Grow up, bitchy children

Fiscal year 2011 is upon us. Hello FY '11!
Today, we had our monthly department meeting. Seeing as how I am in the finance department, FY '11 is relevant to us, moreso than most departments in the hospital. We collect it, we spend it, all the money in that hospital filters through one of us at some point.

So, department director was going over some changes to our benefits, as well as the overall financial health of the organization. Which is... struggling.

There are only 26 independent children's hospitals in the US, and two in FL. Many "children's hospitals" are actually a children's department of an adult hospital. That doesn't make them better or worse, but it makes them more solvent. Adult hospitals have medicare funding, and medicare is a cash cow. Children's hospitals don't get medicare. What's worse, they get medicaid. Medicaid reimbursement, while fine for inpatient (not great, but not too horrible), is horrible for outpatient. Medicaid reimbursement does not even cover the cost of care.

Our hospital is now 73% medicaid funded. 73%. Which means, on average, we're LOSING money on 73% of patients. The remaining 27% have to carry the hospital. Except, most insurances now have high patient share of costs, much of which we write off to charity. So, the money coming in ain't great, and the money going out is severe, especially since we just built this new billion dollar facility.

So, where am I going with this? The hospital is in the red. For the first time ever. It will get better come January (significantly better, most likely). But, for now, we need to tighten our belts.

So, what does that mean for us, come CY 2011?
They've decided to offer domestic partner benefits to same sex couples and their children. Not required by law.
They've decided to extend coverage to dependent children under the age of 26, not required by law (the hospital is self funded, self funded establishments are exempt from the new federal requirement)
They've decided to cover all preventive care at 100% (versus $20 copay as we previously had)
They've kept the allowance to have our health care done FOR FREE if we stay within our own hospital.
They've kept our deductible at only $350/year (per person OR family)
They've kept our coinsurance at 10% for in OR out of network
They've kept us referral and authorization free
They've added free OB care, including physician fees for the birth

Keep in mind that this is a self funded hospital. They're not writing Humana a $20k check every month for an insurance free for all. They're paying every penny of our health care costs.

They've also-
Kept the 2k/semester tuition reimbursement
Kept our 10 hour/pay period PTO
Kept multiple employee incentive programs
Increased employee recognition and appreciation programs
Kept a FULLY FUNDED pension plan
Continued 100% matching into our 403(b) (like a 401(k) for non-profits)
Kept a significant scholarship funding for employees and their children
Not laid off a single worker
Not cut anyone's hours
Kept a management team that actually gives a shit

So, what have they done to try to close the financial gap?

They've reduced merit increases from 4% to 3%
They've raised our (obscenely low) health insurance premiums by $3/pay period.

That's it.

And the chickens can do nothing but BITCH BITCH BITCH at that 1% and $3.

Really?

I wish I could slap them and show them the benefit plans of "comparable" establishments in this area. This hospital pays on the low side of average, but the benefits are astoundingly fabulous.

And people are going to cry about a 3% raise instead of 4%? When most of the country won't get raises, but will get double digit premium increases and $3k deductibles?

I'm astounded by the greed of people.