By Sarah Opdahl
There was a lengthy presentation on the state of medical claims at the New Fairfield Board of Finance (BOF) meeting on Wednesday, October 18. Consultant Mr. Tom Kowalchik was pleased to report that claims have currently stabilized in the first quarter, following two years of steep climbs. He also explained the details of the aggregate stop loss, which the town came close to reaching last year.
Kowalchik reviewed a five-year claim analysis and explained that in the previous two years claims of $50,000 or more for “thirty members accounted for about 55 to 60% of your costs.” Though it is impossible to know what claims are ahead, the year-to-date numbers—which are down 33%—and claim projections are encouraging for the board members. Kowalchik reiterated, as he has in the past, that many high claims occurred following Covid when routine care was stunted, and medical issues grew. BOF members expressed angst over the medical budget planning, as the numbers are extremely difficult to predict. They are also considering a possible change in the set aggregate stop loss amount.
It was noted, “it is a fine line with drugs too because you are going to have some more expensive drugs coming off patent right now, but even when they are coming off a patent, they still stay expensive for a while until they become generic and there are more.” Kowalchik also pointed out, “there are some more expensive drug therapies coming down the road and they are good things that can treat or even cure very serious conditions, but they are not cheap.”
BOF members discussed their responses to the New Fairfield Planning Commission’s Plan of Conservation and Development, a long-term plan for the Town. Chair Mr. Wes March gathered feedback from members Ms. Cheryl Reedy and Ms. Thora Perkins and distributed a working draft for all members to review. He included some items from the 2014 plan that made sense to retain and removed others.
Marsh encouraged all members to contribute to the BOF’s response and to feel free to think outside of the box on responses, hoping to plan and strategize for big ticket items with significant financial implications that might appear in the future. New topics to the plan include the need to consider best ways to bolster the sustainability of the fire department; consider how to support the middle school to keep it in good repair; and climate change and resiliency from less-predictable weather. The BOF will meet with the Planning Commission in person on November 27.
The last item the BOE reviewed was their public comment policy. The last conversation that the group had on the matter was at the beginning of summer and there were different impressions of how the matter was left. Eventually, they tabled the discussion for the next meeting in mid-November. The gist of the change would be to limit the amount of time available for public comment at the beginning and end of each meeting. They also discussed giving the chair the discretion to lengthen that time, as appropriate.
The next regular Board of Finance meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 18, 7:30 p.m.