Senate backs bill to give teachers, employees say on key health board

Teachers, state employees and state retirees would get a seat on the state’s Community Health board under legislation that won Senate backing Friday.

Senate Bill 145 by Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus, stemmed from anger expressed by teachers, state employees and retirees over changes made to their State Health Benefit Plan coverage last year.

Members of the plan, which covers more than 600,000 Georgians, last year protested changes that forced them to pay higher out-of-pocket costs and gave them fewer choices for coverage. Since then they have been pushing to ensure the governor appoint at least person on the plan to the Department of Community Health board, which oversees the plan.