The Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) is facilitating an effort to address issues, concerns and questions that have arisen around the liability for medical benefits provided to LEOFF Plan 1 retirees over the last several years. DRS submitted a preliminary study to Governor Gregoire in 2007, and is now conducting a more extensive review of the issues surrounding the liability for these medical benefits.
DRS is engaging key member and employer stakeholders in a follow-up effort to the 2007 report to clarify the issues surrounding medical benefits liability in LEOFF Plan 1. The effort is composed of two phases. The first phase is fact-finding. The purpose of this phase is to create a common understanding of and set of information about the LEOFF Plan 1 medical benefits, and to create a level and consistent playing field of knowledge among stakeholders. The product of this phase will be a fact book that contains a comprehensive set of facts on subjects agreed to by all stakeholders. No proposed solutions will be discussed or developed during the fact finding phase.
If the group successfully completes the fact finding stage, participants could determine what, if any, problems actually exist that should be addressed. Stakeholders will then have the option of discussing solutions in a second phase or ending the effort. If stakeholders determine that positive progress can be made toward resolution of issues, DRS will restructure group participation to ensure appropriate representation from stakeholders. If stakeholders determine they want to end the effort after the first phase, the fact book will be made available to all stakeholders, the Governor’s office, the legislature, and the public.
The Department will maintain this website which will include participants, meeting minutes, facts to which all stakeholders agree, and other information LEOFF Plan 1 members, employers, and other stakeholders may find of interest in monitoring the progress of the effort.