MINUTES OF UCI EMERITI ASSOCIATION

MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 13, 2004

Present:	Justin Call, Peter Clecak, Julian Feldman, Ann Heiney, Judd Hubert, Renée Hubert, Sam McCulloch, Ron Miller, Kivie Moldave, Robert Montgomery, Lorie Reed, Myron Simon and Jerry Tobis
Absent:	Arnold Binder, Bobbie Brown, David Easton, Eldon Foltz, Isabelle Hunt, Lyman Porter, Ann Stephens, Allen Stubberud and John Swett

I Chairman Kivie Moldave called the meeting to order, and Jerome Tobis requested a moment of silence for Paul H. Silverman who died on July 15, 2004.

II. Introduction of new committee member. Peter Clecak was introduced.

III. Approval of minutes: Minutes of the meeting of June 7 were approved as written.

IV. Treasurer’s report: Lorie Reed reported our expenditures exceeded our income last year by $850 leaving us with a balance of only $1400. With an annual budget of approximately $6,000, we await the annual contribution of the Executive Vice-Chancellor with cautious anticipation as we have only approximately 108 dues-paying members, and our dues are only $25. We need to limit our postage expenses (which have been approximately $850 a year), increase the charge for our programs, and consider that we may need to increase our dues. A recommendation for postage saving (sending out our newsletter by e-mail) was not enthusiastically received, but it was suggested that we might send it by both e-mail and US mail, explain our budgetary concerns, and ask whether members would be willing to receive the newsletter by e-mail.

V. Report of program committee: Chair, John Swett, is in Normandy, but it is believed that he may have plans for the Christmas social. Julian Feldman reported that Sherrie Kaplan, Ph.D. would be willing to speak on the subject of patient-physician communication, and Ron Miller suggested Pamela Lawrence, M.D would be an excellent second speaker on the topic. Jerry Tobis recommended inviting Joe Walsh (and perhaps others) to speak on health benefits, noting the enormous increase in costs annually.

VI. Report of Newsletter Editor: Bob Montgomery reported Martin Wattenberg, our June speaker, is writing for the newsletter. Audrey Wicks stated a campus building would be named for Leon Schwartz, and this should be in our next newsletter. Ron Miller noted that Anne Paden, according to the June minutes, had offered to write an article as had one of the members of the executive committee who was present. Although the last edition of the Newsletter was excellent, Miller wondered whether its size necessitated additional postage, and wondered whether we could cut expenses by reducing the size of the newsletter or sending it by e-mail.

VII. Report of Retiree’s Association: no report.

VIII. Old Business: Ron Miller reported that Jerry Tobis had received a letter from the Academic Senate declining co-sponsorhip of the mentorship award. Miller made a motion that we empower Tobis to proceed with the honorific award to be given as previously outlined by the Emeritae/i Association. The motion passed unanimously. Kivie Moldave read a revised letter he will send to new Emeritae/i to invite them to participate.

IX. New Business: Julian Feldman reported one can request from the Office of the President brochures on 403b and defined benefits plans. He also reported that the joint benefits meeting of CUCEA and CUCRA recently considered (or wil do so at it's October 7 meeting) the following:

1) UC should try to improve the benefits of people who retired more than 20 years ago; at least reduce their health plan costs by charging them based on income as UC does for active employees.

2) Annuitants will be categorized according to income in two classes (compared with the current single class for annuitants and four classes for faculty).

3) HMO premiums should go down because HMOs are getting more money from Medicare

4) The new Medicare law has provisions for employers who cover prescription benefits for retirees.  These provisions are very complex, and the federal government has recently released a 200 page document detailing employer options.  Employers have three basic options effective 1 Jan 06:
a)  Don't cover prescription costs and have retirees enroll in basic Medicare plan.
b)  Provide wraparound coverage to basic Medicare prescription plan and receive a gov't subsidy.
c)  Provide prescription coverage at least as good as the Medicare plan and receive a gov't subsidy.
The question for us is how is UC going to come down on this. Which option will UC select? and what will costs and benefits be?

5) Cost of administering retirement plans.
UC has been reluctant to discuss the cost of administering retirement plans (UCRS, 403(b), DCP); hopefully this will change.  UC is going to use Fidelity to manage some of its investment portfolio.  This move may have some impact on administrative costs.

6) UC treats Kaiser North and Kaiser South as one plan, but they are really two different plans.  Kaiser South is cheaper, so South people are subsidizing North people.  Not fair.

Feldman noted that some have worried that HIPAA confidentiality requirements might compromise those entitled to see a person's advance directive, but Miller reported the California Medical Association has reported this to be a misunderstanding.
Kivie Moldave asked whether we should change from meeting monthly to meeting every other month, and this idea had a mixed reception. The compromise is to continue meeting monthly this fall, and reconsider the matter thereafter.
Ron Miller reported the College of Medicine meeting on September 16 would have a lecture on the history of Western medicine from ancient Egypt to the 19^th century.
Kivie Moldave reported that the Emeritae/i office and the place of our meetings will move to 2300 Berkeley Place South. The UCIEA committee meetings will take place in the President’s conference room and the office will be in room 2361. The next meeting will be held on October 11 (rather than October 4), as recommended by Ron Miller since Feldman reported CUCEA would meet about next year’s health benefits on October 6 or 7 and we would like to receive that information as early as possible.

X. The meeting was adjourned 10:40.

Respectfully submitted

Ronald B. Miller, M.D., Secretary.