WHEELING — WVU Medication Wheeling Hospital will proceed to serve sufferers who use West Virginia’s public worker medical insurance system.
After Gov. Jim Justice signed a invoice that will maintain PEIA solvent – and alter the Medicare reimbursement charges to state hospitals — WVU Medication introduced that transfer would enable Wheeling Hospital to maintain serving PEIA sufferers.
“We’re grateful to Governor Justice and the West Virginia Legislature for stabilizing and enhancing PEIA,” a WVU Medication spokesperson mentioned Friday. “Due to their work, Wheeling Hospital will be capable to proceed collaborating with PEIA.”
WVU Medication officers mentioned in January that, if PEIA reimbursement charges weren’t corrected within the 2023 legislative session, Wheeling Hospital would not settle for PEIA sufferers for inpatient care. The well being system mentioned that the outdated reimbursement charges weren’t adequate, and Wheeling Hospital was most adversely affected by that.
In signing SB 268 Friday, Justice referred to as it near a everlasting repair for PEIA, which was slated to see a $424 million deficit by 2027. The invoice returns PEIA to an 80/20 employer-employee match starting in July for in-state medical care and 70/30 for out-of-state medical look after non-contiguous out-of-state counties.
State workers may see their premiums improve by roughly 26%, although Justice mentioned state workers incomes lower than $133,000 yearly would nonetheless see a web improve in pay when factoring their $2,300 pay increase and the tax minimize/rebate advantages.
“(The pay raises) backstop the rise in premiums in every little thing to PEIA,” Justice mentioned. “With anyone… that their pay is lower than $133,000 a 12 months will find yourself with a pay increase and their PEIA is roofed. To me, it is a main step in the precise course. Possibly we may have continued to backstop it and every little thing by simply pulling out some surplus {dollars} and conserving kicking the can down the street, however this does not kick the can down the street.”
SB 268 additionally units the reimbursement price for all healthcare suppliers at a minimal degree of 110% of what Medicare reimburses suppliers, units quite a few necessities for members of the PEIA Finance Board, requires a five-year evaluation of potential future prices to this system and an actuarial research of the plans provided by PEIA.
The invoice would change the worth of the plan for spouses of PEIA plan individuals who’ve entry to medical insurance protection to the actuarial worth of the PEIA plan, which may value plan individuals an extra $147 per thirty days through the subsequent plan interval in accordance with PEIA.
In line with figures from the Senate Finance Committee, SB 268 would offer $76 million in financial savings in 12 months one and greater than $500 million in financial savings by 2027. Talking after the invoice signing ceremony, Justice mentioned he believed the invoice would maintain PEIA solvent however inspired future governors and lawmakers to keep away from elevating premiums sooner or later.
“I’d inform anyone going ahead that if this doesn’t fully repair PEIA, do not return to the nicely and simply increase premiums. Do not try this,” Justice mentioned. “If we proceed to do as we’re doing and every little thing, you could have to take somewhat little bit of surplus {dollars} to underwrite it… If it’s a must to do it, try this. These individuals work very exhausting.”
Justice additionally mentioned that the PEIA invoice was a part of the package deal of getting members of the Home and the Senate on board a complete tax reform plan and pay raises for public workers.
“The headwind I used to be working upon was, we in all probability would not have gotten the pay increase throughout the end line,” Justice mentioned.
