Bookmark & ShareWhat is the purpose of this project?
It is the intent of the Legislature to explore opportunities to improve the administration, transparency and equity of health benefits delivered to approximately 100,000 K-12 public school employees and their dependents.
The current K-12 public school employee health benefits system costs approximately $1.2 billion annually-with the State of Washington covering approximately 64 percent of the costs ($780 million).* The current system consists of numerous and widely varying health plans across the state's 295 school districts and nine education service districts. A revised system could potentially streamline the current system and could be implemented as early as the 2013-14 school year.
*Figures are from the State Auditor's Office Performance Review of K-12 Employee Health Benefits, which includes the HayGroup report and was completed in January 2011.
How did this project originate?
In January 2011 the State Auditor's Office delivered to the Legislature a performance audit of the K-12 public school employee health benefits system. This audit is known as the State Auditor's Office Performance Review of K-12 Employee Health Benefits, which includes the HayGroup study. This report offered three key recommendations:
- Streamline the benefits system to improve efficiency, transparency and stability
- Standardize coverage levels for more affordable and equitable health care benefits
- Reduce costs by restructuring the health benefits system
Following the performance audit, during a 2011 Special Session of the State Legislature, the HCA was directed to develop a report with options for a consolidated K-12 public school employee health benefits system, along with a proposed implementation plan. The HCA launched this project in July 2011 and submitted a final report in December 2011.
Who was engaged in this project?
The HCA engaged a range of elected and public education officials, public school employees and their representatives, state agencies and other stakeholders who demonstrated ongoing interest in the K-12 public school employee health benefits system and potential alternatives. A project Advisory Team composed of K-12 public school and industry stakeholders offered input on a monthly basis as the report was developed.
In addition to its own staff and leadership, the HCA engaged a number of state agencies and legislative members and staff to offer their input and expertise in the design of a proposed system and quality report.
To learn more about who was engaged, see the K-12 Benefits Report Project Teams Diagram .
