Employee Benefits course: An Oxford style debate
Tue, Dec 12 2023, 11:50am
To watch by Zoom: https://umn.zoom.us/j/93694411070
Andy Whitman teaches an Employee Benefits class. Learn more about employee benefits by viewing the upcoming debate on four current topics. The debate follows the Oxford Style Debate Format. The class members will vote on all four propositions before the debates, and vote again after each debate. The team that moves the vote the most in their position wins; winning or losing does not affect grades.
During the debate a Board of Distinguished Professionals questions each Team, and finally comments on Team performance after the end of the debates.
Eight Student Teams Debate The Following Four Current Propositions:
Team #1 Argues FOR & Team #2 argues AGAINST: That Uniform and price limiting laws be imposed on the costs of pharmaceuticals. (e.g. The FAIR Drug Pricing Act) including limits on use of patents, and same price in the U.S.A. as in foreign countries, and authorizing Medicare to set pharmaceutical prices, and make medicine to prevent drug addiction deaths available as a generic without a prescription.
Team #3 Argues FOR & Team #4 argues AGAINST: That underfunding of public pensions be resolved by a combination of decreasing benefits, increasing employee contributions, reducing or eliminating COLAs, and put in a Defined Contribution plan, to avoid insolvency. Effect under and unwinding of COVID -19.
Background: Accounting for Pensions
Team #5 Argues FOR & Team #6 argues AGAINST: That a type of national health care framework be enacted, such as a uniform care for all, including existing plans employer sponsored and individual plans qualified under the ACA; Effect under COVID -19
Background: Is single-payer the best solution for America’s health care conundrum?
Team #7 Argues FOR & Team #8 argues AGAINST: That private health plan take-over of Traditional Medicare Plus, by Private Medicare Advantage, be stopped.
The recording of this debate will only be available to students.
Debate Review Board: Shawn Deluhery, CPA, MBA, Manager Consultant – Health Care, Eide Bailly LLP. Greg Thurston Director of Student Health Plans, Boynton
~Andy Whitman
Upcoming Events
Our July 15 "hike" is going to be a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles! If you don't have a kayak (or paddleboard), Wheel Fun Rentals, located next to the new concession stand rents single kayaks at $15 an hour and double kayaks at $25. The second hour is free if we rent before noon. Life jackets are provided with the rental.
Laura Ericksen will lead the discussion of How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger, a true story by a speech-language pathologist who taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using buttons associated with different words.
Our August 5 hike will be a reprise of our hike last summer at William O'Brien State Park. This is a beautiful park with a winding trail and a great view of the countryside. The hike is about 5.5 to 6 miles and we'll go at a moderate pace with frequent water breaks. After the hike, we will eat lunch at Rustic Roots Winery, a half mile north of the park.
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates. Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.
Autumn is a wonderful season in Minnesota so plan to join UMRA at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kristen Mastel, head librarian and curator, will reveal its treasure trove of publications and artifacts relating to plant history, horticulture, and natural history. After the tour, those who are interested may stay to eat lunch together, sitting outside if the weather is nice. Later, you are invited to a one-hour tram tour of the entire Arboretum that includes natural areas of flowering shrubs, bogs, and forests, family garden and landscaping showpieces, and the red barn farm
After a summer break the UMRA Photo Club will next meet September 10, 2024 in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library. For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 am. For September the THEME will be Curves
We will continue to discuss the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage. You will also hear about notable non-health plan and non-broker resources.