Posts tagged Arizona Plastic Surgery Financing

The report states the plastic surgery procedures left taxpayers on the hook for nearly $9 million worth of cosmetic surgery last year, according to the state-appointed authority overseeing public school finances. The Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority found that last year’s costs for elective procedures such as chemical peels and other skin treatments were up $8 million over 2004′s $1 million tab for cosmetic surgery.

Barbara J. Smith, the district’s chief financial officer, said those 500 people represent less than 2 percent of those covered by health insurance through the district — a figure she estimated works out to an average of nearly $18,000 in elective procedures last year per employee who used the benefit.

“We asked the unions to forgo the cosmetic surgery rider for one year, so we could use the money to reduce the number of layoffs,” she stated.

The procedures, provided under the teachers’ union contract, accounted for 9 percent of the district’s total spending on health benefits for employees and retirees. About 10,000 school employees are eligible for the plastic surgery benefit. District officials said teachers or their dependents accounted for 90 percent of the approximately 500 people who received cosmetic surgery last year.

“We’ve already told them we’re going to give [it] up in these negotiations,” Philip Rumore, president of the teacher union, stated. “We’ve told everybody it’s going to be gone in the next contract.”

I find it amazing, as a board certified plastic surgeon that teachers can use the health benefits for plastic surgery and other treatments like Botox and Restylane. Is this fair?…. I might not be the best person to answer this question, but I believe some authority should look at this more closely and decide whether tax payer’s money should pay for procedures like tummy tuck, breast implants, and liposuction?

P. S. – $18,000 dollars per employee on plastic surgery was the average spent. That just seems a bit much per person! This amount of money is spent on procedures like Mommy Makeovers and Brazilian Butt Lift. That’s quite a treat!