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§9.29 Deferral of Health Insurance

An employee retiring from State service may delay commencement or

suspend his/her retiree health coverage and the use of the employee's sick
leave conversion credits indefinitely, provided that the employee applies for

the delay or suspension, and furnishes proof of continued coverage under
the health care plan of the employee's spouse, or from post retirement

employment.
§9.30 Joint Committee on Health Benefits

(a) The State and CSEA agree to continue the Joint Committee on Health
Benefits.

(b) The State shall seek the appropriation of funds by the Legislature to
support committee initiatives and to carry out the administrative

responsibilities of the Joint Committee in the amount indicated for each year
of the agreement: $1,412,700 in 2016-17, $1,440,954 in 2017-18,

$1,469,773 in 2018-19, $1,499,169 in 2019-20, $1,529,152 in 2020-21.
(c) The Joint Committee on Health Benefits shall work with appropriate

State agencies to make mutually agreed upon changes in the Plan benefit
structure through such initiatives as:

(1) The annual HMO Review Process;
(2) The ongoing review and oversight of the Empire Plan Medical

Program, Hospital Program, Prescription Drug Program, and the
Managed Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Program;

(3) The ongoing review and oversight of the Managed Physical
Medicine Program;

(4) The continuation of the Benefits Management Program and annual

review of the list of procedures requiring Prospective Procedure Review.
The JCHB and the State will evaluate the current pre-notification of
radiology services and review the viability of pre-authorizing non-

urgent/non-emergent cardiologic procedures and testing.

(5) The Joint Committee on Health Benefits will work with the State
and medical carrier to solicit and contract with credentialed radiological

providers to provide mammography screening, according to the
American Cancer Society's medical protocols, at the worksite and/or

predetermined location. Reimbursement will be provided in accordance
with the participating provider program, subject to the diagnostic

copayment.

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