University Daily Kansan / Friday, February 26, 1988
5
FacEx discusses health plan
Insurance changes may base premiums on seniority, rank
By Rebecca L. Cisek
Kansan staff writer
Possible changes in the state health insurance policy, including reducing the waiting period for health insurance coverage and basing premiums on longevity and job rank, were discussed yesterday by members of the Faculty Executive Committee.
"Health care is a major issue in the Legislature this year," said Dick Mann, University director of information resources. He told FaceEx members, in their meeting on Thursday night, see some changes in the state health insurance plan.
Mann said that H. Edward Flentje, Kansas' secretary of administration, had established a health care commission advisory committee that would make recommendations for changes in the state's health insurance program.
Mann said some of those changes might include:
■ The creation of a spending account that would not tax money used for care of a dependent person.
Self-insurance for the state. Under this plan, the state would contract for certain pieces of the health care program and not use Blue Cross and Blue Shield as the sole health care provider. Also, Blue Cross would not be allowed to do its own health care utilization study.
- Variance in state and employee contributions to health care by the number of family members, the length of the employee's service and the employee's rank.
- Reduction of waiting period for new employees to no longer than 30 days. Mann said the current 60-day waiting period presented problems in recruiting.
- Negotiation of up to a three-year health program instead of annual contracts.
- Allowance for employees to switch health plan options during certain times of a year
In other action, FacEx made recommendations for the task force on assessment.
Several FaceEx members voiced concerns over how much the assessment focused on student test results and suggested that a variety of faculty members be involved
The Associated Press
'Condom for females' will be tested in U.S.; makers hope it will be weapon against AIDS
CHICAGO — A new "condom for females" pioneered in Europe will be tested this spring in the United States, and its developers predicted Wednesday that it would be a major weapon in the fight against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
But Dr. Gerald Zatzuchi, a gynecologist with 25 years of experience in researching and developing new contraceptives, said he
The new disposable contraceptive, made of polyurethane, resembles a condom but is worn by women. It is used on the day as they unveiled the device.
saw the potential for "real problems" with the device.
"I have not seen the device, nor have there been any published studies that would indicate its acceptability to couples, the effectiveness of the device in preventing pregnancy or any side effects from using the device," Zatuchi said.
The device, known in Europe as a "fem-shield" or vaginal shield, isn't sold anywhere yet, but testing has begun in Europe and is scheduled to start in the United States in March, officials said.
The contraceptive consists of a soft, loose-fitting polyurethane
sheath and two flexible polyurethane rings, said Mary Ann Leeper, head of the research team developing the device for Wisconsin Pharmacal Co.
One of the rings lies inside the sheath and serves as an insertion mechanism and internal anchor, fitting against the woman's cervix much like a diaphragm, she said. The other ring forms the outer edge of the sheath and remains outside the vagina.
The company, based in Jackson, Wis., said the device would provide more protection than the male condom, in part because the material was stronger.
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