Our History

2002

A continuing rise in cost of health insurance and changes to benefit programs beyond control of colleges provide reasons to investigate alternatives for Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV) member schools. CICV monitors programs already adopted by other state associations, especially Tennessee and Florida. National experts are consulted to identify best practices and potential problem areas.

2003

CICV invites CICV Presidents and CFOs to participate in meeting to explore the possible creation of a group health insurance program. During the annual meeting of CICV Presidents at Randolph-Macon Woman's College (now Randolph College), the presidents unanimously approve motion authorizing CICV to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for a group healthcare program. Nineteen CICV institutions respond favorably to participate in the detailed feasibility study phase. ClCV forms a Steering Committee with one representative from each of the 19 participating colleges serving to make important decisions necessary during the next phases of the project. The committee elects to negotiate with Marsh, Inc. to serve as research consultant and contracts with Andy Haynes to serve as legal counsel for the project.

2004

Participating colleges meet with Marsh on June 24th at Bridgewater College for a feasibility analysis presentation. Recommendations from Marsh's study include strong potential for cost savings and significant control over member data and plan design to provide improved healthcare services for member colleges.

2005

An intensive 2-day meeting is held at Sweet Briar College on September 21-22 for the purpose of preparing a suite of plan designs to serve as the basis for an RFP. The Steering Committee continues working with consultants on a schedule of benefits, plan documents and issues related to risk sharing and premium costs.

2006

All colleges continue to the next phase outlined by Marsh involving interaction with the Bureau of Insurance on possible state regulatory issues including consortium structure, reserve requirements and other operating requirements. The CICV Healthcare Executive Committee decides the best approach is to seek passage of legislation in the 2007 General Assembly session. Groundwork begins on drafting the proposed legislation and a lobbying strategy is defined. Language for the legislation is finalized.

2007

Legislation is introduced at the 2007 General Assembly session to grant CICV clear authority to create a self-insured health program for employees at member colleges. HB 3021 is passed in March and signed by Governor Kaine, effective July 1.

2008

Keiter, Slabaugh, Penny & Holme (KSPH) is selected as the consultant. Tom Mackay, Senior Partner, will serve as the lead principal for the benefits consortium project. KSPH conducts campus visits to determine goals and consensus items for each college. A 2-day meeting at Sweet Briar College analyzes details within the schedule of benefits, plan document and risk sharing models. Clickers provided by Roanoke College are used to determine consensus on many issues discussed during the meeting.  

2009

The ClCV Executive Committee reviews plan design alternatives, services, and pricing for medical administration, stop loss insurance, prescription drug administration, and COBRA/FSA/HRA/HSA. Finalists are recommended for presentations to the full ClCV group and KSPH works on negotiation items with each vendor, and Anthem is selected as the plan administrator. These colleges sign binding agreements to join the Consortium: Bluefield College, Bridgewater College, Emory & Henry College, Ferrum College, Hampden-Sydney College, Hollins University, Lynchburg College, Mary Baldwin College, Randolph-Macon College, Roanoke College, Sweet Briar College, and Virginia lntermont College. A governing Board of Directors is formed by appointment from the President of each participating college. Open enrollment and employee meetings are conducted on each campus with representatives from KSPH and Anthem attending as requested. The first CICV Benefits Consortium Board of Directors meeting is held on November 18th at Randolph-Macon College. The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws are approved, and an Executive Committee is appointed. Paul Davies, Sweet Briar College, is elected first Chair of the Board. Implementation procedures continue as eligibility files are loaded and processed. Anthem mails ID cards to plan participants.