Breadcrumb Navigation:

Student Health - Minutes - 2009-2010

University Student Health Committee

November 30, 2009

3:30 – 5:15PM

Mckimmon Center, Room 232

Members Present: K. Alpi, F. Artis, J. Barker, J. Hair, J. Hawkins- Morton, K. Mills, T.Roberts, C. Rozanski

Guests: Rob Hayford, Thomas Greene, Denise Joshua

  • Welcome and Introduction of newest member and guests (Frankye Artis)
  • Updates: Dr. Jerry Barker (led discussion)

1.After H1N1 vaccine clinics on 8 days at 13 sites, giving 3510 vaccines, vaccines now available by appointment at Student Health, and may reactivate clinics in January when vaccine available to general public. Of the 3510 vaccines done by Maxim clinics, 1646 were student ID (no BCBS) which Maxim will invoice NCSU for at $12 each, a total of $19,752. To provide vaccine at no cost to students, this will be split 50-50 between SHS and Finance & Business.

* Approximately 500 additional H1N1 vaccines have been given at SHS. Over 2000 doses on hand.

* Marketing: Parents & Family Services send emails to parents; Environmental Health & Safety assisted with clinics & advertising (buses, e-message boards, WolfBytes, etc.); broadcast emails to all students.

J. Barker – The low numbers reflect high priority groups. I think the cases we see are also milder than we anticipated, probably a 2nd wave. The CDC anticipates a third wave, January and February, that could possibly more deadly.

K. Alpi – We are still getting eligibility questions. People are still asking “Can I get my shot now?” Who are the high risk groups? Have we focused on special groups such as the RA’s who may not be necessarily at risk, but who have high contact?

J. Barker – No, we checked with Wake County and they say that we should stick to the guidelines of the high risk categories.

2. From ACHA, H1N1 data from 13 weeks of fall semester. NCSU has vaccinated slightly over 10% of students vs. 4% nationally

"From this sample of nearly 3 million students, we have now observed nearly 85,000 cases of ILI (influenza like illness) since late August. Among these cases, ACHA reports 157 hospitalizations and a total of two deaths. Unfortunately preliminary data on vaccine uptake remains quite low, with only four percent of students being vaccinated just prior to the Thanksgiving break”, according to Dr. James C. Turner, president of the American College Health Association.

How can we encourage greater participation in getting H1N1 vaccine at NCSU??

J. Hawkins-Morton- That may affect how we approach vaccinations in the future, maybe we could look at catching students at basketball games. It may mean that we have to try more drastic measures.

J. Hair – What about some sort of competition between schools? – at a football game- who can get the most students vaccinated at a game?

3. Seasonal Flu vaccines: approximately 3000 seasonal shots have been given. Free to BCBSNC members and $15 to other students.

4. New national pap smear guidelines are being studied by our Women's Health staff. SHS will continue using current procedure guidelines until appropriate changes are determined.

5. New Student Health addition: construction documents being finalized by BBH Design; bids out in January; construction to begin in mid-May (entire parking lot unavailable in summer 2010); occupancy end of May 2011. Health Promotion relocating to Harrelson Hall and DSO to First Year College Building for 2010-11. Parking a major concern if West Lot parking deck project begins fall 2010.

6. Counseling has opened 2 offices for interns in Pullen Hall on 2nd floor. Accreditation process is underway. Titanium electronic medical record is being used for scheduling appointments.

7. Hard waiver insurance bids for fall 2010. (Details separate) Two finalists & premiums are confidential until selection made in mid-January.

* NCSU Hard Waiver Insurance Implementation Team: Financial Aid, Cashier, Registration, OIS, Athletics, Student Health, EAS/IT, Grad School, Univ. Health Comm., Student Government.

* On Monday Dec 7, two vendors will present medical insurance proposals at UNC-GA

* On Tuesday Dec 8 the two finalists with voluntary dental insurance proposals will present at UNC-GA.

Handouts for hard waiver insurance bids to be in place Fall 2010. At this point, details are confidential.

J. Hair – Can rates go up beyond the bids?

J. Barker – Premium can rise with the inflationary rate.

C. Rozanski – NCSU is the only school in the system that does not have athletic coverage as part of the BCBS plan. The NCAA athlete is not covered, but club sport is covered.

In the past, we have discussed Athletics, but it would always be too costly. This time the premiums are too good to pass up. They are extremely reasonable.

I don’t know why we wouldn’t treat athletes the same as all other students.

T. Greene – Are “options” decided at individual school levels?

J. Barker – Yes, “options” are decided by individual schools. With the choices now, we can cut the premiums by almost half and get a better plan. Without pre-existing exclusions, insurance companies can get rid of adverse selection and have large numbers of customers.

J. Hawkins-Morton – How will students be notified?

J. Barker – Students will be notified by letter and billed half of the annual payment each semester.

K. Mills – Will students be dropped if they leave school/

J. Barker – Plans are valid through the end of the coverage period or end of treatment with a $100,000 cap.

T. Greene – What about waivers? If premiums are paid twice a year, will they have to validate that they have insurance twice?

J. Barker – Students can request waivers each semester or do fall and spring at one time. The vendor will validate coverage each semester

T. Greene – In finding a plan that had comparable coverage, at what level is “comparable” decided for international students.

J. Barker – Basically it had to match both the base plan and NCSU options.

T. Greene – Do both plans provide coverage world wide/

J. Barker – Yes

J. Barker – I recommend that we vote on the “all” student groupings, 1A rather than the tiered grouping by UG or graduate. SHC has traditionally made a recommendation re: vendor and benefits. UNC-CH will likely go to the unlimited major medical.

J. Hawkins-Morton – I make a motion that the SHC support a comprehensive basic benefit plan.

K. Alpi - Let’s make sure we specifically say what options we are supporting.

Suggestion made to pull together a motion and send it out by email for a vote; motion tabled.

Committee agrees and moves on to scheduling of next meeting: January 25th

Committee will continue to meet throughout Spring 2010 on the last Monday of the Month @ 3:30 – 5:00PM.

Meeting Adjourned @ 5:15PM