About Health Benefits Training
In working to achieve its mission, CECHCR provides free health benefits training and follow-up services to district/union teams to help districts improve the quality and reduce the cost of their health care. Three stand-alone modules of free training are offered to K–12 school districts, community college districts and county offices of education, as well as follow-up support services.
Gain the knowledge and tools you need to make smarter health care choices by participating in these free trainings. Through a network of seven California regions, HBC representatives from five to six districts convene to participate in a three-hour training session of their choice. Trainings are presented by a volunteer labor-management team who has experience in the trenches of public education and is passionate about helping others improve their health benefits efforts. It is easy to sign up for a training in your area.
Module I
Module I Training covers the basics of working effectively as a labor-management committee that deals with health benefits, and getting the highest quality of services from consultants and brokers, including essential elements of model contracts and RFPs. Read More.
Module II
Module II Training is a primer on the health benefitsindustry, and covers how to access a broad range of information including how to assess local hospital quality, and how to choose a health plan. Read More.
Module III
Module III Training covers basic insurance models and offers important information on risk pools, health savings accounts, cash-in-lieu of benefits, putting negotiated benefit money on the salary schedule, wellness and disease management, and includes the latest GASB updates. Read More.
Module IV
Follow-up Services are tailored to meet individual district needs, and provides assistance to help support implementation of the educational program in the first three Modules. District/union teams become eligible for Follow-up Services after they have completed training in one or more of the first three modules.
Module V
CECHCR's Second Opinion Program Helps Save Millions! Another solution to your skyrocketing health care costs might be CECHCR’s Module V Second Opinion services. The experience in Montebello Unified School District is one Second Opinion example. When Montebello was faced with a 30 percent increase to their health insurance plan, CECHCR Consultants John Glynn and Mark Lowenthal of J. Glynn & Co. assisted their insurance committee through the second opinion process that helped avert the crisis and move members to a new plan. Described as a “tide turn” for the District, this joint effort between management and labor resulted in a combined savings of approximately $11.5 million for 2010, and the savings have now increased to $14 million in 2011. Implementing the change for 3,000 employees quickly due to an approaching member renewal deadline presented a challenge that required a true team effort.
