Category: Health Care Fund

New Fund Clinics under consideration

4/19/2022

The Fund (Formerly Retirees Health Benefit Fund)

In 2020 the Board began a process to replace the leased facilities with larger Fund owned clinics. Based on demographics, four areas (1-10 corridor outside of 1604, 1-35 corridor north of 1604, City Base, and 151-1604) were identified and suitable land was sought.

Three of the locations have been purchased and construction is underway.The new clinics will be larger than we need today but will make adding capacity to meet demand quicker and more affordable in the future.
Attached are the new locations under construction.

•   The I-10 corridor location is at 7926 Callie Rialto (78257). This site is just off I-10 at Ralph Fair Road behind Bill Miller’s. This site will be replacing the Paesano Parkway. Construction should be completed in fall of this year. When opened, this site will have 50% more capacity with the ability to meet future demand.

•   The 151 and 1604 area clinic will be at 5230 Rogers Road, Building 4 (78251). This site is on Rogers Road between Wiseman Blvd. and Culebra Rd. This site will be replacing the Tezel Rd. clinic. Construction should be completed by early summer of the year.

•   The I-35 location is 5009 Schertz Parkway (75154). This site is just East of I-35 before Wiederstein Rd. This is a new site to service the Northeast and reduce the pressures on the Paesano clinic. Construction is expected to be completed in 2022.

•   The Fund is working on a site for a new City Base Clinic. As soon as we close on a piece of land, we will announce the location and expected completion date.

Health Care Fund Meeting

4/15/2022

Retiree Health Care Fund Meeting
The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Fire and Police Retiree Health Care Fund
will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at 5230 Rogers Road, Building 4, San Antonio, Texas 78251.
If you have any questions, please contact the undersigned at (210) 494-6500.
JAMES BOUNDS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FIRE AND POLICE RETIREE HEALTH CARE FUND

Health Care Fund Meeting

3/26/2022

Retiree Health Care Fund Meeting

The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Fire and Police Retiree Health Care Fund will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 28, 2022.
Office of Martin & Drought located at 112 E. Pecan Street, Suite 1616, San Antonio, Texas 78205.
If you have any questions, please contact the undersigned at (210) 494- 6500.

JAMES BOUNDS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FIRE AND POLICE RETIREE HEALTH CARE FUND

Health Care Fund Meeting

1/26/2022

Retiree Health Care Fund Meeting

The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Fire and Police Retiree Health Care Fund will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 31, 2022 at the Office of Martin & Drought located at 112 E. Pecan Street, Suite 1616, San Antonio, Texas 78205. If you have any questions, please contact the undersigned at (210) 494-6500.

JAMES BOUNDS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FIRE AND POLICE RETIREE HEALTH CARE FUND

Health Care Report

11/5/2021

TO MEMBERS OF THE
FIRE AND POLICE HEALTH FUND

By Henry Trevino
(Fire Retiree Health Care Fund Representative)

       NOVEMBER 1 2021

   I received an irate call from one of our Health Fund members a couple of weeks ago. The member could not understand why the doctor’s bills were not being paid by the Health Fund.
   Whenever I get a question like this, I ask the member if he or she had called the staff at the Health Fund office. Usually the answer is; “no, I have not called the Health Fund.”
   The staff at the Health Fund are the only ones that can view your personal medical account. Nobody, including the CEO, is privy to your personal medical accounts. The privacy of our members’ medical accounts is one of the reasons I always ask the members if they have called the Health Fund Staff.
   Back to our irate member; I told the member I would call the staff at the Health Fund and find out why the member’s doctor bills were not being paid. The problem was quickly solved. The member had not opened the packet that the Health Fund sends to our members every year in November.
   The member had not opened a packet in three years. The member had not been to a doctor in three years and had no reason to open the packet. For our members information, the packet contains vital information about our Health Fund.
   The problem with our member was that the claim’s form had never been signed and returned to the Health Fund. The claims form is always included in the packet that our members receive every year. If that form is not signed and sent back to the Health Fund, no medical bills will be paid.
   The informational packet will be sent out in November; look for it and don’t forget to open it. Aside from the claims form, other information is included; deductible expenses, out of pocket expenses, children’s rates and changes to medications. Please don’t put the packet aside and forget it; as soon as you receive the packet, please open it and read it thoroughly.
   If you have a problem with anything pertaining to the Health Fund, the first call should be to the Health Fund. You may call me at any time, (210-710-7378). Still, I suggest that you call the Health Fund first (210-494-6500).
   Let’s go back to exercise. Getting old is inevitable. You can pray, you can wish and you can cry; old age will continue to march towards you forever. You can’t stop old age from taking over; however, you can stall old age by decelerating the speed of old age. Can this be done: Yes, it can be done.
   As we get older, our bones get brittle, our joints lose the synovial fluid, muscles lose their strength and elasticity, and eyes start to weaken causing people to fall.
   Body movement is the best medicine that helps to decelerate the speed of old age. Make it a rule to walk around the block at least one time; use light weights every day for at least 15 minutes; do toe raises and leg squats, and when you go to the grocery store, park the car at least 100 yards from the front door. Good luck!

Henry Trevino
____________________________________________________

ENCOURAGEMENT COMES FROM EACH LETTER OF THE ALPHABET.
Moral of the story: “A” is for Ambition; “B” is for backbone; “C” is for courage; “D” is for determination; “E” is for effort; “F” is fortitude; “G” is for gumption; “H” is for health; “I” is for inspiration; “J” is for justice; “K” is for kindness: “L” is for love; “M” is for management; “N” is for nerve; “O” is organization; “P” is for pluck; “Q” is for quality; “R” is for resolve; “S” is for strength; “T” is for tenacity; “U” is for usefulness; “V” is for valor; “W” is for wisdom; “X” is for xperience; “Y” is for yield; “Z” is for zest. When you feel down and out, look for the letter that will inspire, motivate and give you the strength to move forward and accomplish your life’s calling.

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Health Benefit Packets 2021/2022

11/1/2021

FIRE AND POLICE RETIREE HEALTH CARE FUND
The Health Benefit Packets this year 2021 / 2022 will be sent by US Mail. There will be NO annual meeting.

They will be sent to the address on file with the PENSION FUND.
Make sure your address that the PENSION FUND has is a current address

Member Benefit Office, Pension Fund. Call 210.534.3262
To make updates on your pension info.

Medicare Enrollment

11/1/2021

Why did you receive info about Medicare enrollment?
The Health Fund is required to make it's members aware of the program by the government.
The Health Fund recommends that it's members, when they reach 65 Yrs, enroll in Part A & B. Part D is not recommended for our members.
There might be a rare occasion where it might be helpful to an individual but Part D is not recommended. Consider your personal situation.
If you have any questions, please contact the undersigned at 210-494-6500.

James Bound, Exec Director

New Clinic in Progress

11/1/2021

Retiree Health Care Fund Meeting
James Bound reported at the Pensioners Asso meeting that the slab for the new Clinic has been pored on Rodgers Rd. It will be approx 8,000 sq. ft.
It will take about a year to finish off the building. The Tezel Rd clinic will close and all business will be moved to Rodgers Rd Clinic.
There are contracts for property and new buildings that will be on the Southside and Northeast San Antonio.
Currently all Clinic buildings are being leased.

Technology to help EMS response

10/16/2021

SA Fire Dept. EMS - GoodSAM
The San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) began using the GoodSAM application to help manage its EMS resources.

GoodSAM is a web-based application that allows SAFD personnel to assess the patient by using the caller’s cell phone camera. One of the benefits of GoodSAM is that the application does not require any additional equipment and can be launched from almost any smart phone.

When the patient or patient’s advocate calls 9-1-1 with a minor complaint (minor trauma, body aches, not feeling well, etc.), SAFD dispatchers can send the caller a link that requests permission to use the caller’s cell phone camera and microphone. The link is a one-time use and call-takers no longer have access to the phone once the call is disconnected.

Once the video is established, GoodSAM has Artificial Intelligence (AI) capability that provides a pulse and respiratory rate. After the evaluation, paramedic dispatchers can determine the best course of action for the patient (send an EMS unit, taxi voucher, no resources sent, etc.).

A video of the GoodSAM app can be accessed by clicking the link below.

https://vimeo.com/490948000

Please contact: chris.benavides@sanantonio.gov with any questions.

Fire & Police Health Fund Trustee Election Results

10/15/2021

A Fire & Police Retiree health Fund Trustee Election

The recent Election for Trustee for Retired Police ended on 8-25-2021 Results are:
Alex Perez ----------- 248
Mike Despres ------- 306
Dennis May --------- 53
There was a 40% voter turnout (1542 eligible to vote) and Mike Despres is the winner and new Trustee with 50.4% of the votes cast.
The active Fire and Active Police trustee positions were uncontested. Jason Sanchez (police) and Doug Berry (Fire) will continue as trustees for another term.

Earnest.Gay, Pensioners Asso. Secretary

Are You Going To Be 65? You need to Know...

9/10/2021

"The Fund" - Fire and Police Health Benefit Fund
Retired but now coming up to Age 65. Get straight answers about Medicare Benefits and what to do next. Make an appointment or call a Fund Benefit Specialist. Call 866-652-437.

For your appointment bring your Social Security Card, Proof of other Insurance (Spouses Insurance, if any) Depending on the question, might need your Birth Certificate and Marriage Certificate

Questions asked most of the time.

Can I keep my doctor?
The plan has a considerable amount of doctors who qualify as in-network options. You can keep your doctor even if they are not in-network, but you will be responsible for out-of-network billing.

Is dental or vision covered?
No. The plan is for medical health care coverage only.

Are there any Medicare requirements?
Once a covered person is eligible for Medicare either by age or established criteria for Medicare eligibility a covered person is required to apply for, purchase and maintain Medicare Part A & B Benefits. If a covered person does not have the eligible quarters for Medicare Part A the covered person will need to provide a copy of the Notice of award letter to the Health Fund Office.

Lost your Vaccine Card?

8/28/2021

DON’T HAVE YOUR COVID-19 VACCINE CARD?
HERE’S HOW TO REQUEST YOUR VACCINE INFORMATION
Attached Info

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunize/immunization-records.aspx

Health Care Fund Meeting

8/28/2021

Retiree Health Care Fund Meeting

The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Fire and Police Retiree Health Care Fund will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, at the Office of Martin & Drought located at 112 E. Pecan Street, Suite 1616, San Antonio, Texas 78205. If you have any questions, please contact (210) 494-6500.

Former SAPOA President quits Health Care Fund

8/11/2021

Former SAPOA President Harold Flammia submitted a hard hitting open letter explaining his reasoning for his decision to quit the SA Fire and Police Health Care Fund).

PDF Letter Is Attached.

flammia_letter_to_the_fund.pdf
File Size:	5888 kb
File Type:	pdf

Health Care Fund - Change of Address form

8/8/2021

www.thefundsa.org

Attached is "A Change of Address Form for Retiree's Health Fund"
Please fill it out and update your info. and mail it to address if there has been a change.