WEST DEPTFORD TWP. - The township committee last week introduced an ordinance that would the remove the provision from municipal code requiring an AmeriHealth HMO option be provided to public employees.
Last Thursday's vote to introduce the ordinance follows a series of new contract agreements with township public works employees, the local Police Benevolent Association (PBA) and the superior officers PBA, all reached this year, and all of which eliminate previous provisions requiring the township provide an AmeriHealth HMO option for health benefits.
Contract negotiations with Police Chief Sam DiSimone are still ongoing.
According to township administrator Brandon Umba, the contract changes and the ordinance are needed before officials can begin seeking other health insurance options for public employees in West Deptford - including the state insurance plan.
A public hearing a final vote on the ordinance has been scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 18.
PBA Local 122 President Michael Cramer attended the last committee meeting, asking what the change would mean in the short-term for him and his family, as well as other officers currently on the AmeriHealth plan.
'I'm not adverse to going to the state healthcare plan,' said Cramer. 'I have AmeriHealth, and so do many others in the police department. After this passes, on Dec. 19, what do we do then?'
Umba stated the township would not immediately drop the HMO, but instead begin to look at other possibilities.
'We can look at going into the state plan within a month, but you would never lose your health insurance at any point,' he said.
'We would sit down with the union and explain the changes, because the new insurance, by statute, has to be equal or greater than the current insurance,' he later added. 'This ordinance starts that process.'
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Jason Laday may be reached at jladay@southjerseymedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonLaday. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
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