From a County Legislator
Mark Trabucco, Tioga County Legislature - District 2 

Of all the problems faced by typical Americans, the cost of health care always tops the list. So, it is with pride that we note the overwhelming support the recently adopted three-year contract received from both the CSEA membership and also its unanimous approval by the Tioga County Legislature. 

    No one likes uncertainty. No one wishes to give up a benefit he or she has come to rely on, and only seldom is self-interest overwhelmed by a sense of duty. In the case of our largest group of employees, the CSEA, first the individual members of the negotiating team, and then the membership, came to understand that of all the solutions to this seemingly intractable problem (affordable health care), the best immediate response is to become better consumers. 

   When a prescription costing the consortium  $80 or $90 costs the consumer three or six dollars, there is no built-in incentive to shop around, ask questions of the doctor or pharmacist, or even to consider life-style changes for health. The members recognized this, and graciously accepted the plan that had previously been adopted by the corrections union as well as the nonunion salaried employees, our retirees, and the legislature. The deductible amounts are to be $5.00 for generic drugs, $15.00 for the next tier, and $30 for so-called designer drugs (the ones you see advertised on TV).

    There are, of course, other aspects to the new contract, notably decent raises, and some new flexibility for some of our workers. There is also a new type of health care coverage being offered, a PPO, Preferred Provider Organization, which as it becomes subscribed to by county employees, gives every indication of significant savings both to the consortium and to individuals and families. It has the desirable feature of a consistent, low, $10 or $15 co-pay for virtually all services within the list of providers, which in the Southern Tier, is just about all of the facilities we currently use. The PPO option is being introduced to the membership by Excellus Blue Cross/Blue shield the last week of April. 

   In the other big story of the month, the flood of 2005, county employees, especially Mike Bidwell's Building and Grounds crew, did a Herculean task of making the COB habitable in very short order after the waters began to recede. They worked long hours with dedication and humor in very unappealing circumstances. It is in times of trial such as this that we are reminded why we stay here in Tioga County in the face of declining prosperity: We like each other. We are good people, doing the best we can, day after day. There is much here to be proud of.