Legislators exploring changes to the health plans for teachers and state employees decided Monday that they want to continue the effort through June 30 of next year.
Created during a special legislative session in 2013, the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Task Force is set to expire on June 30 this year.
On Monday, the task force voted unanimously to support legislation that would extend the expiration date by a year.
Sen. Jim Hendren, R-Sulphur Springs and the task force chairman, said continuing the task force would allow legislators to monitor rate increases and other issues, such as the plans' policies for the coverage of expensive drugs for the treatment of hepatitis-C.
Hendren cited an actuary's report to a state board subcommittee earlier this month, based on preliminary figures, that indicated a need to raise rates for school employees by as much as 7 percent next year.
"I thought that was cause for alarm to me that we needed to continue to look at things closely," Hendren said.
Hendren has said he would like the rates to stay flat or decrease next year.
He said language extending the expiration date will be added to Senate Bill 824, which in its current form is aimed at clarifying the law that describes the procedure the state uses to make contributions to the state employee plans.
The language would allow the task force to disband itself before June 30, 2016, if the members decide it is no longer needed, Hendren said.
Bob Alexander, director of the Department of Finance and Administration's Employee Benefits Division, which administers the plans, said he supports continuing the task force.
Metro on 03/17/2015