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Brian Barth, continued from page 1
ERS members and retirees voted in the trustee election
earlier this year and Barth was certified as the winner in July.
His six-year term began September 1.
Barth says the decisions he will face as a trustee are not
unlike those he has made directing multi-billion dollar
transportation projects for some of the state's largest cities.
Both impact the lives of thousands of Texans.
He does not underestimate the challenge of finding the
balance between providing high-quality yet reasonably
priced health benefits. He knows some decisions are about
more than cost, such as when an employee with a young
child must switch to a new health plan provider network that
doesn't include their pediatrician. Barth says he will work to
make sure potential advantages outweigh drawbacks.
"I'm sure it's not easy, but that goal will guide my decision-
making on the board," he says. "It's not a complicated goal.
It's going to be complicated to achieve it." When it comes to
retirement annuities, he says he often is asked his views on
providing a "1 3th check" or cost-of-living adjustment.
"My answer is, 'I want to make sure you continue to get 12
checks,' Barth says. That applies to the nearly 110,000
retirees currently receiving benefits, as well as state
employees just starting their careers and potential hires
seeking competitive and secure benefit programs.
See trustee election results at
https ://www.ers.texas.gov/About-ERSIERS-Board-of-
Trustees/Trustees-Election-and-Appointments.
Other challenges for the Board include ever-increasing
health care costs and the uncertainty of the world's
financial markets, Barth says. Successfully navigating those
challenges will be critical to support longer retirements.
"I'm by no means a financial markets expert, but I'm in a
position to analyze what the experts are telling us to make
good conservative decisions," he says.
A lifelong Texan who grew up in El Paso, Barth currently
commutes from his home in Flower Mound each week to
his job as director of project planning and development
with TxDOT in Austin. Outside of work, a preferred mode of
transportation is hiking with his wife Brenda, a fifth-grade
teacher. The two also enjoy learning about wines, and like
to combine the two hobbies on wine country excursions in
Texas and California. He and Brenda have a daughter who is
a senior at the University of Texas at Austin.
Barth plans to retire in Texas, and knows he will be directly
impacted by the decisions he makes.
"I don't take this responsibility lightly," he says. "I consider it a
privilege to serve."
* It's time for a flu shot
Up to 20% of the U.S. population gets the
flu each year, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Adults aged 65 and older are among the
most susceptible to the disease and its
complications. The CDC recommends getting a vaccine before flu
season starts to give flu-fighting antibodies a chance to work.
Where to get your shot
Flu vaccines are covered at 100% at in-network pharmacies that
offer flu shots. View a list of network pharmacies for your plan by
visiting the websites below.
HealthSelectsM Prescription Drug Program network pharmacies
(for participants in the HealthSelect of Texas and Consumer Directed
HealthSelectsM plans): www.HealthSelectRx.com
HealthSelectSM Medicare Rx Plan network pharmacies
(for participants in the HealthSelectsM Medicare Advantage PPO
and KelseyCare Advantage Medicare HMO plans):
https://www.uhcretiree.com/ers/home.html
community First Health Plans:
https ://members.cfhp.com/rootlcategory/pharmacy/
Scott and White Health Plan:
https://www.bswhealth.com/specialties/pharmacy/pages/
default.aspx
Seventy percent of families avoid discussing aging until
a health care crisis.
Texas Talks
Annual campaign helps ease
discussions about aging
Contributed by Texas Health and Human Services
Studies show most families avoid discussing
aging until a health care crisis, when talking
with loved ones about their wishes, needs,
expectations and finances can be difficult.
The annual Texas Talks campaign by Texas
Health and Human Services encourages adults
to talk about and prepare for aging. In November
and December, Texas Talks will highlight topics
such as dementia, home health care and other
topics in approachable and concrete terms to
promote positive, productive conversations.
To learn more, go to https://hhs.texas.gov/
about-hhs/community-engagementage-weI-
live-well/texas-talks.
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