GOP Lawmakers To Call For Audit Of State Worker Health Plan

GOP state lawmakers said Wednesday they plan to request an audit of the state employee health plan, citing concerns about the plan’s reserve fund.

According to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the state health plan’s reserve was about $144 million at the end of 2016. That’s roughly $18 million more than the group insurance board policy recommends.

Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, co-chair of the state budget committee, said those numbers show there should be more oversight of the group insurance board, which administers the plan.

“Why didn’t they give the money back to the consumer and why didn‘t they say, ‘OK, we have a larger amount of money than we anticipated,’ and reduce premiums and have some kind of cause and effect,” Darling said. “The reserves are over the top.”

Darling said she and the other co-chair of the budget committee, Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, will send a letter to the Legislature’s audit committee calling for the review.