>>
Elissa Marra: JUST AHEAD ON
"NEED TO KNOW," FIRST KODAK,
THEN XEROX AND NOW THE
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER:
MAJOR EMPLOYERS IN TOWN WHO
HAVE CHOSEN TO SELF-INSURE
THEIR EMPLOYEES.
SOME SAY THAT WILL MAKE HEALTH
CARE COSTS IN ROCHESTER LESS
COMPETITIVE FOR SMALL
BUSINESS.
WE'LL EXAMINE THE GROWING
CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING HOW
COMPANIES PROVIDE HEALTH
COVERAGE.
ALSO TONIGHT, THE STATE
LEGISLATURE IS FINALIZING A
PLAN TO REDRAW DISTRICT LINES.
FIND OUT WHY SOME LOCAL
LEGISLATORS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH
THE RESULTS.
PLUS WE'LL BE JOINED BY ELLEN
ROSEN OF "THE DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE" FOR THIS WEEK'S
"BUSINESS SECTION."
BUT FIRST, SELF-INSURANCE AND
COMMUNITY
RATING.
IT'S UP NEXT ON "NEED TO
KNOW."
>> WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THE
LAST ONES LEAVING WILL BE
THOSE WITH THE LEAST HEALTHY
EMPLOYEES.
>> THIS IS "NEED TO KNOW," THE
ROCHESTER AREA'S ONLY IN-DEPTH
NEWS PROGRAM.
"NEED TO KNOW" IS A PRODUCTION
OF WXXI NEWS AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS, COVERING ISSUES,
POLITICS, EDUCATION AND
CURRENT EVENTS.
>> "NEED TO KNOW" IS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE DAISY MARQUIS
JONES FOUNDATION, BY DORSCHEL
LEXUS, AND THROUGH THE SUPPORT
OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
>> Elissa Marra: AND THANK YOU
FOR JOINING US.
I'M ELISSA MARRA.
GARY WALKER HAS THE NIGHT OFF
TONIGHT.
THE POWER STRUCTURE IN ALBANY
IS
SHAPING UP THIS WEEK AS
LEGISLATORS ARE EXPECTED TO
PASS A FINAL REDISTRICTING
PLAN.
IT'S THE LATEST STEP IN
ADJUSTING DISTRICT LINES TO
CONFORM TO POPULATION CHANGES
AS SHOWN IN THE 2000 CENSUS.
HOWEVER, IT'S ALSO A
POLITICALLY CHARGED ISSUE AS
SOME ASSEMBLY, STATE SENATE
AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
CAN LOOK WEIRD ON PAPER, AS
LAWMAKERS TRY TO PROTECT
INCUMBENT LEGISLATORS.
JOINING ME NOW IN STUDIO TO
DISCUSS HOW LOCAL DISTRICTS
MIGHT BE AFFECTED IS AM 1370'S
BUD LOWELL.
BUD, VISUAL AIDS HERE?
SOME INTERESTING
DEVELOPMENTS--
>> Bud Lowell: TO PROTECT AND
IN SOME CASES TO GET RID OF.
THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS ONE.
WE
BROUGHT THE VISUAL AID.
THIS IS SENATOR RICK
DOLLINGER'S NEW 56th DISTRICT.
THIS IS BRIGHTON, ROCHESTER,
GREECE, PARMA, WHICH ARE
HEAVILY REPUBLICAN AREAS, AND
THIS IS THE ONE-BLOCK WIDE
STRETCH OF THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER THAT IT GOES THROUGH
TO CONNECT THESE TWO.
DOLLINGER SAYS THAT'S BAD
FAITH.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER ISSUES,
OF COURSE.
JOE MORELLE PICKS UP ROBACH AS
ROGER -- JOE ROBACH, ROGER
ROBACH'S SON, HAS MOVED OUT TO
THE WEST.
HE'S NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
THERE ARE PEOPLE SPECULATING
THAT HE MAY JUMP PARTIES
BECAUSE OF THAT.
>> Elissa Marra: DO YOU THINK
THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH
THE ISSUES WITH SHELDON SILVER
WHEN -- BEFORE, WHEN SOME OF
THE
LAWMAKERS BANDED TOGETHER
AGAINST THE SPEAKER?
>> Bud Lowell: IT'S A
POSSIBILITY.
HE WAS NOT PROTECTED IN THE
FAVORED PART, THE ABSOLUTE
BASE OF HIS DISTRICT, SO YOU
CAN DRAW WHAT CONCLUSIONS YOU
WANT.
THIS PLAN WORKS OUT BETTER FOR
A COUPLE OF REPUBLICANS WHO
MIGHT HAVE BEEN FORCED INTO A
PRIMARY WITH OTHER
REPUBLICANS:
BRIAN KOLB FROM CANANDAIGUA,
JOE ERRIGO FROM CONESIUS.
THEY WON'T HAVE TO RUN A
PRIMARY AGAINST OTHER
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS FROM THE
SOUTHERN TIER NOW, SO THE
SECOND VERSION OF THIS PLAN
WORKS OUT BETTER FOR THEM.
THE IMPORTANT THING TO SAY, I
THINK, IS THAT WHILE WE'RE
TALKING, LAWYERS ARE SITTING
SOMEWHERE DRAWING UP BRIEFS TO
CHALLENGE
THIS THING IN COURT
AND NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF
THIS GERRYMANDERING.
THIS PLAN ADDS AN EXTRA SEAT
TO THE STATE SENATE.
INSTEAD OF 61, THERE WILL BE
62 SEATS.
THEY'RE CREATING A NEW SEAT IN
BROOKLYN, WHICH IS IN A VERY
HISPANIC SECTION -- OR
ACTUALLY IN QUEENS, DOWN IN
NEW YORK CITY.
IT'S NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR THEY
HAVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL
AUTHORITY TO DO THAT.
THE DEMOCRATS IN FACT SAY THEY
DON'T, SO THERE'S A GROUND FOR
IT TO BE CHALLENGED IN COURT.
>> Elissa Marra: WE HAVE HEARD
ABOUT PUBLIC HEARINGS AND WE
HAVE SEEN SOME NEWS CONFERENCE
WITH SOME BIG GOVERNMENT
GROUPS TALKING ABOUT THE
PUBLIC PROCESS.
IN YOUR ESTIMATION, HOW MUCH
INPUT DOES THE PUBLIC REALLY
HAVE
INTO THIS?
>> Bud Lowell: THIS IS DONE BY
A TASK FORCE WHICH INCLUDES
LAWMAKERS AND OTHER PEOPLE,
BUT THEY WERE BASICALLY
APPOINTED BY THE ASSEMBLY AND
THE SENATE, SO THEY'RE
LAWYERS, PEOPLE WHO TEND TO BE
FAMILIAR WITH POLITICS.
I COVERED ONE OF THOSE
HEARINGS, AND KAREN DEWITT,
THEIR ALBANY PERSON, COVERED
ANOTHER OF THEM.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME
AND SPOKE WHO WERE FROM THE
PUBLIC BASICALLY WERE
CONCERNED ABOUT KEEPING THEIR
GUY IN PLACE, THE PERSON, THE
MAN OR WOMAN THAT THEY KNOW.
>> Elissa Marra: MANY WANT TO
KEEP THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE.
>> Bud Lowell: THEY WANT TO
KEEP THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE.
SO THAT'S BASICALLY THE
CONCERN THAT INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE
HAVE IN THIS PROCESS.
IT'S
KIND OF A STRANGE
PROCESS.
IT'S DONE ONCE EVERY TEN
YEARS, AND IT'S INCREDIBLY
COMPLICATED.
PEOPLE HAVE A CHANCE -- YOU
WRITE A LETTER OR GO TO ONE OF
THESE FIVE HEARINGS THEY HOLD
ACROSS THE STATE AND THAT'S
ABOUT THE CHANCE YOU GET.
>> Elissa Marra: OKAY.
WE'LL HAVE TO LISTEN TO AM
1370 SO THAT YOU FOLKS ON THE
RADIO AND IN OUR TELEVISION
NEWS DEPARTMENT CAN SORT IT
ALL OUT FOR US.
BUD, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE
HAVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE WILL LISTEN FOR FURTHER
UPDATES ON WXXI AM 1370, AND
OF COURSE YOU CAN GET THE
LATEST ON REDISTRICTING ON OUR
WEB SITE, NYcitizens.org.
NOW WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO A
RELATIVELY
NEW BUSINESS
PRACTICE TAKING HOLD IN
ROCHESTER.
AREA BUSINESS LEADERS ARE NOW
EXAMINING THE IDEA OF
SELF-INSURING THEIR EMPLOYEES
FOR MEDICAL COVERAGE UNDER A
SELF-INSURING OR SELF-FUNDING
PLAN.
UNDER THE PLAN, THE EMPLOYER
PAYS ITS EMPLOYEES' HEALTH
COSTS DIRECTLY RATHER THAN
PAYING PREMIUMS TO AN INSURER
FOR COVERAGE.
MAJOR LOCAL COMPANIES HAVE
ALREADY IMPLEMENTED THE PLAN,
INCLUDING KODAK, XEROX, AND
NOW THE UNIVERSITY OF
ROCHESTER RECENTLY ANNOUNCED
IT WILL BEGIN SELF-INSURING
MORE THAN 12,000 EMPLOYEES ON
JULY 1st.
THE UNIVERSITY SEES THIS AS A
MEANS TO CONTROL ITS RISING
HEALTH COVERAGE COSTS DUE TO
YEARS OF RISING PREMIUMS.
BUT
CRITICS SAY ROCHESTER'S
LONG HISTORY OF COMMUNITY
RATING WILL SUFFER.
COMMUNITY RATING IS THE
POOLING OF COVERAGE WITH AN
INSURER SO THAT BIG AND SMALL
COMPANIES ALIKE WILL HAVE THE
SAME HEALTH CARE COSTS.
THEY SAY SMALL BUSINESSES WILL
BE FORCED TO COMPENSATE FOR
FEWER MEMBERS IN THE RATING
POOL, POSSIBLY LEADING TO
HIGHER HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS
FOR THEM.
TONIGHT WE ARE JOINED BY A
CROSS-SECTION OF MEDICAL AND
BUSINESS COMMUNITIES TO
DISCUSS SELF-INSURANCE,
COMMUNITY RATING AND THEIR
IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
BUT FIRST, "NEED TO KNOW'S"
MATT CUMMINGS EXAMINES HOW THE
COMMUNITY RATING WORKS FOR YOU
AND HOW SELF-INSURING AFFECTS
IT.
>> Matt Cummings: THE
UNIVERSITY
OF ROCHESTER'S
RECENT DECISION TO CHANGE THE
WAY IT PROVIDES HEALTH
INSURANCE TO ITS EMPLOYEES
MADE HEADLINES AND CAUSED A
STIR OF CONTROVERSY IN THE
HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY.
EFFECTIVE THIS JULY 1st, THEY
WILL LEAVE THE LONGSTANDING
COMMUNITY POOL AND GO IT
ALONE, OPTING TO SELF-INSURE
ITS EMPLOYEES, HOPING FOR A
VARIETY OF BENEFITS.
>> THIS CERTAINLY GIVES THEM
MORE DEGREES OF FREEDOM AND
LATITUDE TO TAILOR THE
BENEFITS, THE HEALTH BENEFITS,
IN A WAY THAT'S GOING TO
MAXIMIZE THE VALUE TO THEIR
EMPLOYEE POPULATION, AND THE
SUPPOSITION SHOULD BE ONE OF
"WE ARE GOING TO SAVE MONEY IN
DOING SO."
>> Matt Cummings: LARRY VAN
HORN IS AN ASSISTANT
PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AND
MANAGEMENT
FOR THE SIMON
SCHOOL.
HE SPECIALIZES IN HEALTH CARE
MANAGEMENT AND HEALTH
ECONOMICS.
HE SAYS YOU MAY NOT REALIZE
IT, BUT TRADITIONALLY LOCAL
EMPLOYERS HAVE BANDED TOGETHER
TO BUY EMPLOYEE HEALTH
INSURANCE AS A GROUP IN ORDER
TO KEEP COSTS DOWN.
THAT'S THE MEANING OF THE TERM
"COMMUNITY POOL."
COMMUNITY RATING IS JUST THAT.
IT RATES THE HEALTH RISKS OF A
COMPANY'S EMPLOYEES BASED ON
EVERY EMPLOYEE OF EVERY
COMPANY IN THE POOL.
VAN HORN SAYS THAT IN THIS
ECONOMY MORE COMPANIES ARE
FINDING IT CHEAPER TO GO IT
ALONE.
>> THERE IS ALSO A COMPONENT
IN THAT BY BEING SELF-INSURED,
AND THEN BY DEFINITION
EXPERIENCE RATED, WE ARE OF
THE
MIND-SET THAT OUR
POPULATION IS HEALTHIER THAN
THE COMMUNITYWIDE AVERAGE AND
THAT WE HAVE SIMPLY BEEN
CROSS-SUBSIDIZING, AND BY
PULLING OUT OF THE COMMUNITY
RISK POOL THAT WE ARE GOING TO
BE IN A -- WE HAVE A HEALTHIER
POPULATION AS A WHOLE AND OUR
EXPERIENCE SHOULD REDUCE OUR
COSTS.
>> Matt Cummings: THE
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER IS NOT
ALONE WHEN IT COMES TO
SELF-INSURING.
KODAK, XEROX AND WEGMAN'S HAVE
ALL RECENTLY MADE THE SWITCH.
WITH THE UNIVERSITY JOINING
THEM, FOUR OUT OF ROCHESTER'S
TOP FIVE EMPLOYERS NOW
SELF-INSURE THEIR EMPLOYEES, A
TREND VAN HORN SAYS IS NOTHING
NEW TO THE REST OF AMERICA.
>> THIS IS NOT A NEW
PHENOMENON NATIONALLY.
80 TO 90% OF EMPLOYERS WITH
OVER
1,000 EMPLOYEES HAVE
SELF-INSURED.
AND THAT'S 1993 NUMBERS, AND
IT'S LIKELY TO BE HIGHER
TODAY.
SO THE VAST MAJORITY OF LARGE
EMPLOYERS ALREADY SELF-INSURE.
>> Matt Cummings: BY LAW,
COMPANIES EMPLOYING 50 PEOPLE
OR LESS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO
PURSUE SELF-FUNDING AND ARE
LOCKED INTO THE COMMUNITY
RATING POOL.
IF IT SHRINKS, VAN HORN SAYS
THERE WILL BE FEWER PEOPLE TO
SPREAD THE FINANCIAL RISK
ACROSS, AND INSURANCE
PROVIDERS MAY RAISE PREMIUM
RATES TO THOSE REMAINING.
TOM MOONEY IS PRESIDENT OF THE
GREATER ROCHESTER METRO
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
HE ALSO IS A LEADER OF THE
COALITION TO PROTECT COMMUNITY
RATING.
HE SAYS COMMUNITY RATING MUST
BE
PRESERVED TO ENSURE THE
LONG-TERM FINANCIAL HEALTH OF
AREA BUSINESSES.
>> SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE A RATE
OF INSURANCE THAT'S A BIT
LOWER.
THEY MAY HAVE YOUNGER
EMPLOYEES.
BUT AS YOUR EMPLOYEE BASE
AGES, YOUR COSTS GO UP.
SO COMMUNITY RATING, THROUGH A
LIFETIME, THROUGH A COMPANY'S
LIFETIME, IS A VERY GOOD
INVESTMENT.
>> SO FAR, TO BE VERY FRANK
WITH YOU, THE IMPACT OF THOSE
THAT HAVE LEFT THE COMMUNITY
HAS NOT DISADVANTAGED THE POOL
OF THOSE LEFT BEHIND.
>> Matt Cummings: KEVIN HILL
IS THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
FOR EXCELLUS HEALTH PLAN.
>> BUT THE ISSUE REALLY BEFORE
US TODAY IS HOW MUCH LONGER
WILL THAT BE TRUE AND IS THIS
THE END OF THOSE REALLY
LOOKING
TO MOVE TO
SELF-FUNDING AND, THEREFORE,
80% OF THOSE INSURED IN
ROCHESTER ARE GOING TO BE
COMMUNITY RATED, OR IS THIS
THE TIPPING POINT, IF YOU
WILL, WHERE PEOPLE START TO
SAY, "OKAY, IT'S BEEN KODAK;
IT'S BEEN XEROX, AND NOW A BIG
EMPLOYER LIKE THE UNIVERSITY"?
SO JUST THE NUMBERS START TO
CAUSE PEOPLE TO SAY, "I WONDER
IF THE RUN OF COMMUNITY RATING
BEING ADVANTAGEOUS IS OVER AND
SHOULD I ALSO BE THE NEXT ONE
TO JUMP INTO SELF-FUNDING?"
>> Matt Cummings: CHARLES
PHELPS DISAGREES WITH THE HYPE
OVER COMMUNITY RATINGS.
HE IS A PROVOST AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER AND IS
A PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS,
POLITICAL SCIENCE AND
COMMUNITY AND PREVENTATIVE
MEDICINE.
HE SAYS THERE ARE MANY
MISCONCEPTIONS
REGARDING THE
VALUE OF COMMUNITY RATING.
>> PROBABLY THE BIGGEST IS THE
EFFECT OF COMMUNITY RATING ON
THE EXTENT OF INSURANCE
COVERAGE IN THE COMMUNITY AND
THEN DERIVITY FROM THAT, THE
EXTENT OF BURDEN ON THAT TO
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS OF BAD
DEBT, CHARITY CARE AND FREE
CARE.
AND YOU ALSO HAVE THIS KIND OF
STARK OBSERVATION THAT SMALL
BUSINESSES SEEM TO THRIVE ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY.
NOT VERY MANY OF THOSE OTHER
COMMUNITIES HAVE COMMUNITY
RATING, AND SOMEHOW THEY HAVE
MANAGED TO SURVIVE ANYWAY AND
THEY HAVE MANAGED TO PROVIDE
GOOD HEALTH INSURANCE IN MANY
CASES FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.
SO SOMEHOW IT'S WORKED
ELSEWHERE.
(Music)
>> Elissa Marra: AND WE NOW
HAVE
ABOUT TEN MINUTES TO
DISCUSS THIS ISSUE WITH FOUR
PEOPLE, SOME WITH VESTED
INTEREST; SOME ARE WATCHING
THE SITUATION VERY CLOSELY.
I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH BOB
VOLPE FROM THE I.M.C.
THE QUESTION THAT I THINK
ABOUT IS WE WANT COMPANIES
LIKE KODAK AND XEROX TO DO
WELL, TO TURN AROUND.
WE HEAR ABOUT A TOUGH ECONOMY,
TOUGH FINANCIAL TIMES.
THEN THEY SAY, "WELL, WE'RE
GOING TO DO THAT BY
SELF-INSURING, BY TRYING TO
SAVE SOME MONEY," AND THAT'S
NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THE RIGHT
THING TO DO, TO TRY AND SAVE
MONEY?
>> FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY
THE I.M.C. IS AN EMPLOYERS'
ASSOCIATION OF ABOUT 435
MEMBER COMPANIES IN THE
ROCHESTER AREA, AND OUR
RESPONSIBILITY OR ROLE IS
HELPING
THESE MEMBER COMPANIES
UNDERSTAND HUMAN RESOURCES
ISSUES FOR THEIR PLANNING AND
BENEFITS DESIGN, AS WE'RE
DISCUSSING TODAY --
>> Elissa Marra: BUT YOU WOULD
LIKE TO SEE COMMUNITY RATING
PRESERVED, CORRECT, YOUR
ORGANIZATION?
>> YES.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR A
NUMBER OF REASONS.
LET ME JUST SAY THAT THOSE
COMPANIES THAT ARE MAKING
SELF-INSURANCE DECISIONS ARE
DOING SO IN THEIR
SELF-INTERESTS, AND WHAT WE
NEED TO DO IS BALANCE THEIR
SELF-INTERESTS WITH THE
INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WHEN THEY ARE ACTING THIS WAY,
WHO CAN FAULT THEM FOR TRYING
TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR
SUCCESS?
THEIR BUSINESSES HAVE NOT BEEN
ABLE TO GROW AT THE RATES OF
INCREASE
OF HEALTH CARE
PREMIUMS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS, SO THEY'RE TRYING TO DO
WHAT THEY CAN DO QUICKLY IN
ORDER TO HELP THEIR BUSINESS
SITUATION.
I THINK, ON THE OTHER HAND, WE
HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE
IS A VALUE IN THE COMMUNITY TO
HAVE A COMMON POOL THAT
BALANCES THE RISK FOR
EVERYBODY, AND THAT'S PARTLY
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE,
BALANCING COST AND RISK.
>> Elissa Marra: OKAY.
SO WHAT IF IT'S COMING DOWN TO
SELF-INSURANCE OR LAYOFFS?
OR WOULD IT?
>> IT COULD.
IT DEPENDS ON THE EMPLOYER'S
SITUATION IN TERMS OF COST.
I WOULD SAY -- WE KNOW ONE OF
THE LARGEST, THE FASTEST
GROWING COSTS THAT EMPLOYERS
ARE FACING THESE DAYS IS
HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS.
>>
Elissa Marra: AND THAT'S
THE MESSAGE YOU TRY AND
DELIVER, STEVE HOOPER, FROM
THE HEALTH ECONOMICS GROUP?
YOUR JOB IS ACTUALLY TO HELP
PEOPLE SELF-INSURE, CORRECT?
>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS WE
DO IS MANAGE SELF-INSURED
PLANS, BUT ANOTHER THING THAT
WE DO IS WE MAKE SUGGESTIONS
TO WHEN SELF-INSURING MAKES
SENSE AND WHEN IT DOESN'T.
SELF-INSURING ISN'T
NECESSARILY GOING TO SAVE
MONEY.
IT'S NOT A MAGIC BULLET.
THE BLUES KNOW AT LEAST AS
WELL AS I DO AND PROBABLY
BETTER THAT THERE ARE AN AWFUL
LOT OF FACTORS THAT ENTER INTO
HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS.
>> I THINK STEVE BRINGS UP A
VERY GOOD POINT.
IT'S NOT A MAGIC BULLET, AND
IF YOU LOOKED AT THE NUMBER OF
EMPLOYERS THAT HAVE
SELF-INSURED,
THEY HAVE DONE
IT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, NOT
NECESSARILY TO SAVE MONEY.
AND THAT'S A FACTOR, CERTAINLY
AS STEVE MENTIONED.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS
INVOLVED.
>> Elissa Marra: JOHN LYNCH,
V.P. FOR EXCELLUS, WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT THIS, THOUGH, AS AN
EMPLOYEE -- I MEAN, EVEN SOME
OF THE PEOPLE HERE, WHEN WE
TALKED ABOUT THIS AROUND THE
BUILDING, SAID, "ARE WE IN
COMMUNITY RATING?
WHY SHOULD WE REALLY CARE AS
EMPLOYEES?
WE KNOW HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE
GOING UP."
>> YES, HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE
GOING UP AND IT'S OF CONCERN
BECAUSE THEY'RE TRENDING AT
RATES HIGHER THAN LEVELS OF
REVENUE OR LEVELS OF BUSINESS
RESULTS FOR MANY COMPANIES.
BUT THE HEALTH OF THE
COMMUNITY
IS VERY GOOD IN
ROCHESTER AND COMMUNITY RATING
HAS BEEN A PART OF THAT.
CLEARLY IF YOU LOOK AT
MEASURES IN THE BUSINESS KNOWN
AS HETUS STATISTICS, RATES OF
IMMUNIZATION, LEVELS OF
DIABETICS GETTING APPROPRIATE
CARE, ASTHMATICS GETTING
APPROPRIATE CARE, THE HEALTH
OF THE COMMUNITY IS GOOD AND
THAT'S IN PART ATTRIBUTABLE TO
COMMUNITY RATING.
>> Elissa Marra: WE ARE
HEARING A LOT OF DIRE
CONVERSATION AROUND THIS,
HOWEVER, AND I WANT TO ASK AL
CHARBONNEAU FROM THE ROCHESTER
HEALTH COMMISSION, IS THIS THE
MOST IMPORTANT HEALTH CARE
ISSUE FACING THE COMMUNITY
RIGHT NOW?
>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT
THE UNDERPINNING OF COMMUNITY
RATING.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT
COMMUNITY
RATING PROVIDES
ACCESS TO INSURANCE, WHICH IS
IMPORTANT AND ENDS UP
CONTRIBUTING TO THE RESULTS
THAT JOHN WAS TALKING ABOUT.
BUT I THINK THAT COMMUNITY
RATING, ITS UNDERPINNING HAS
BEEN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO HAVE BETTER
PERFORMANCE THAN MOST
COMMUNITIES, THROUGH A
COLLABORATIVE SYSTEM FOR MANY
YEARS, SO THAT WE HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO AFFORD AN INSURANCE
SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T DUMP
PEOPLE OFF ON THE STREETS, SO
TO SPEAK.
AND WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYE ON
THAT POINT.
IN THIS COMMUNITY, WE'RE VERY
DEFINITELY INVOLVED IN
RETURNING TO THAT KIND OF
VALUE, AND I THINK AS A
CONSUMER, AS AN EMPLOYEE, THAT
IS VERY MUCH IN YOUR INTERESTS
BECAUSE YOU SHOULD BE CHARGING
THE
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM TO DO
ITS BEST TO RETURN VALUE TO
YOU.
>> Elissa Marra: EVEN THOUGH
THIS IS PART OF YOUR WORK,
STEVE, IS IT REALLY THE BIG
THING WE SHOULD BE TALKING
ABOUT RIGHT NOW?
>> I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE
THINGS.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER WHAT COMMUNITY RATING
REALLY MEANS.
UNDER THE STATE LAW, AS
MENTIONED EARLIER, COMPANIES
LIKE MINE WITH 50 OR FEWER
EMPLOYEES, HAVE TO BE -- AND
THANK GOODNESS WE ARE -- IN A
COMMUNITY RATED POOL.
IN MY CASE, WE OFFER PREFERRED
CARE AND BLUE CHOICE, AND I'M
COVERED BY BLUE CHOICE VERY
HAPPILY.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO
KEEP IN MIND THAT PART OF THE
HEALTH SYSTEM THAT AL WAS
TALKING
ABOUT, ALL THE
HOSPITALS AND ALL THE
PHYSICIANS THAT ARE PART OF
ANY OF THE PLANS THAT MY
COMPANY RUNS, WE HAVE
CONTRACTS WITH THE HOSPITALS
AND DOCTORS DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY.
SO THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
THING TO KEEP IN MIND.
>> Elissa Marra:
SELF-INSURANCE DOESN'T CARRY
STATE MANDATES, THOUGH, SO
IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE
FLEXIBLE TO MANEUVER FOR --
>> NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE
FEDERAL MANDATES ARE VERY,
VERY INTENSE, AND RIGHTFULLY
SO.
I'M SAYING THIS AS SOMEBODY
WHO HAS BEEN ON THE COUNTY
BOARD OF HEALTH FOR A LONG
TIME.
I'M AS CONCERNED ABOUT HEALTH
CARE AS ANYBODY, AND THE
HEALTH OF THE POPULATION.
THERE
ARE FEDERAL GUIDELINES.
THERE ARE FEDERAL GUIDELINES
THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE
TO FOLLOW FOR CLAIMS
PROCESSING, FOR COVERING
VARIOUS THINGS, FOR NOT
DUMPING PEOPLE OUT ON THE
STREET WITHOUT COVERAGE.
SO I THINK THERE ARE
PROTECTIONS.
>> Elissa Marra: LET ME ASK
THEN, WHAT'S THE ECONOMIC
ARGUMENT NOT TO SELF-INSURE?
IS THIS A QUESTION OF GOOD OF
THE COMMUNITY OR IS THERE SOME
FINANCIAL RISK?
>> I THINK THE ECONOMIC
ARGUMENT THAT REALLY OUGHT TO
BE LOOKED AT VERY CAREFULLY IN
THE PROCESS OF SELF-INSURANCE
DECISIONS IS RISK, FRANKLY.
THAT'S WHAT -- THAT'S WHAT
INSURANCE IS ALL ABOUT,
SPREADING RISK.
AND ROCHESTER, UP UNTIL A VERY
FEW YEARS AGO, HAS BEEN ABLE
TO
HAVE A HIGHER QUALITY,
LOWER COST SYSTEM AND
ADEQUATELY SPREAD THAT RISK
THROUGH COMMUNITY RATING.
I THINK COMMUNITY RATING HAS
TO CHANGE.
WE HAVE TO MOVE TO USE MORE
INFORMATION; WE HAVE TO BE
MORE ENGAGING TO CONSUMERS AND
EMPLOYERS, BUT REMEMBER THAT I
THINK THAT ROCHESTER IS ONE
COMMUNITY THAT CAN DO THIS
WHERE MOST OTHER COMMUNITIES
CAN'T.
>> I WOULD JUST ADD THE POINT,
TOO, THAT THE POPULATION NOT
REPRESENTED HERE WOULD BE THE
UNINSURED, AND ABOUT 10% OF
ADULTS IN ROCHESTER ARE
UNINSURED, WHICH IS NOT A GOOD
NUMBER, BUT RELATIVELY
SPEAKING, IT'S BETTER THAN THE
NEW YORK STATE AVERAGE OF
ABOUT 16%.
SO THERE HAVE BEEN GOOD THINGS
DONE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
>> Elissa Marra: ARE THERE
OTHER PROGRAMS, MEDICAID, RISK
POOLS...
>> BUT THERE'S A TREND,
ELISSA, THAT I THINK IS
IMPORTANT TO WATCH.
67% OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
UNINSURED ARE WORKING.
THE QUESTION THEN BECOMES IS
THAT A DECISION THAT THOSE
EMPLOYERS MADE BECAUSE THEY
COULDN'T AFFORD HEALTH
INSURANCE?
AND HOW DO WE -- AND THERE MAY
BE A GAP THERE WHERE THE
GOVERNMENT PROGRAM CAN'T KICK
IN FOR THOSE FOLKS, SO THAT'S
THE THING WE HAVE TO WATCH IS
THE --
>> Elissa Marra: EVEN WITH
COMMUNITY RATING, THAT'S
PRETTY HIGH.
>> THAT IS A PRETTY HIGH
NUMBER.
AND ONE OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT
THE PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE
NEEDS OF THE UNINSURED OR THE
UNDERINSURED IS THAT
OFTENTIMES PART OF THAT
CONTRACT, IF YOU WILL, IS
PROVIDERS GETTING PAID LESS
MONEY FOR THOSE PATIENTS.
AND IF THEY'RE GETTING PAID
LESS MONEY FOR THOSE PATIENTS,
THEY HAVE TO MAKE UP THAT
REVENUE ELSEWHERE.
>> I THINK THE IMPORTANT PART,
AT LEAST THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
KEEP ON THE TABLE, IS TO SAY
THAT THE 40-YEAR OR SO HISTORY
OF ROCHESTER JUST DIDN'T
HAPPEN.
I'M A FORMER HOSPITAL
ADMINISTRATOR, AND WE WORKED
VERY DILIGENTLY THROUGH THE
'80s TO PRODUCE THE KIND OF
RESULTS THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT.
THE '90s, THINGS CHANGED, BUT
IN THE MILLENNIUM, THE NEW
MILLENNIUM, THE 21st CENTURY,
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REFOCUS ON QUALITY, REFOCUS ON
VALUE AND MAKE AFFORDABLE
INSURANCE AVAILABLE.
>> Elissa Marra: SO YOU'RE
SAYING COMMUNITY RATING HAS TO
CHANGE?
STEVE, YOU WANT TO JUMP IN?
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN
MIND, AND I THINK I'M CORRECT
HERE, THAT FOR THE LAST TEN
YEARS OR SO, MANY OF THE LARGE
COMPANIES, THE ONES THAT ARE
NOW SELF-INSURING PER SE, HAVE
BEEN IN SEPARATE RISK POOLS TO
SOME EXTENT.
THEY HAVE BEEN DOING SOME OF
THE THINGS ON THEIR OWN.
AND WHILE THEY HAVE BEEN DOING
SOME OF THE THINGS ON THEIR
OWN, THEY HAVE BEEN USING THE
SAME DOCTORS, THE SAME
HOSPITALS.
THE PHYSICIANS IN TOWN,
THROUGH VARIOUS NUMBERS OF
PREFERRED PROVIDER
ORGANIZATIONS, HAVE BEEN
SETTING QUALITY STANDARDS, LED
I WILL HAVE TO SAY WITH PRIDE
BY THE BLUES, BY -- AL IS
DOING AN AWFULLY GOOD JOB IN
WORKING ON THE STANDARDS.
BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD, TO THE
BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, A
UNIFIED COMMUNITY POOL PER SE
FOR ABOUT 10 OR 15 YEARS.
THE LARGE COMPANIES HAVE BEEN
SEPARATE, AND THAT HASN'T BEEN
BAD, AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING
PRETTY WELL.
NOW I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO
IS RE-EMPHASIZE COOPERATION,
AND THAT'S WHY MY COMPANY, MY
CLIENTS, ARE VERY HAPPY TO BE
WORKING WITH AL AND WITH THE
ROCHESTER HEALTH COMMISSION.
>> Elissa Marra: COMPANIES ARE
MAKING THEIR OWN DECISIONS
ABOUT THIS.
THE COUNTY IS NOW THINKING
ABOUT PULLING OUT.
YOU'RE SAYING COMMUNITY RATING
HAS TO CHANGE.
WHERE
IS IT ALL GOING?
>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO
ROCHESTER HAVING AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DEFINE WHAT A
21st CENTURY SYSTEM LOOKS
LIKE, FRANKLY, WITH MUCH MORE
INFORMATION, MUCH MORE
PARTICIPATION OF EMPLOYERS,
MUCH MORE INVOLVEMENT OF
CONSUMERS, a.k.a. EMPLOYEES,
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF EVIDENCE
TO SUGGEST THAT'S THE RIGHT
PATHWAY FORWARD FOR US TO TRY.
>> Elissa Marra: WHAT DOES
THAT MEAN FOR ME?
DOES THAT MEAN LESS INSURANCE
FOR ME DOWN THE LINE, DO YOU
THINK?
>> I WOULD HOPE NOT.
CERTAINLY -- ACTUALLY, AS WE
HAVE TALKED ABOUT A FEW
EMPLOYERS HERE IN ROCHESTER
GOING SELF-INSURED, THE ACTUAL
PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYEES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY IN SELF-INSURANCE
PLANS HAS BEEN DROPPING,
MOVING TO MORE INSURED
ARRANGEMENTS.
BUT IN ROCHESTER, FOR US, THAT
WILL MEAN LOOKING MORE CLOSELY
AT COMMUNITY RATED PLANS AND
HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS
THAT MAY BE A BENEFIT WITH
SPECIFIC EMPLOYER POPULATIONS.
>> Elissa Marra: CAN WE PAINT
A PICTURE OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
-- WE HEARD ABOUT THE DOMINO
EFFECT AND WE HEAR LOTS OF
THINGS IN THE MEDIA.
CAN YOU PAINT A PICTURE FOR ME
OF WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE WITH
NO COMMUNITY RATING?
>> I THINK ONE OF THE ISSUES
GOING FORWARD IS THE USE OF
DATA AND GETTING AT THE
UNDERLYING COST.
WE NEED TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THE
DOUGHNUT AND NOT THE HOLE.
COMMUNITY RATING IS A PART OF
THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF HEALTH
CARE, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO
LOOK AT WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE
ARE MOVING?
BECAUSE COSTS ARE TOO HIGH.
WHY ARE COSTS TOO HIGH?
NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF
COMMUNITY RATING.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THE UNDERLYING
COST OF HEALTH CARE.
THESE ARE NOT ALL NECESSARILY
DRIVEN SUBSTANTIALLY BY OUR
LOCAL PROVIDERS BUT THE WHOLE
MARKETPLACE.
EVERYBODY KNOWS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY RATES ARE GOING OUT OF
SIGHT.
SO THAT'S THE ISSUE.
>> YES, IF YOU WERE TO LOSE
COMMUNITY RATING, TO GO BACK
TO THAT QUESTION, YOU WOULD
INCREASE THE UNINSURED
POPULATION, INCREASE BAD DEBT
WRITE-OFFS BY THE HOSPITALS.
>> Elissa Marra: TEN SECONDS.
DOES THIS GIVE YOUR VIEWPOINT?
>> NOT NECESSARILY.
I THINK THE WAY TO SAVE MONEY
IS TO KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHIER,
TO WORK ON WELLNESS, WORK ON A
LOT OF THE INITIATIVES THAT A
LOT OF PEOPLE HERE ARE
ADVOCATING.
>> Elissa Marra: THAT IS A
DEBATE WE COULD TALK ALL
EVENING ABOUT, AND THIS IS ALL
THE TIME WE HAVE.
THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, FOR
BEING WITH US.
THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE
FOR THIS DISCUSSION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS
TOPIC, THOUGH, YOU CAN LOG ON
TO OUR WEB SITE.
IT'S AT wxxi.org/ntk.
WHILE YOU'RE THERE, YOU CAN
TAKE PART IN OUR WEEKLY SURVEY
QUESTION, AND FOR
COMPREHENSIVE DAILY COVERAGE
OF STATE ISSUES AND NEWS, IT'S
NYcitizens.org.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S
"BUSINESS SECTION" WITH "THE
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
(Music)
>> Elissa Marra: AND JOINING
US NOW IN STUDIO IS ELLEN
ROSEN, THE BUSINESS EDITOR FOR
"THE DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
ELLEN, THE PAPER HAD A BIG
STORY ABOUT XEROX AND PAUL
ALLAIRE AND THE S.E.C.
VERY UNUSUAL, RIGHT?
>> Ellen Rosen: YES, IT IS.
THE S.E.C. HAS ISSUED WHAT ARE
CALLED WELLS NOTICES TO A
NUMBER OF XEROX EXECUTIVES,
INCLUDING THE FORMER CHAIRMAN
PAUL ALLAIRE AND THEIR FORMER
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, BARRY
ROMERIL, AND ALSO TO A PARTNER
OF K.P.M.G., WHO WAS THEIR
AUDITOR AT THE TIME THAT THESE
STATEMENTS THAT ARE UNDER
QUESTION CAME INTO -- WERE
CREATED.
WHAT A WELLS NOTICE IS IS THAT
IT ALLOWS -- IT REALLY
NOTIFIES THE PERSON THAT THE
S.E.C. IS CONSIDERING THE
POSSIBILITY OF CHARGES AGAINST
THEM AND GIVES THEM A CHANCE
TO TELL THE S.E.C. THEIR SIDE
OF WHY THEY REALLY SHOULDN'T
BE CHARGED.
EVERYBODY WHO GETS A WELLS
NOTICE ULTIMATELY ISN'T
CHARGED BUT IT'S SORT OF A
WARNING THAT YOU VERY WELL
MIGHT BE.
>> Elissa Marra: HAVE WE SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE?
>> Ellen Rosen: IT'S KIND OF
UNUSUAL.
IT REALLY SEEMS THAT THE
S.E.C. IS SENDING OUT A BROAD
MESSAGE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO
HOLD THESE COMPANIES
ACCOUNTABLE.
BASICALLY WHAT IT IS IS WHEN
YOU HAVE AN ANNUAL REPORT,
YOUR CHAIRMAN, YOUR C.F.O.,
AND YOUR AUDITOR SIGN THEM.
SO THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY
SIGNED THE DOCUMENTS AND MADE
THEM LEGITIMATE, THEY'RE
HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR
WHAT'S IN THEM.
>> Elissa Marra: SO WHAT
HAPPENS NEXT NOW?
>> Ellen Rosen: THERE COULD BE
FINES.
IF THEY ARE CHARGED, THERE
COULD BE FINES; THERE COULD BE
PENALTIES, ALL SORTS OF
THINGS.
AND IT'S KIND OF
UNPRECEDENTED.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S ANOTHER ONE
OF THOSE POST-ENRON, REALLY
CRACKING DOWN AND LETTING
PEOPLE KNOW THAT FUNNY
ACCOUNTING IS NOT GOING TO BE
TOLERATED.
>> Elissa Marra: BUT THEY'RE
NOT GIVING ANY REASON
PARTICULARLY FOR DOING THAT,
LIKE "WE'RE TRYING TO GET MORE
SECURE NOW; WE'RE TRYING TO DO
MORE NOW"?
>> Ellen Rosen: I THINK THEY
ARE TRYING TO WATCH MORE NOW,
NOW WITH SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT HAVE COME OUT WITH ENRON
AND GLOBAL, XEROX AND THESE
COMPANIES THAT ARE DOING SOME
PERHAPS UNORTHODOX THINGS.
THE S.E.C. IS REALLY TRYING TO
SEND OUT A BROAD MESSAGE THAT
SAYS, "WE ARE GOING TO BE
WATCHING AND WE'RE NOT GOING
TO TOLERATE IT."
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
JETBLUE IS CONTINUING TO MAKE
NEWS.
STORY IN THE PAPER TODAY ABOUT
JETBLUE.
WHAT'S IT ALL MEAN FOR US IN
TERMS OF THE I.P.O.?
>> Ellen Rosen: WELL, JETBLUE
IS ABOUT TO LAUNCH AN I.P.O.
A LOT OF THE CALENDARS SAY
THAT IT'S COMING OUT TOMORROW.
JETBLUE WON'T CONFIRM THAT.
THEY CAN'T; THEY'RE IN THEIR
QUIET PERIOD.
BUT ACTUALLY THEIR INITIAL
RESPONSE TO THEIR I.P.O.
OFFERING HAS BEEN SO STRONG
THAT THE COMPANY WENT BACK AND
RAISED THEIR BASE BY $2 A
SHARE, WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY
RAISED A LOT MORE MONEY FOR
THEM, SOMETHING LIKE ANOTHER
ALMOST $16 MILLION, $17
MILLION MORE THAN THEY
ORIGINALLY PLANNED.
>> Elissa Marra: WHAT'S THE
DEAL WITH THE AIRFARES?
THEY SEEM TO BE STAYING PRETTY
LOW.
WILL THIS NEWS MEAN ANYTHING
FOR FARES AT ALL?
>> Ellen Rosen: WELL, I THINK
THE STRONGER JETBLUE IS AND
THE STRONGER PRESENCE IT CAN
HAVE AND THE MORE SERVICE IT
CAN OFFER, THE MORE
COMPETITION IT GIVES TO THE
OTHER AIRLINES, ALSO SHOWS
THAT IT'S MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR
LOCAL CARRIERS TO COME IN HERE
AND THEN TO PLACES THAT
JETBLUE HAS GONE.
SO IN THE LONG RUN, IT SHOULD
HAVE AN EFFECT ON US HERE.
>> Elissa Marra: OKAY.
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE" DOING
FOLLOW-UP REPORTING ON THAT.
AS WELL, DOING REPORTING ON
FOOD PRICES IN OUR AREA,
WHICH I THINK IS A FASCINATING
TOPIC.
YOU LOOKED AT WEGMANS AND SOME
OTHERS.
WHAT'S YOUR REPORTING GOING TO
BE THERE?
WHAT ARE YOU FOLLOWING?
>> Ellen Rosen: THIS SUNDAY,
WE HAVE A STORY IN OUR NEW
SUNDAY BUSINESS SECTION THAT
REALLY LOOKS AT THIS WHOLE
ISSUE OF PRICING.
BASICALLY, WHEN WEGMANS
ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS GOING TO
BE ROLLING BACK PRICES ON
6,000, ULTIMATELY 10,000
ITEMS, A LOT OF CONSUMERS WERE
WONDERING HOW CAN THEY DO
THAT?
AND HOW DO I REALLY KNOW
WHAT'S A FAIR PRICE FOR
GROCERIES?
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW THIS
WHOLE PRICING STRATEGY CAME TO
BE, AND THE REAL BIG PLAYER IN
THIS IS WAL-MART.
THEY DEAL DIRECTLY.
THEY'RE THE LARGEST COMPANY,
WORLD'S LARGEST COMPANY, AND
CERTAINLY HAVE A GREAT DEAL
MORE CLOUT THAN ANY OF THESE
OTHER COMPANIES, SO THEY GO IN
AND THEY TELL YOU HOW IT'S
GOING TO GO.
>> Elissa Marra: WAL-MART IS
NOT ROCHESTER-BASED.
WEGMANS IS ROCHESTER-BASED.
DO WE FARE BETTER BECAUSE WE
HAVE A MAJOR CHAIN IN OUR
COMMUNITY?
IS IT CHEAPER OR MORE
EXPENSIVE FOR US TO BUY FOOD
HERE IN ROCHESTER?
DOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE
THAT WE HAVE WEGMANS RIGHT
HERE?
>> Ellen Rosen: IT MAKES A
DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF THE
QUALITY THAT WE'RE GETTING.
WEGMANS IS RECOGNIZED ALL OVER
AS A PREMIER SUPERMARKET CHAIN
AND YOU CAN GO TO OTHER PARTS
OF THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY
WOULD BE DYING FOR WEGMANS.
WEGMANS, IN FACT, IS
CAPITALIZING ON THAT.
WE HAD A STORY THIS WEEK THAT
THEY ARE GOING TO BE EXPANDING
INTO THE METROPOLITAN
PHILADELPHIA AREA AND THE
METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON AREA.
SO IT DOES HELP WITH THE
QUALITY THAT WE HAVE HERE.
HOW IT AFFECTS PRICES, WE'LL
SEE.
IT WILL DEPEND ON HOW THIS
PROGRAM WORKS FOR WEGMANS.
>> Elissa Marra: BUT WE DON'T
GET BETTER WEGMANS' FOOD OR
LOWER WEGMANS' PRICES
NECESSARILY JUST BECAUSE
WEGMANS IS BASED HERE?
>> Ellen Rosen: NO.
IN TERMS OF HOW WEGMANS PRICES
-- NO, WEGMANS PRICES THE
GROCERIES DEPENDING ON THE
MARKET THAT THEY'RE IN, AND
YOU MAY NOTICE THAT EVEN
WITHIN OUR COUNTY, THINGS MAY
BE PRICED AT DIFFERENT STORES
MAYBE WITH SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT
PRICES.
>> Elissa Marra: OTHER THINGS
GOING ON?
WHAT'S COMING UP?
>> Ellen Rosen: THAT'S OUR BIG
STORY THIS WEEK.
WE'LL ALSO BE TAKING A LOOK
THIS SUNDAY AT THIS WHOLE DEAL
-- KALEIDA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
IN BUFFALO GOT THE STATE TO
GIVE THEM A SIGNIFICANT
BUYOUT, AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY
TO GET SOME REACTION FROM OUR
LOCAL HEALTH CARE FOLKS WHO
WENT THROUGH THE SAME THING
WITH VIAHEALTH LAST YEAR, AS
TO WHAT THEY THINK OF THIS
BUFFALO DEAL.
>> Elissa Marra: OKAY, GREAT.
ALWAYS INTERESTING NEWS ON THE
BUSINESS FRONT.
THANK YOU, ELLEN ROSEN, FROM
"THE
DEMOCRAT
AND CHRONICLE"
FOR
THIS WEEK'S REPORT ON "THE
BUSINESS SECTION."
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS
AND THE REST OF THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEED TO KNOW," ALL
YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOG ON TO
OUR WEB SITE, wxxi.org/ntk.
AND THAT IS ALL FOR TONIGHT'S
PROGRAM.
WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT
WEEK.
(Music)