved service. Customers and residents who prefer to pay with credit/debit cards will now be given more payment options, and will be better served by their township.
- Better/more reliable cash flows. Counties have an increased certainty of collections, experience accelerated receipt of funds and are able to have those funds deposited directly into a PLGIT account each day.
- Access to records. Counties will be able to view billing and payment information in real-time.
- Reduced costs. Counties have reduced collection and cashiering costs as well as reduced insufficient fund check returns.
Finally, with a credit/debit card program, both residents and their township benefit from a conservation of paper resources and reduction in postage.
A NEW INCENTIVE FOR COUNTIES
While PLGIT has offered deposits through credit card terminals since 1994 - in fact more than 50 municipalities that participate in PLGIT already use our credit and debit card acceptance program -- it has always come with a slight drawback.
Because credit card companies had previously prevented municipalities from passing along the processing fee, this type of payment resulted in counties having to forfeit up to 3% or more of the amount of each transaction to cover that cost. This drawback made credit and debit card payment options impractical for municipalities to adopt and maintain. In fact, in the PLGIT survey mentioned above, nearly 30% of investors who responded that they were interested in adding this kind of program also indicated that cost was a disincentive.
A new partnership among PLGIT, software developer Interware Development Corp. and electronic transaction specialist Global Payments, Inc. has resulted in a solution that will make it possible for counties to adopt this method of payment in a cost-effective way.
Through this new program, counties will have the option to either maintain the current way of processing transaction fees or adopt a new approach to the transaction, whereby a resident would be assessed a 'convenience fee' for every payment made via a credit or debit card as well as from a checking account. The program also offers several options for making payments, either in a face-to-face transaction at a township office or via the township's website.
Perhaps the most significant benefit of this new fee-payment option is that residents maintain the same convenient payment option without interruption, while counties receive 100% of the payments and fees they are due.
For more information on this new program, or to schedule a PLGIT demonstration on how this new option might work for your township, contact your PLGIT representative, or call PLGIT at (800) 572-1472.
Jessica Seiders has been a marketing representative with PLGIT since 2006 and serves clients in central Pennsylvania. She assists clients with all PLGIT programs and coordinates the credit/debit card acceptance program statewide.
This information does not represent an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any fund or other security. Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing in any of the Trust's portfolios. This and other information about the Trust's portfolios is available in each portfolio's current Information Statement, which should be read carefully before investing. Copies of these Information Statements may be obtained by calling (800) 572-1472 or are available on the Trust's website at www.plgit.com. While the PLGIT and PLGIT/ARM portfolios seek to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share and the PLGIT/TERM portfolio seeks to achieve a net asset value of $1.00 per share at its stated maturity, it is possible to lose money investing in the Trust. An investment in the Trust is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Shares of the Trust's portfolios are distributed by PFM Fund Distributors, Inc., member Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) (www.finra.org). PFM Fund Distributors, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of PFM Asset Management LLC. Member SIPC.
SMPLGIT, PLGIT-Class Shares, PLGIT/PLUS-Class Shares, PLGIT/I-Class Shares, PLGIT/TERM, PLGIT-CD, PLGIT/ARM, PLGIT/SAM, and PLGIT-CAPare service marks of the Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust.
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| CCAP UC Trust Board of Trustee election results | |
By Julia Jackson, CCAP Employee Benefits Program Manager
The nominations are in for the 2010 CCAP UC Trust - Board of Trustees election. Both current incumbents were nominated to serve another two-year term on the Board of Trustees. No other nominations were received, so there is no need for an election. We are pleased to announce the re-election of:
Gayle Kershner, Bradford County Chief Clerk
6th Class Representative
Nominated By: Bradford County
James Marker, Somerset County Commissioner
At Large Representative
Nominated By: Somerset County
A special thanks to Gayle Kershner and Commissioner Marker for their prior service on the board and for their continued commitment to help counties with their unemployment compensation risk management. Their new terms will begin on January 1, 2011. Both positions will be open again for election in December 2012. |
| Risk management | |
By Greg Cunningham, ARM, GSP, Loss Control Specialist
In recent years there has been a push by counties and those associated with them to hire risk managers to better identify and control losses. The following article defines the term and illustrates other points that will hopefully have you considering a pro-active risk management program in your county or entity.
RISK MANAGEMENT-DEFINED
Quite simply, risk management is the identification, assessment and treatment of risks in an effort to control the probability or impact of unintended events. In recent years, risk management has taken a step beyond the traditional approach of reacting only to losses to instead trying to capitalize on risks taken to realize potential gains involved. For instance, when insurance companies insure a particular entity they receive premium dollars that they then invest and attempt to make a profit on while 'hopefully' only realizing minimal losses that need to be paid. While there is the risk of loss involved there's also an 'upside' to the risk.
IDENTIFYING RISKS
To be successful in controlling losses, you will first need to find out when and where these losses are occurring. Take a close look at your claims reports and use these to trend 'hot spots' in your county/entity so you can better control them and institute site-specific actions to address losses. Your safety committee is invaluable in identifying risks through routine inspections of county property and communication of risks to other employees.
ASSESSING RISKS
Once you have identified the risks they must be assessed in order to determine their potential severity of loss and their probability of occurrence. These can either be simple to measure or impossible to know for sure which makes the assessment process critical to the final implementation of the risk management plan.
TREATING RISKS
There are numerous ways your county can choose to treat the risks found in the workplace. Among these are avoidance, reduction, sharing and retention.
- Avoidance is not trying part in an action you feel is either too risky or one you cannot adequately control. While there is no other treatment that is as effective as avoidance in reducing risk, you must also realize that you lose any potential upside of risks not taken by employing this measure.
- Reduction is simply that; reducing the impact of any loss. For example, you are less likely to cause significant damage/injury if you're driving at lower speeds and driving safely than you are if you are speeding or driving carelessly. By driving safely you have reduced your chances of being injured in an accident. Consider the following: you have a complex process that involves some risk to produce a product. Would you rather employ a qualified, experienced employee or one you recently hired to do the work? By using the experienced employee you reduce your risk of loss. Hazardous material substitution and employee rotation are other ways to reduce risk.
- Sharing. Risk Transfer is often used in place of risk sharing where you 'share' with another party any potential risk of loss or benefits from gain. By doing so you also reduce each parties associated risk as they are only responsible for a portion of any losses.
- Retention is the amount of risk the county/entity is willing to assume or accept. Retaining risks is a good idea for small, relatively inexpensive risks where the cost of insuring against the risk would be greater, over time, than any losses sustained.
BENEFITS OF RISK MANAGEMENT
Developing and adhering to a county-wide risk management plan has many benefits.
- Counties/businesses with a risk management plan in place are positioned for future growth. When you effectively manage the impact of risk in the present it will positively affect your future opportunities and overall net worth. Money not spent on unnecessary losses now can instead be spent on other endeavors.
- A successful risk management plan will increase your business/counties value because it demonstrates that you can effectively control any risks you might face. This will make your county/entity more appealing to a lender and qualify you for a more reasonable interest rate should you need to secure a loan for any reason.
The topic of risk management is much more involved than we have room to cover here so please refer to the following link to learn more about the subject and how to form your own risk management plan:
http://ais.msu.edu/internal/projectmgt/documents/RiskManagementPlan.pdf
Should you need any more information on the benefits of creating and adhering to a risk management plan for your county or entity please feel free to contact the CCAP Loss Control Department.
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| Quote of the month |
"What we anticipate seldom occurs;
what we least expect generally happens."
- Benjamin Disraeli
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CCAP Insurance Programs
PO Box 60769, Harrisburg, PA 17106-0769
Phone (800) 895-9039 - FAX (717) 526-1020
Claims Fax (888) 692-2368
Click here to go the Insurance Section of the CCAP Website.
email: jsallade@pacounties.org
Insurance Matters is published monthly by CCAP Insurance Programs for the use of members of CCAP's UC Trust, PCoRP, PComp, PIMCC, COMCARE, COMCARE PRO, BEST Flex, PELICAN and other insurance programs, and insurance producers of these members.
Advice contained in this publication is not legal advice and members are encouraged to seek the opinion of their solicitor.
The information provided in this publication is not intended to take the place of professional advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with competent legal, financial, or other appropriate professionals. Statements of facts and opinions expressed in this publication, by authors other than Association staff and officers, are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent an opinion or philosophy of the officers, members and staff of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP). No endorsement of advertised products or services is implied by CCAP unless those products or services are expressly endorsed, or are owned or managed by the Association programs, or our affiliates. This publication may not be reproduced, modified, distributed, or displayed in part or in whole, by any means, without advance written permission of CCAP. Please direct your requests to John Sallade, Managing Director, CCAP Insurance Programs, jsallade@pacounties.org.
Note: As part of its copyright agreement the CCAP grants the author the right to place the final version of his/her manuscript on the author's homepage, subject to CCAP's standards, or in a public digital repository, provided there is a link to the CCAP website.
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