Overall, the percentage of career SES members rated at the highest level (under three-, four- or five-level rating systems) was 74.5 percent in fiscal 2003—virtually the same as the 74.6 rate in 2002—and eligible career SES members who received a performance award increased from 49.2 percent in fiscal 2002 to 57.4 percent in fiscal 2003. The Housing and Urban Development, Interior and Transportation departments gave the top ratings to all of their career execs, while the Defense Department, the agency with the most SESers, gave top ratings to 96 percent. The average performance award paid
increased from $12,444 in fiscal 2002 to $12,883 in fiscal 2003; agencies giving awards at the highest rates included General Services Administration, 93.2 percent, Labor, 90.6 percent, and Small Business Administration, 83.9 percent. For a closer look at the breakdown by agency, go to https://www.fedweek.com/content/hfi/index.php 1. FEHB Call Letter Due Soon
The Office of Personnel Management is due to issue in the upcoming weeks its annual “call letter,” in which it outlines the coverage features it wants in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program the following year. In recent years, OPM has used the call letter to encourage health carriers to offer alternative forms of coverage, such as the “consumer-driven” plans now offered by several carriers as well as the “high deductible health plans” that were introduced earlier this year. The letter is the start of a months-long process that results in the announcement each autumn of new premium rates and coverage terms for the succeeding calendar year.
