Duke in Pictures: Talking Healthcare

Administrators met this week as part of the Primetime employee forum to talk about healthcare and what changes may be in store for faculty and staff.

Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for administration, and Tom Owens, M.D., chief medical officer for Duke University Health System, spoke at length about changes to coverage for the upcoming year and how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act may impact healthcare in the years to come. Both Cavanaugh and Owens said the biggest challenge facing Duke will be reacting to the many adjustments and changes that will impact employees across the country in coming years.

Cavanaugh noted that there would be modest premium increases but no other significant changes for Duke employee health coverage in 2014, but it was difficult to predict changes beyond the next couple years due to a variety of variables at the state and national levels, including how peer institutions decide to provide healthcare and pricing in the Health Insurance Marketplace, the state and federal system that will offer insurance coverage.

"We're trying to navigate through something that's constantly changing, and it's going to be an environment of constant change for years to come," Cavanaugh said. "We're trying to make informed decisions for what will be best for our faculty, staff and their families. This is brand new, not only for North Carolina, but for the country."

Currently, Duke covers about 62,000 people under its health insurance, which includes employees and family members as well as retirees. Duke spends almost $200 million annually to provide a slew of coverage, from check-ups to surgery.

Duke Human Resources will be distributing information about medical, dental, vision and reimbursement benefits, as well as a special enrollment for supplemental life insurance next week. Check Duke Today next week as Working@Duke provides coverage for Duke's annual Open Enrollment period.

You can watch the entire Primetime event with the video below: