The Empire Plan is a unique health insurance plan designed especially for public employees in New York State. Empire Plan benefits include inpatient and outpatient hospital coverage, medical/surgical coverage, Centers of Excellence for transplants, infertility and cancer, home care services, equipment and supplies, mental health and substance abuse coverage and prescription drug coverage.

DAVID A. PATERSON
GOVERNOR
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12239
www.cs.ny.gov
NANCY G. GROENWEGEN
COMMISSIONER
PA08-13
TO: Participating Agency Chief Executive Officers & Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Robert W. DuBois, Director of the Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: NYSHIP Regional Meetings
DATE: August 1, 2008
We are pleased to announce the 2008 NYSHIP Regional Meetings for Participating Agencies. Staff of the Employee Benefits Division will present information about benefits changes for 2009 and other benefit and policy issues, as well as initiatives planned for the coming year. The agenda will include discussion of the 2008 Empire Plan experience, the projected rate schedule for 2009, several administrative and regulatory issues and a review/update of NYBEAS.
You are invited to attend one of the following sessions:
- Wednesday, October 1, 2008 -- 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn - Saratoga Springs (Saratoga County)
232 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, New York
- Thursday, October 2, 2008 -- 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Comfort Inn (Rockland County)
425 E. Route 59
Nanuet, New York
- Friday, October 3, 2008 - 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Long Island
1717 Motor Parkway
Hauppauge, New York
(Note: Registration will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. for each session.)
Detailed directions to all meeting sites are enclosed for your use.
We hope you will be able to attend one of these meetings. All reservations should be received by September 19th so that we may finalize luncheon arrangements and plan for adequate meeting materials. There are two easy ways to register - Online or Fax.
To register Online - please follow instructions below:
HBAs with password access to HBA Online may submit reservations for themselves and/or on behalf of other agency representatives by using the online option on our Department’s website at www.cs.state.ny.us:
1. On the homepage, click on “Benefit Programs” on the navigation bar on the left of the screen.
2. Select “HBA Online” on the resulting page.
3. This brings you to HBA Online, a comprehensive collection of NYSHIP resources.
4. Sign on with your HBA Online User ID and password.
5. Click on the red button, “Register Online Here for Fall 2008 Regional PA Meetings.” This will bring you to NYSHIP Regional Meetings for Participating Agencies. You will find all of the information needed to register for the meeting of your choice, directions and map links to meeting sites. Print a copy of the completed form for your records.
To obtain an HBA Online User ID:
Please complete the attached Information Resource Management (IRM-302) form, and fax it to the NYS Department of Civil Service IRM Help Desk at (518) 485-5588 to request access. You will receive a User ID and a temporary password in the mail in approximately 10 business days.
To register by Fax:
Please complete the enclosed reservation form and fax to (518) 473-3292, Attn: Debbie D’Orazio. If you have any questions, you may call (518) 485-1771.
Attachments:
Directions To Meeting Sites
2008 Participating Agency Regional Meetings Reservation Form