Newsletters

February 2008

From our President's Desk

MURA members continue to be involved with numerous activities. When you see Board members or committee members, please thank them for their efforts on our behalf.

At our annual Business Meeting on March 8, we will vote to elect our president elect and treasurer (see page 2). Invitations to attend the meeting have been extended to President Gary Forsee, recent Interim President Gordon Lamb, Chancellor Brady Deaton, and Executive Director of the Mizzou Flagship Council, Dianne Drainer.

MURA is pleased to announce that the newly designated UM Benefits Office contact person for retirees is Anita Houston at 882-9810 (at the voice prompt, press 1 for retiree information or 6 and ask for Anita). We are indebted to Mike Paden, Associate Vice President for Benefits for the University of Missouri System, for responding to our request for access to a person with whom retirees may speak when phoning our UM Benefits Office. Mike and Anita assure us that several additional staff members are able to handle questions from retirees.

Meetings of MURA representatives with Chancellor Deaton and President Forsee have been scheduled to discuss retiree benefits, including a pension adjustment and how MURA members can provide additional service to our University. We are pursuing a meeting with one or more members of our Board of Curators.

MURA’s Membership Committee is about to begin its recruitment efforts. Jean Zwonitzer, membership co-chair, also provides leadership for MURA Interest Groups. We hope to organize several groups this semester, and other groups might be added as we identify sufficient numbers of people. If you have not done so, please complete the Interest Survey (p. 7) and mail it to Jean asap. We have added several groups to the survey that were not included on an earlier version.

As of December 31, 2007 retirees have provided $25.3 million of the $34.5 million contributed by faculty, staff, and retirees since the For All We Call Mizzou campaign began in January, 2000. After six months of reporting for this fiscal year, retirees account for $1.4 million, placing us on course to exceed last year’s record. Retirees have also exceeded their goal in our participation 1n United Way (p. 2).

Chancellor Deaton praised MURA at the Board of Curators meeting in Kansas City. Specifically, he mentioned the For All We Call Mizzou campaign and services provided to Mizzou, including leadership and influence on legislative issues. This semester, MURA Board members will explore additional ways in which to serve the University along with considering partnerships with other groups.

Jo Behymer

Nominees for election to our Board of Directors

Our nominating committee is pleased to offer the following nominations for election to Board membership at our Annual Business Meeting on March 8, 2008. Terms begin July 1, 2008.

Respectfully submitted, Rod Gelatt (Chair), Tom Freeman, Charles Cramer, Elizabeth Bailey, Veralee Hardin.

Member at large-staff, Darlene Miles

(3-year term)

Retired from Alumni Relations in 1998 after 20 years at MU, serving in roles including Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director. Honors include Chancellor’s Award for Staff Retiree of the Year in 2005. She’s a familiar face to participants in the Missouri State Senior Games, where she has volunteered since the program’s beginnings 13 years ago. She’s also an active member of the Columbia Chapter of the Philanthropic Educational Organization, which supports the advancement of women’s education.

President elect and Program, Chair Barton Boyle

(1-year term)

Began his career at MU in 1960 as Assistant Director, University of Missouri Medical Center. In 1962 was appointed Associate Director of UMMC and continued until 1980. During his tenure at MU’s Medical Center McHaney Hall was converted into Rusk Rehabilitation Center, the Mid-Missouri Mental Health Center was constructed, and Truman VA Hospital opened. Additional instruction space was constructed, which allowed for an increase in the size of the Medical School student body. He then served as administrator of hospitals at Ohio State and the University of Oklahoma before retiring to Columbia.

Treasurer, Gary Zwonitzer

(2-year term)

Began University of Missouri service in 1967 as Administrative Assistant in the U-Wide Staff Budget Office. Held positions in Jesse Hall as Assistant Director and Director of the Budget Office, Assistant and Associate Fiscal Business Officer, and Assistant Business Officer, which covered the period July 1967 to September 1987. In September 1987 was appointed Director of Business Affairs for the MU Athletic Department, holding that position until November 1993 when he returned to Jesse Hall as Academic Budget Officer in the Provost’s Office, holding that position until retirement in 1999.

Member at large-faculty, Veralee Hardin

(3-year term)

Taught for 30 years at MU in Curriculum and Instruction and Special Education. Served as director of the Child Study Clinic and Chair of the Special Education Department. Also chaired the Title IX Committee for Women’s Athletics. Received numerous awards, including Distinguished Faculty Award and Chancellor’s Award for Faculty Retiree of the Year. Retired in 1987 as Professor Emeritus. Continues to be active in Mizzou Alumni Association, University Club, and various civic organizations.

Retirement, health, and other benefits advisory committee

by Al Hahn

Yes, we now have an officially constituted committee, complete with name change, new charge, additional members, and a retiree serving as chair.

We had two meetings in November and December. Mike Paden was kind enough to meet with us and bring us up-to-date on benefits and on negotiations with regard to improvements in the current health plans. Nothing final on that yet, but we should learn of additional developments this spring. We will strive to post minutes of our future meetings beginning soon.

In addition to myself, current retired committee members include John Bauman, Doris Littrell, and Marj Leavene. Active employees include four faculty, four staff, and two ex-officio members. You can find information about committee charges, its member composition, etc. at: http://committees.missouri.edu/retireebenefits/index.php

If you need additional information, or have comments or pressing questions, I will be happy to take your messages to our committee on your behalf. You can reach me at HahnA@missouri.edu.

Benefits Program

by Mike Paden

There are several issues to bring to the attention of MURA membership. While each one will not apply to every retiree, you are encouraged to make note of those that do apply to you.

For pre-medicare retirees enrolled in the UM Choice Health Care Program, the transition from United Health Care to Coventry Health Care is now complete. All participants in this program should have received a new identification card in December. If you have not received your card, please call 573-882-9810 for assistance.You should now have a single card that identifies you for both medical and prescription drug services.

Coventry Health Care maintains a robust web site that contains information on many health care topics.Included at this site, you’ll find access to your Coventry claims status including information on claims currently in progress.You can access UM’s Coventry Health Care web site at http://www.ummedcvty.com.

Prescription drugs continue to comprise the largest portion of expenses in our UM Retiree Indemnity Medical Program.In efforts to stabilize premiums, we seek more cost effective alternatives that can be used in the delivery of prescription drug benefits. We do this in coordination with pharmacist and physician resources made available to us through Express Scripts. We bring these efforts to the attention of our retirees, and, as they apply to each individual, we encourage retirees to consider these ideas with their personal physicians and always follow his/her guidance.

Express Scripts Clinical Program Management informed us that a patent expiration on Zyrtec (an oral antihistamine) has occurred.As a result, Zyrtec and Zyrtec D have been approved for over-the-counter conversion by the Food and Drug Administration.When this occurs, neither Zyrtec nor Zyrtec D will continue to be covered under the UM Retiree Indemnity Medical Program.

In the near future, Express Scripts will notify those retirees who use certain osteoporosis medications of the availability of generic Fosamax, which was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Generic Fosamax may be able to replace brand drugs such as Actonel or Boniva and offer lower out-ofpocket costs for retirees using these drugs.

In the remaining months of 2008, the patents of several brand drugs will expire, including the following:

Fosamax
Kytril
Imitrex
Trusopt
Cardura XL
Lamictal
Paxil CR
Keppra
Sarafem
Depakote
Cosopt
Sonata

Typically, when a patent expires generic alternatives become available and will create an opportunity for retirees to reduce their out-of-pocket costs through the use of the generic alternative. When this occurs, Express Scripts will—provided that your physician has not stipulated on your prescription ‘dispense as written’— substitute the generic equivalent for you and automatically make this lower cost available to you.If your prescription was written as ‘dispense as written,’ you will be advised of the availability of the generic alternative and encouraged to contact your physician regarding your potential use of the generic alternative.

The Aging Front

by Ann Gowans

Paula Woodsmall, of the Department of Health and Senior Services, liaison with special need populations in the emergency planning function of that department, told the Aging Federation that people should be encouraged to lay in supplies to sustain themselves in their home for three days or more. The Department of Social Services will be the lead agency for getting and distributing food and other supplies in case of emergency, and Missouri is doing what it can to plan and prepare for any catastrophic event. Paula is available for questions at phone number 573-526-4256. E-mail: Paula.Woodsmall@dhss.mo.gov.

The governor has reconstituted the Governor’s Advisory Council, and he did so by Executive Order while at the Aging Conference in the fall. This will be a 12- member council, and the governor’s office is taking applications. The GAC will be staffed by DHSS and one may view the Executive Order, listing all the duties and responsibilities on the Governor’s website. I have been a member of this Council for over ten years and intend to retire from this position, but I would encourage anyone who might be interested in serving to examine the duties and responsibilities and apply.

The Silver-Haired Legislature met and decided on five priorities for the coming year.

Single point of entry for long-term care services must be available to all Missouri seniors. Missouri’s Area Agencies on Aging would become the designated comprehensive point of entry for both public and private pay individuals.
Funding for all meal programs should provide adequate funding, including those at congregate meal sites.
Pay-day loans need more regulation.
Medicaid Vendor Personal Needs Alliance, which would raise the personal needs allowance from $30 to $50 per month, needs to be studied.
Asset levels for people on Medicaid need to be raised from $999 to $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples.

A representative of AARP, Paul Vanhorn, demonstrated materials for United We Fail, a program to educate and unite people to elect candidates who will agree to solve America’s health care problems. Everyone was encouraged to look into the AARP program. Materials are available.

Breakfast lectures continue to attract MURA members

by John Parker

When and Where
8:00 a.m., first Tuesday of each month, Old Alumni Center. Please make reservation(s) at least four days in advance by contacting John Parker at jparkerok@aol.com or by phone 573- 442-5215. The cost: $9.00, payable at the door. Please park in the east part of the parking lot.

Future Scheduled Presentations

March 4 — White Nationalism on the American Landscape, by Larry Brown, MU Professor of Cultural Geography.
April 1 — Nanno Medicine at MU, by Fred Hawthorne, Director, International Institute of Nano and Molecular Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine.
May 6 — Quick Study in Memory Mastery, by Bart Entrikin, Educational Consultant and Professional Seminar Presenter.

Retiree reps from our four campuses meet with U-Wide administration

by Gary Smith

Twice each academic year, Gary Smith, Chair, MURA University Liaison Committee, convenes a group of retirees consisting of several representatives from each of the four retiree organizations on UM’s four campuses to meet with our president and vice president for finance and administration to discuss matters of benefits and pensions. We look forward to the continuance of this vital exchange of information and ideas.

Curators vote to restore ‘University of Missouri ‘ for Columbia campus.

University of Missouri, which was founded in Columbia in 1839, retained its name until the UM System was organized in 1963, at which time it was designated University of Missouri-Columbia to differentiate it from System colleges in Kansas City, Rolla, and St. Louis. But on November 29, 2007 our Board of Curators yielded to arguments made by our supporters and voted to allow UMC again be identified as the ‘University of Missouri.’ MU Chancellor Brady Deaton lauded our Board’s action in acknowledging “the outstanding quality of our AAU public research, land-grant university here at MU.” (See historic web site http://www.missouri.edu/news/name-restoration)

Gary D. Forsee named University of Missouri’s 22nd President

Gary D. Forsee, a native Missourian and veteran business leader, was appointed Dec. 20 as the 22nd President of the fourcampus University of Missouri System. The University of Missouri Board of Curators voted unanimously to hire Forsee with an initial three-year contract. He began his duties Feb. 18. Forsee, 57, served as chairman and chief executive officer of Sprint Nextel Corporation, a Fortune 50 company, from 2003–2007. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the university of missouri-Rolla. The University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree in 2005. (This text is taken from UM Spectrum at http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/departments/ur/spectrum/0712/)