THIS WEEKEND EASTHAMPTON BECAME THE SECOND COMMUNITY IN
MASSACHUSETTS WITH ACUT USE MARIJUANA SALES.
AND KARIMA RISK HOPES ONE DAY THE CITY WILL HAVE AT LEAST ONE
BUSINESS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GATHER SAY AT A COFFEE SHOP TO CONSUME
MARIJUANA PRODUCTS.
JEFF BAGG, EASTHAMPTON CITY PLANNER, JOINED ME IN THE STUDIO
TO DISCUSS THE YFD SOCIAL CON -- >> WE REACHED OUT TO EASTHAMPTON
TO TRY TO START IT UP. AND DURING THAT PROCESS THE
CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION PUT THE REGULATIONS ON HOLD.
SO LIKE WISE I HAVE PUT THE CAFE ON HOLD, BUT I AM PURSUING
FULL-TIME THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR SOCIAL CONSUCHTION TO EXIST
IN EASTHAMPTON.
>> AND IT WAS IN THE ORDINANCE WHEN THAT WAS OUTLINED, BUT WHAT
WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP IN THAT PROCESS?
>> I THINK WHEN THE STATE PULLED BACK ON THEIR VERSION OF THE
REGULATIONS, A LOT OF IT GOT PUT ON HOLD.
WHAT WE HAVE IS A PLACE HOLDER UNDER THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
SO WHERE WE SEE THIS FROM A MUNICIPALITY'S PERSPECTIVE, WE
SEE THIS AS RESTARTING THE DISCUSSION.
LOOKING BACK AT THE RETAIL COMPONENTS AND CULTIVATION, THAT
WORKED WELL UNDER ZONING, BUT FOR SOMETHING LIKE SOCIAL
CONSUMPTION WILL BE LOOKING AT LICENSING AND OTHER REGULATIONS
OTHER THAN ZONING, SO ZONING MIGHT BE THE END OF THE PROCESS,
WHERE MAYBE WE WANT TO START LOOKING AT BOARD OF HEALTH
REGULATIONS AND STARTING TO DEFINE WHAT SOCIAL CONSUMPTION
MIGHT LOOK LIKE, AND HAVE A GOOD DIALOGUE WITH ENTREPRENEURS, THE
STATE REGULATORS AND LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES TO REALLY WORK
TOGETHER TO CRAFT A FRAMEWORK.
>> DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON A FRAMEWORK?
BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE LIKEN THIS TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A
LIQUOR STORE AND A BAR, RIGHT?
IS THAT HOW YOU SEE IT?
>> I THINK IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE.
I THINK THERE ARE MANY GOOD EXISTING MODELS FOR US TO
CONSIDER BOTH OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY, FOR EXAMPLE IN
AMSTERDAM AS WELL AS IN SPAIN.
BUT ALSO IN THE UNITED STATES AS SOCIAL CONSUMPTION VENUES
INCLUDING SMOKING WITHIN CLOSE QUARTERS HAS OCCURRED WITH
CALIFORNIA AND MEDICAL DISPENSARIES FOR A COUPLE OF
DECADES.
>> AND WORCESTER HAS A SOCIAL CLUB, SO IT'S A PRIVATE CLUB
WHERE YOU CAN GO AND CONSUME IN A PUBLIC PLACE, BUT THERE'S A
MEMBERSHIP MODEL AND THERE'S A FEE FOR THAT USE.
DID YOU THINK ABOUT DOING THAT AS LIKE A BABY STEP INTO THIS?
>> I TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
IN MY VIEW I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE LEGAL
FRAMEWORK TO BE THERE TO, YOU KNOW, ON THE BOARD AUTHORIZED
SOCIAL CONSUMPTION.
WHY?
BECAUSE ONE, IT'S SUSTAINABLE, IN THE LONG RUN NOBODY IS GOING
TO SHUT YOU DOWN.
AND ALSO I THINK IT'S AN ISSUE OF COMMUNAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE, BECAUSE THE SOCIAL CONSUMPTION OF CANNABIS HAS BEEN
DISPROPORTIONATELY ENFORCED AGAINST MINORITIES AND PEOPLE OF
LOWER INCOME LEVELS.
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
WHEN YOU PLACE THE HANDS OF JUDGMENT AND RACE INTO AN
ENFORCEMENT OF CANNABIS CONSUMPTION, IT IS QUESTIONABLE,
AND THEREFORE I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE LAW
ON THE BOOKS.
>> FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, WHERE ARE YOU ON THIS?
>> IT MAY SEEM VERY QUICK TO START TALKING ABOUT THIS, BUT IF
YOU CAST OUT THE TIMELINE, WE'RE LOOKING AT A FAIRLY LONG PERIOD
OF TIME TO GET SOCIAL CONSUMPTION SITUATED, SO NOW IS
A GOOD TIME TO START THAT.
AND I THINK THE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE TO SORT OF BALANCE IT.
>> BECAUSE THERE WAS THE EASTHAMPTON HEALTHY YOUTH
COALITION, AND THEY WERE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT NEGATIVE
IMPLICATIONS OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO AS A MUNICIPALITY YOU'RE KIND IF THE MIDDLE, YOU HAVE THE
ADVOCATES PERSPECTIVE, BUT THEN PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
PUBLIC HEALTH, THE SAFETY OF KIDS, ET CETERA.
>> YES, AND THAT WOULD BE WHERE THE DISCUSSION MIGHT GO NEXT.
I THINK FROM A TOWN OR CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, ZONING IS SORT OF A
KLUNKY TOOL, IT'S NOT REALLY DESIGNED FOR THIS, SOCIAL
CONSUMPTION WILL BE A PRETTY INTRICATE MODEL THAT WE HAVE TO
CREATE AND WHAT MY THOUGHT PROCESS IS IS THAT IF ZONING IS
KLUNKY AND LIKE A MALET, THEN WHERE WE WANT TO BE WITH SOCIAL
CONSUMPTION IS LICENSING.
>> SIMILAR TO A BAR, DO YOU FORESEE THAT THE TOWN WOULD HAVE
A CAP OF X NUMBER OF VENUES WROTE SOCIAL CONSUMPTION COULD
TAKE PLACE?
>> YES, AND THIS IS A LOT TO UNRAVEL.
WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT A, THERE'S A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT
ELEMENTS TO TAKE SHAPE FOR THIS TO EVEN BE PALPABLE FOR PEOPLE,
WHICH IS A TRAINING, LIKE A TIPS TRAINING.
SO IF YOU'RE A BARTENDER YOU GET TIPS TRAINED TO MONITOR FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSUMING ALCOHOL AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN PLACE.
>> THERE'S NO LEVEL FOR GAUGING LEVEL OF INTOXICATION.
>> YES.
SO ONCE THAT STARTS TO TAKE SHAPE, THAT WILL HELP THE
DISCUSSION MOVE FORWARD.
POLICE OFFICERS BEING TRAINED AFTER SOMEONE WERE TO LEAVE A
PLACE, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT.
AND THEN REALLY JUST, I THINK, IT MAY BE A SERIES OF BABY STEPS
TO TAKE AND ONE THING THAT, WHAT'S FLOATED RECENTLY WOULD BE
POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT A SPECIAL EVENTS MODEL AS A WAY TO BEGIN
TO INTRODUCE IT.
SO THE STATE CANNABIS COMMISSION IS LOOKING AT A WORK, GROUP OF
MUNICIPALITIES TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE AT THE TABLE.
AND THAT WAS SOMETHING I STARTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS IT MATE BE AN
OPTION FOR SOME TOWNS TO TRY SPECIAL EVENTS THAT ARE LICENSED
AND REVIEWED, BECAUSE THEY'RE KIND OF ONE TIME, AND THEY MIGHT
BE OUTSIDE, WHICH WOULD HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS
YOU HAVE ONCE YOU GET INSIDE A BUILDING.
SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A SERIES OF DISCUSSIONS, AND START
TO TEASE OUT SORT OF THE WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN THE
SCENARIOS, THE OPTIONS.
>> YOU AS A WOULD-BE BUSINESS OWNER, IS THAT A PALATABLE
OPTION FOR YOU?
>> I REALLY WANT TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT, IN THIS CASE THE
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT CLOSELY, BECAUSE I THINK WE SHARE A LOT
OF THE SAME CONCERNS.
I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE MY BUSINESS TO BE A GOOD CORPORATE
CITIZEN, AND ALSO AS A PARENT AND A COMMUNITY MEMBER, I LIVE
IN EASTHAMPTON TOO, I CARE ABOUT THAT COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK ANY OPERATOR, WHETHER IT'S MYSELF OR ANOTHER
CANNABIS ESTABLISHMENT, OWES IT TO THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ARE PROTECTED.
SO I THINK THAT'S IN EVERYONE'S BEST INTEREST, THOSE ARE COMMON
GOALS, AND WE GET MORE PEOPLE ON BOARD AND BETTER COMMUNICATE
BOTH THE MESSAGE, THE REGULATIONS AND ADDITIONALLY
ALSO THE EDUCATION, THE CONSUMER EDUCATION THAT NEEDS TO GO
AROUND HAND IN HAND FOR THIS KIND OF VENTURE WHEN WE WORK
TOGETHER.
>> BEST GUESS, IF YOU HAD TO, WHEN DO YOU THINK THIS COULD BE
A VIABLE BUSINESS OPTION FOR YOU IN EASTHAMPTON?
>> LOOKING AT THE STATE GUIDELINES, AND THEY'VE STARTED
THE CONVERSATION OF PILOT GROUPS, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS
TO GO FORWARD, AT LEAST AT THIS POINT, WE NEED TO GET A SOCIAL
CONSUMPTION BALLOT PASSED.
AND THEY ONLY CURRENTLY ALLOW FOR THOSE ON BY --
BIENNIAL ELECTION YEARS.
>> ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST ABUNDANT SOURCES OF ENERGY HAS
YET TO BE HARNESSED, BUT NOT FOR LACK OF TRYING.
NEARLY TWO DECADES OF FIERCE POLITICAL OPPOSITION KILLED A
PLAN TO BUILD WIND TURBINES OFF CAPE COD.
BUT NOW THE POLITICAL CLIMATE HAS EVOLVED AND WE MAY SOON SEE
THE COUNTRY'S FIRST FULL SCALE OFF SHORE WIND FARM.
"CONNECTING POINT"'S STEPHANIE LEYDON REPORTS ON NEW BEDFORD'S
TRANSITION FROM A FISHING COMMUNITY TO A SOURCE OF WIND
ENERGY JOBS.
>> HERE FISHING HAS BEEN THE HEART OF THE CITY'S ECONOMY,
FROM THE EARLY DAYS AS A WHALING CAPITAL TO ITS PRESENT CAR
NATION AS A FISHING CLUB.
THE PORT DIRECTOR SAYS THE SAME INFRASTRUCTURE THAT LONG
SUPPORTED FISHING IS WELL SUITED FOR WIND.
THE COUNTRY'S FIRST OFFICIAL OFF SHORE WIND FARM WENT ONLINE TWO
YEARS AGO OFF RHODE ISLAND'S COAST.
BUT IT'S SMALL, JUST FIVE TURBINES.
THE ONE PLAN FOR THE WATERS OFF MASSACHUSETTS WILL HAVE MORE
THAN 100.
EACH ONE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SKYSCRAPER.
>> SOME OF THE FOUNDATION PIECES ARE BETWEEN 1200 AND 1600-TONS.
SO THEY REALLY ARE MASSIVE.
>> WHICH IS THE REASON FOR THE 29-ACRE MARINE COMMERCE
TERMINAL, ENOUGH ROOM FOR THOSE TURBINE PIECES TO BE LOADED ON
BARGES AND LIKE A GIANT LEGO SET, ASSEMBLED OUT IN THE OCEAN.
>> IT'S A $2 BILLION CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
>> WHAT'S THAT MEAN FOR THE CITY?
>> WE'RE HOPING IT MEANS A LOT OF JOBS.
>> BUT THERE'S CONCERN THAT HARNESSING THE WIND WILL HARM
THIS COMMUNITY'S LIFE BLOOD.
>> WE HAVE A VERY SUSTAINABLE FISHERY AT THE MOMENT.
>> DAN OWNS A SMALL FLEET OF BOATS DEDICATED ALMOST ENTIRELY
TO SCALLOPS.
THAT'S THE CATCH THAT HAS MADE NEW BEDFORD THE COUNTRY'S MOST
VALUABLE PORT.
BUT HE SAYS GETTING TO THE SCALLOP BREEDING GROUNDS COULD
BE A HAZARD IF HE'S NAVIGATE THROUGH TURBINES.
>> IF THE AUTOPILOT GOES OUT, THE WIND BLOWS UP, IF YOUR
ENGINE FAILS AND YOU START TO DRIFT OFF COURSE, ALL YOU'LL
HAVE IS OBSTACLES TO HIT.
>> HE'D LIKE TO SEE THE TURBINES SPACED FAR APART, OR BETTER YET
FEWER OF THEM.
ALSO A CONCERN, A PROPOSED WIND FARM OFF NEW YORK, RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF A SCALLOP BREEDING AREA.
>> WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OFF SHORE WIND IS DONE THE RIGHT A.
OFF SHORE WIND IS NOT GOING TO SUPPLANT FISHING HERE IN NEW
BEDFORD.
WE WANT TO SET THINGS UP SO THAT THE TWO INDUSTRIES COMPLIMENT
ONE ANOTHER.
>> SET THE COURSE AS STATES ALONG THE EAST COAST ALSO BEGIN
TO HARNESS THE POWER OF OFF SHORE WIND.
>>> ADDRESSING RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS IS A CHALLENGE FOR
POLITICIANS, FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES.
IN 2017 A LAW WAS PASSED WHICH ASSESSES BUSINESSES A HEALTH
CARE FEE CALLED THE EMPLOYER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE CONTRIBUTION
SUPPLEMENT, IT'S DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE RISING COST OF
MASSHEALTH.
BUT SOME SAY THE FEE IS PUTTING AN UNFAIR BURDEN ON SMALL
BUSINESSES.
CAROLEE MCGRATH SAT DOWN WITH JON HURST, THE PRESIDENT OF THE
RETAIL ASSOCIATION OF MASSACHUSETTS, AND JUDY HERRELL,
THE OWNER OF HERRELL'S BAKERY AND ICE CREAM.
>> IT'S DESIGNED AS A PATCH WORK FUNDING MEK FISM FOR MASSHEALTH.
DESIGNED TO RAISE ABOUT $300 MILLION OR SO EACH YEAR TO
HELP OUT FUNDING ON MEDICAID.
THE PROBLEM IS THOSE THAT ARE GETTING HIT WITH THIS COST, THIS
TAX, $750 PER EMPLOYEE IN MANY CASES, THEY ALSO ARE THE ONES
THAT ARE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST HEALTH CARE
PREMIUMS IN THE ENTIRE STATE.
BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE RISK POOLS WORK IN MASSACHUSETTS.
THEY'RE PUTTING THEM IN THE SAME RISK POOL AS INDIVIDUALS.
SO SMALL BUSINESSES CROSS SUBSIDIZE INDIVIDUALS.
NOW WITH THIS FEE THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO SUBSIDIZE THE
MASSHEALTH, AND IT'S ISN'T FAIR.
>> THIS IS FOR AN EMPLOYEE WHO GOES ON MASS HEALTH?
>> NOT ONLY THAT, BUT ALSO THE CONNECTOR, WHICH IS MEDICAID
MONEY.
SO THE DISCONNECT THERE ISN'T FAIR.
IT COULD BE SOMEONE BUYING THROUGH THE CONNECTOR OR
EXCHANGE THROUGH THE A.C.A. AND THAT'S NOT MEDICAID DOLLARS AT
ALL.
VOR HOW IS THIS IMPACTING YOU?
YOU'RE A SMALL BUSINESS, YOU HAVE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE
WORKING FOR YOU.
>> RIGHT.
>> WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU?
>> IT'S A REAL BURDEN.
THE WAY IT'S WORKING FOR US, LET'S SAY FOR EXAMPLE I HAVE AN
EMPLOYEE THAT'S WORKING FULL OR THREE QUARTER TIME.
WE OFFER THEM OUR HEALTH INSURANCE ONCE THEY HIT A 90 DAY
EMPLOYMENT.
THEY ARE SMART INDIVIDUALS, THEY SAY I CAN'T PAY HALF OF ALMOST
$900 A MONTH FOR A PREMIUM, WHICH IS OUTRAGEOUS, AND THAT'S
WHAT WE HAVE TO CHARGE BECAUSE THAT'S THE PREMIUMS ARE FOR AN
INDIVIDUAL.
SO THEY GO TO THE CONNECTOR.
THE CONNECTOR SAYS, OH, WE'LL DO THIS WHOLE THING FOR YOU FOR
$350, AND WE'LL SUBSIDIZE YOU.
SO WE HAVE OFFERED THEM THE INSURANCE, THEY HAVE REJECTED
IT.
THEY WOULD ONLY HAVE TO PAY HALF.
THEY TAKE THE SUBSIDY, THEY DO IT WITH THE CONNECTOR, AND THEN
THE EMPLOYER IS CHARGED BACK, UP TO $750 FOR THEIR SUBSIDY.
NOW, I HAVE THIS WEEK 23 EMPLOYEES.
WE'RE GETTING WHACKED.
IT'S LIKE $1500 PER QUARTER, SOMETIMES 2,000, DEPENDS HOW
MANY HOURS PEOPLE WORK.
IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED EQUATION THAT THEY'RE USING TO CALCULATE.
WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT.
WE ALSO CAN'T SAY TO THEM, ARE YOU ON MASS HEALTH OR WHAT
INSURANCE DO YOU HAVE?
SO WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET HIT WITH
QUARTERLY.
>> SO THIS IS PER QUARTER.
IF YOU HAVE ONE EMPLOYEE WORKING THERE NOW, LEAVES, AND THEN YOU
HAVE A REPLACEMENT, YOU'RE PAYING ANOTHER FEE FOR THAT
REPLACEMENT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, LET'S SAY SOMEBODY WORKS ONE DAY, WE'RE
GOING TO GET HIT.
LET'S SAY THAT SAME EMPLOYEE HAS ANOTHER JOB, PART-TIME JOB, THEY
GO TO THAT EMPLOYER, THAT EMPLOYER IS GETTING HIT FOR THE
SAME EMPLOYEE.
>> SO HOW DO YOU WORK THIS OUT?
AND HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN TO LAWMAKERS THAT THIS IS REALLY A
STRUGGLE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES?
>> WE'RE COMING ON SHOWS LIKE THIS, WE'RE TALKING TO CHAMBERS,
WE'RE TALKING TO SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE'RE EDUCATING THEM THAT, LOOK, THE EMAC ON TOP OF THE HIGHEST
HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS IN THE COUNTRY, THEY LITERALLY ARE, ON
TOP OF $15 MINIMUM WAGES, ON TOP OF PAID SICK LEAVE, ON TOP OF
PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE, IT'S JUST OVERWHELMING.
THERE'S ONLY SO MANY PAYROLL DOLLARS THAT A SMALL BUSINESS
HAS IN ORDER TO PUT OUT THERE AND STAY IN THE BLACK, KEEP YOUR
DOORS OPEN.
THEY'RE STRETCHED SO THIN.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TO NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW,
GOVERNMENT CREATED THIS INCENTIVE FOR JUDY'S EMPLOYEES
TO GO TO THE CONNECTOR TO GET CHEAPER HEALTH INSURANCE.
WHY SHOULD GOVERNMENT THEN COME BACK AND TAX HER MULTIPLE TIMES
PER YEAR FOR THE SAME POSITION.
IF SHE HAD AN EMPLOYEE THAT WORKED FOR 12 MONTHS AND JUST
PAID $750 FOR THAT ONE PERSON, MAYBE THAT'S A LITTLE MORE
AFFORDABLE, BUT MAYBE SHE HAS THREE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE
YEAR, YOU KNOW, THAT ALL THREE GET ASSESSED $750.
THAT JUST ISN'T RIGHT.
>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM OTHER BUSINESSES THAT YOU'RE IN
TOUCH WITH?
>> SAME THING.
AND SOME BUSINESS OWNERS THAT I KNOW OWN, LET'S SAY, TWO OR
THREE RESTAURANTS.
WE EMPLOY, THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY EMPLOYS THE HIGHEST
PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYEES.
WE'RE THE EMPLOYER.
RESTAURANTS, IF YOU'RE MAKING BETWEEN FOUR AND 6% PROFIT
YOU'RE DOING ALL RIGHT.
GUESS WHERE THIS IS CUTTING?
LOOK AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW.
MY SALES WERE FLAT THIS YEAR, IT WAS VERY HOT AND RAINY SUMMER.
SO MY SALES AS AN ICE CREAM STORE WERE FLAT.
BUT MY EXPENSES HAVE DOUBLED.
AND THEY'RE BECAUSE OF MANDATES FROM THE STATE.
IF I GO BELOW 4%, THERE'S NO REASON FOR ME TO BE OPEN.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEW -- SEE CLOSINGS.
>> OBVIOUSLY YOU WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, TO HAVE
THAT COVERAGE, I KNOW THAT FROM YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS THAT'S
WHERE YOUR STAND.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> BUT TO MAINTAIN IT IS A WHOLE OTHER PIECE OF WORK.
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THIS AND HOW DO YOU FIX IT?
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.
NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT IT, WHETHER IT'S SINGLE PAYER HEALTH
CARE, WHETHER THERE'S SOME SORT OF MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO
SUBSIDIZE, WHETHER, THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH EVERY POTENTIAL
SOLUTION.
BUT THE WAY IT IS NOW IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
>> I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE PUBLIC POLICY
INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE NO CLUE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN JUDY'S
SHOES.
THEY GET THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH THE GROUP INSURANCE
COMMISSION, WHICH IS THIS HUGE BUYING POOL FOR ALL OF THE STATE
EMPLOYEES AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES.
THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE UNDER A HIGH
DEDUCTIBLE PLAN AND WITH HIGH COPAYS AND SO FORTH.
THEY HAVE CADILLAC PLANS FUNDED BY THE TAXPAYER, THEY REALLY
DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR A SMALL BUSINESS TO OPERATE
UNDER THE RULES THAT THEY HAVE CREATED.
AND THEY ARE DISCRIMINATORY RULES.
WE NEED FOR OUR POLICY LEADERS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE PLIGHT
OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE WAIVER PROGRAM?
>> WE FILED FOR THE WAIVER PROGRAM, WE DIDN'T GET THE
WAIVER.
IT'S LIKE DOING YOUR END OF YEAR, YOU KNOW, MATH.
YOUR END OF YEAR BUSINESS WORK.
FOR TAXES.
TO JUST FILL OUT THE WAIVER, IT'S THIS, IT'S LIKE A REEM OF
PAPER, IT'S RIDICULOUS.
AND IT TAKES FOREVER, YOU HAVE TO GET AN ACCOUNTANT TO DO IT
WITH YOU, SO YOU'RE PAYING SOMEBODY ELSE TO HELP YOU DO IT.
AND THEN YOU DON'T GET IT ANY WAY.
IT'S VERY ARBITRARY.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S BEEN ON MY MIND ABOUT THIS IS THAT FOR
US WE OFFER WHAT IS CONSIDERED A CADILLAC PLAN.
BECAUSE IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE COST OF THE HEALTH CARE FOR THE
PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR US, THE DEDUCTIBLES MAKE IT SO THEY'LL
NEVER REACH THE DEDUCTIBLE.
YOU KNOW, AND EVERY YEAR THE INSURANCE GOES UP AND IT COVERS
LESS.
ALSO WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET FOR INSURANCE IS VERY DIFFERENT,
EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE SAME COMPANY AS THE CONNECTOR, IT'S
DIFFERENT THAN THE CONNECTOR.
A PERFECT EXAMPLE IS ON OUR POLICY FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY.
PHYSICAL THAIRM ON OUR PLAN GETS 30 VISITS PER YEAR, FLAT.
THE CONNECTOR'S POLICIES ARE 30 VISITS PER PRESCRIPTION PER
YEAR.