FEHB, Other Proposals Repeated

The budget contains several proposals regarding FEHB that have never advanced in Congress beyond a hearing two years ago. One would extend coverage to domestic partners—past proposals would have covered partners of either gender, although that is not specified—use a central purchasing method in a bid to hold down costs of pharmaceutical drugs, allow additional plan designs into the program, and “adjust premiums for wellness”—that is, charge higher premiums for those who don’t participate in such programs vs. those who do, although providing no standards. Presumably, though, the impact would be substantial because the budget projects a saving in the government share of insurance of $1.5 billion over five years. Also in the budget is the recently announced proposal for six weeks of paid administrative leave for parental purposes; bills to provide even four weeks have sat in Congress for more than a decade. Also repeated was a proposal for another round of DoD base closings and realignments, which in the past have resulted in the loss or transfer of tens of thousands of civilian federal employee jobs, but which Congress has rejected several years running. Another idea, which never has gained support in the past,would create a commission to recommend changes in personnel policies including compensation, career development and mobility, and performance management.