health insurance impasse

Classes resumed in Buffalo today with the $10.2 million health insurance dispute unresolved and 102 laid-off teachers and administrators out of work.

District and union negotiators met for a full day on Tuesday with Dennis J. Campagna, a mediator assigned by the state's Public Employment Relations Board, but were clarifying issues and setting the stage for future talks, said Philip Rumore, president of the Buffalo Teachers Federation.



Meanwhile, classes began Tuesday for students in some suburban and Niagara County school districts. The remainder of the districts will start their new school year today.



In Buffalo, the Board of Education has consolidated health insurance with one rather than three carriers, saying the move will save $10.2 million this year and still replicate previous coverage.



Superintendent James A. Williams said the teachers and administrators will be called back to work if district unions drop their legal challenges to the health care consolidation. The unions said the district violated union contracts and must be challenged.



In addition, an Independent Health official said the new coverage, which was consolidated under BlueCross BlueShield, differs in at least five ways from the coverage previously provided by Independent Health.



School workers formerly insured by Independent Health will face higher co-pays for some drugs and out-of-network services, Lawrence C. DiGiulio, senior deputy counsel for Independent Health, said in a letter to district officials and the BTF.



Also, he said, there are differences in the companies' definitions of "medically necessary services" and in how they determine whether chiropractic care is warranted.



Rumore said the letter backs up his contention that BlueCross BlueShield is not replicating previous policies, and that coverage will be reduced for some union members. "There are important differences, even though the district says there aren't," he said.



School workers who previously were covered by Univera will be faced with similar differences, Rumore said.



Donald A. Van Every, chairman of the Board of Education's Finance Committee, said he does not anticipate substantial differences, but that the board is obligated to correct any inconsistencies that arise. "BlueCross BlueShield is committed to filling those blanks," Van Every said. "I'm taking that to the bank."



Van Every said layoff notices have been rescinded for 12 librarians, leaving layoffs in effect for 76 teachers and 26 assistant principals.



In other developments:



The Board of Education meets this evening to consider a scaled-back proposal to place school nurses in city schools.



Gov. George E. Pataki last month vetoed a bill that would have provided full-time nurses for most city schools. The revised plan would provide considerably less coverage than that but more than the skeletal nursing services available following county cuts last school year.



Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, D-Buffalo, said he has filed legislation that would expel students who assault school personnel. He made the announcement at a news conference on the steps of Lafayette High School, where a teacher was seriously hurt last school year breaking up a fight between two female students.