Treasurer: Change oversight for insurance program

BATON ROUGE — Treasurer John Kennedy says lawmakers should take oversight of the state worker health insurance program away from the governor and give it to the committee that oversees state retirement programs.
Kennedy’s comments Monday came as Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration is under fire for its handling of health insurance plans for state employees, public school workers and retirees that are administered through the Office of Group Benefits. The Jindal administration is reworking the health plans because the program has financial problems.
Currently, the insurance program plans and premiums are set by the governor’s Division of Administration. Kennedy told the Press Club of Baton Rouge the process needs more scrutiny “out of smoke-filled rooms.”
Jindal’s Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols disagreed with Kennedy’s assessment, saying lawmakers have oversight authority of the agency.