[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6141752,"mediaKeyId","5571074-de4cdc16c7d55d14aebab575123ca5c7","parentId",5571074,"title","Johnson County approves new group medical and pharmacy contracts after public comment on cost weighting","audioSeconds",494,"startMs",1572000,"endMs",2066000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5571074-de4cdc16c7d55d14aebab575123ca5c7&start=1572&end=2066","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5571074-de4cdc16c7d55d14aebab575123ca5c7/thumbnail_1572000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6141752/Johnson-County/Kansas/Johnson-County-approves-new-group-medical-and-pharmacy-contracts-after-public-comment-on-cost-weighting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141752-ea66e1017367299f6657034a497ec9ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1773577868&Signature=VlzMwH34RIuZ4~V7tWyB5q73dKYOfxYN3xbHA0MnyfNiRgG-OV4pV0jeHOO-qpQjSi40p0IVcfvQgNrbkLHTkGJaOZpqTIbkhrYR-rkmXM3i2XJRKhEWQYy3a9R8cearJORmlFL4cq3sjQsKdo2l7wPqTbE6Lrf10aQDdVnJ6wGhswWIcW87DetET2cYzNY5eOAH~B8ro77VoxyGxJzuNnNSGztu-bRQYQ~VE7AlOyhSItRMOvBor4-usWauym1rogrKW3oFcRNUqB499~I~dCD5e3ZBCSlv2HZQnC~iCpkJjLpMX3ufjWm~Qq3c1PMNjWr87K49LsIpjBbeJ1ZPEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Johnson County, KS","date","2025-08-08T04:41:35Z","article","Johnson County commissioners authorized new contracts for employee health benefits, approving a group medical administration contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) and pharmacy and medication-therapy contracts with Med 1 Pharmacy Benefit Solutions and Tria Health LLC.

Cameron Ahrens, the county benefits presenter, told commissioners the evaluation team included representatives from the sheriff's office, budget, human resources and financial management. Blue KC was recommended for medical administration in part because the vendor provided a discount guarantee and a large, local provider network with a \"total care\" primary-care network the county believes helps control chronic-condition costs. Ahrens said Blue KC provided a discount guarantee of 65 percent and that the county estimated additional savings of $1.4 million per year due to better chronic-condition management. The board approved the medical administration contract with an estimated annual administrative cost not to exceed $2,000,000, subject to the FY2026 budget, and authorized plan design changes and employee contribution adjustments for the 2026 plan year.

On pharmacy services, commissioners heard public comment critical of the evaluation rubric's weight on subjective criteria and low weight on cost. A public commenter argued the county's scoring treated cost as a tertiary consideration and that the bids varied widely. Ahrens and commissioners responded that the evaluation considered ingredient cost, dispensing fees, and guarantees of clinical savings. He said Med 1 included a $3.1 million clinical guarantee and programs to increase use of biosimilars and clinical pharmacist interventions, which the evaluation team concluded would produce greater net savings than choosing the low administrative-cost bidder. Commissioners approved a pharmacy administration contract with Med 1 not to exceed $300,000 annually and a medication therapy management contract with Tria Health LLC not to exceed $600,000 annually, effective Jan. 1, 2026, with options to renew; approvals were subject to the FY2026 budget.

The votes were conducted by roll call. The Blue KC medical administration contract passed 7-0. The combined Med 1/Tria Health motion passed 7-0 after commissioners discussed differences in proposals and the value of guaranteed clinical savings.

Several commissioners voiced support for balancing fiscal restraint with retaining and recruiting county employees, citing the county's intent to maintain a competitive benefits package. Ahrens said negotiation items include claim-handling personnel and value-added services that some vendors bundle or charge extra for; county staff said those services were part of the evaluation.

The public record includes comments urging greater transparency about total compensation and a higher weighting for cost in procurement evaluations; county staff responded that the evaluation included projected net cost consequences, not only administrative fees.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Johnson County Board of County Commissioners Meeting- August 7, 2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","Johnson County commissioners approved contracts with Blue KC for medical administration and with Med 1 and Tria Health for pharmacy and medication-therapy services after staff described projected clinical savings; public commenters questioned the evaluation's low relative weighting for cost.","taxTitle","Johnson County, Kansas","taxId",2884,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6141757,"Board approves Johnson County Area Agency on Aging 2026'2029 plan after debate on measurable outcomes",106,880000,986000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5571074-de4cdc16c7d55d14aebab575123ca5c7&start=880&end=986","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5571074-de4cdc16c7d55d14aebab575123ca5c7/thumbnail_880000.jpg","/articles/6141757/Johnson-County/Kansas/Board-approves-Johnson-County-Area-Agency-on-Aging-20262029-plan-after-debate-on-measurable-outcomes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141757-047ab2f43bb8e93f703633ea3235e2c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773577868&Signature=J2MjzPvcodeMoaCvreV7mKW0j0jmb~WykQoLTBLIonv6FsRseYOEjN4DeFefm6M2us--ohCRzSR7zGvetpibiw7LMXPjTzHUKm-SjNLvQNkCqA77V9xZLv-Z58hp6U-o0BZxMm-wA-llCc-Rits~F8pBdbPDgtvDopYvXglFgNAm4O6RR21K5eMSg6KMUzj1z71VdiGdjxh1LdGCnpdnZzdOQX7QmKkQ877Lr3ltpfTMsQDGXQHHFRs-TL7dcX1dxZxDnFIjWPWfbrEmyix4JI599X5U6FK2fp7rn80Dz32~qoVoQHWtVrlEADJc4P~h0nwxkjsWa9V0RMlX5SLaeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners approved the Area Agency on Aging 2026'2029 area plan and delegated signatory authority and future updates to the director of Aging and Human Services.

Tim Wolf, director of the Department of Aging and Human Services, told commissioners the plan was reworked from the ground up after public town halls and surveys and that he added a mission-statement paragraph to tie priorities to measurable objectives. Commissioners pressed for clarity on performance metrics: Commissioner John Ashcraft said many items in the draft looked like activity measures rather than outcome indicators and asked how the plan would move the needle on the county's stated priorities. Wolf said department goals tie into existing key performance indicators, clinical outcomes, and efforts to keep people healthy and in home settings rather than in institutional placements.

Commissioner Karen Hanslick pointed to explicit outcome language in the plan'noting the section on meal services calls for an annual satisfaction and outcomes survey and includes targets such as at least 90 percent of respondents reporting maintained or improved health and at least 25 percent reporting increased socialization. Wolf said the department will continue using pre/post surveys, focus groups and census data to measure baseline conditions and change. Commissioners also discussed the impending reauthorization of the federal Older Americans Act; Wolf said advocacy and education with congressional staffers was ongoing but he could not guarantee reauthorization by September and said a continuing resolution would be necessary if Congress did not act.

Commissioner Allen Brand moved to approve the plan and delegate signatory authority to the director; Commissioner Myers seconded. The board called the question and the call passed 7-0. On the final motion, Commissioners voted 6-1 with Commissioner Ashcraft dissenting; Ashcraft said he withheld support because the plan relied heavily on activity metrics and did not clearly present outcome measures to demonstrate how the county would \"move the dial\" on the four priority areas.

Wolf said the agency received Older Americans Act formula and competitive funding and described the plan as necessary to maintain eligibility for federal funds: \"Because we are designated federal area agency on aging and we get Older Americans Act funds, we have to do the area plan on aging every four years,\" Wolf said. He warned if the board rejected the plan the county could risk federal funding for aging services.","The Board of County Commissioners approved the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging 2026'2029 area plan and delegated signatory authority to the Aging and Human Services director after a discussion about outcome measures and federal funding risks tied to the Older Americans Act.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6141762,"Johnson County commissioners approve multiple board appointments after brief dispute over public disclosure",0,1529000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5571074-de4cdc16c7d55d14aebab575123ca5c7&start=1529&end=1529","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5571074-de4cdc16c7d55d14aebab575123ca5c7/thumbnail_1529000.jpg","/articles/6141762/Johnson-County/Kansas/Johnson-County-commissioners-approve-multiple-board-appointments-after-brief-dispute-over-public-disclosure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141762-1d3625c6d1f97f90a663dbce86a4272c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773577868&Signature=DemBkIYiIZyicjN-zu96J3VtMqB-Fv5-dAyalGIV1EgMoHp~bRWqJz~Y-vUvDP81Sj~0IxyjsYj-txPkoR5Ld2MXxitQCDoMsXUb5XML8Qne6p-mXMC3w1RsqlOM5W2HtRofKJrTg8hiaLmnGVmeMxksgwdtLrQe0Hr-cX7TtJkVcw6pM1Zq5oBHTyTxnUX3uf5Vr209Wbe0buEYqwnErKHP5GqG6anApZpFFkTFZVlDUZqaz552WX8mGrUOki3xF7Q-5l00gszf1GMtmqjxa3P1Zd2-K5EjDNtAJ0ewf6eeTbTtulG7SCAeEHG-RwNCLl2AfoRIQuJ3WGYNQLwj-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners approved a series of appointment resolutions after a short debate over whether nominations to boards and commissions should be discussed publicly.

The board voted to adopt resolution 103-25, appointing Fourth District nominee Robert Carlson and Fifth District nominee Leslie Riviola to the Johnson County Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners; resolution 104-25, reappointing Dale K. Hogan and Frederick Starrett to the Planning Commission; and resolution 105-25, appointing Stacy Nell to the county's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coalition.

Commissioner John Ashcraft raised concerns about the practice of calling nominees out during the business session. \"People who volunteer for these boards and commissions deserve our respect,\" Ashcraft said, adding he was \"very uncomfortable\" with treating volunteers as if their fitness or personal matters were being questioned. Commissioner Ashcraft asked the board to review rules for how appointments are handled and said he did not want nominees subjected to weekly scrutiny.

Chairman Kelly and other commissioners noted the appointments were on the public agenda and available on the county web broadcast. Commissioner Ashcraft and Commissioner Brewer both urged a review of the process so volunteers were not discouraged. Brewer said the county relies on hundreds of volunteers across more than 30 boards, councils and commissions and called for a posting period similar to nonprofit boards to gather public input without putting nominees personally on the spot.

The chair moved each resolution and Commissioner Allen Brand seconded them. Roll-call votes recorded unanimous support for the parks and planning commission appointments (7-0). For the DEI coalition appointment, Commissioner Ashcraft said discussion had been truncated and abstained on both the call of the question and the final motion; the tally on resolution 105-25 was six in favor with one abstention, and the resolution passed.

The board did not open the appointment items for public comment; county counsel reminded commissioners that board-appointment rules have long excluded public comment on nominations. Commissioners said they would consider a follow-up conversation on whether the process should change.

The approvals will be entered into the county records and the appointed members will take up their duties according to the commissions' schedules.","The Board of County Commissioners approved three resolutions appointing members to parks and recreation, planning and the county's diversity, equity and inclusion coalition. Commissioners debated whether routine board appointments should receive public comment and one commissioner abstained from the DEI vote, saying discussion had been truncated.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6141742,"County manager gives capital-project update: fleet expansion, MEDDAC, Health Services Building near milestones",69,2217000,2286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5571074-de4cdc16c7d55d14aebab575123ca5c7&start=2217&end=2286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5571074-de4cdc16c7d55d14aebab575123ca5c7/thumbnail_2217000.jpg","/articles/6141742/Johnson-County/Kansas/County-manager-gives-capital-project-update-fleet-expansion-MEDDAC-Health-Services-Building-near-milestones","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141742-533c926cbae5f47f61aec27c9349243d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773577868&Signature=PeVcG6e-K2EzLd1JdrhtOEwiJP6vn47hF8N24OrfUyvT6SQS1a9WR8cqaLsfVz~DosVIISTN8BHPLN3xkpXnG0YJt2iPrRW-jah8G~KPsXgFME3q2P-Ne21oR0WsKBPenIu41rZhGtk-zx7kr6Q2liVTjn6xOtRkfzT5z2H2oS7I5ROf5A8Pflz9CqhuE134-wb2XSYQqTKpMAAg0yGDWesudzcVuoJN7Pb8O6DnnkuCNzSLDs4zNYjLoijokcqrRzpT47NPwZj4SKv6jpO2HNGr-UrcTF1lmO9st0ApJ4CIT6CAWmHZO-iNCBUHC4hexJA16kq3ORD2W6tLESLwoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Johnson County's county manager provided an update on major capital projects, reporting near-completion on multiple facilities and an upcoming groundbreaking for a new Health Services Building.

The fleet building expansion at the Public Works campus is substantially complete (reported as 99 percent) and adds 5,600 square feet with four service bays, modern mechanical equipment, upgraded lighting, vehicle-exhaust systems and two Level 3 chargers to support future electric vehicles. The expansion includes bio-retention basins to support the county's LEED-certified campus and improve stormwater filtration.

The MEDDAC facility in Olathe is scheduled for substantial completion by Sept. 15. The 8,800-square-foot MEDDAC station will house an ambulance and has space for two full ambulance crews. County staff said it will be the first MEDDAC station in the county to incorporate solar power generation; a solar monitoring system will allow facilities staff to see real-time generation and use at ribbon cutting in 2025.

The county manager also announced the Health Services Building groundbreaking scheduled for Aug. 22. The 140,000-square-foot building will house the Department of Health and Environment, Mental Health and a kitchen for the Aging and Human Services Meals on Wheels program. The manager said the capital project report will shift from biweekly to quarterly updates to better match project timelines and the Public Building Commission reporting cadence.

Staff emphasized ongoing coordination between capital planning and operating departments and invited questions about specific project funding or timelines at the Public Building Commission meeting, where funding sources will be highlighted in more detail.","The county manager reported progress on major capital projects including substantial completion of a fleet building expansion, near-completion of a MEDDAC ambulance facility with solar power and an Aug. 22 groundbreaking for a new Health Services Building that will house public health, mental health and a meals kitchen.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6141747,"Youth crisis stabilization center wins national award; county hears one-year operational update",394,2781000,3175000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5571074-de4cdc16c7d55d14aebab575123ca5c7&start=2781&end=3175","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5571074-de4cdc16c7d55d14aebab575123ca5c7/thumbnail_2781000.jpg","/articles/6141747/Johnson-County/Kansas/Youth-crisis-stabilization-center-wins-national-award-county-hears-one-year-operational-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141747-c63eb70d242868e2d717460085276e1f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773577868&Signature=gsaKc~AigG5B7yt8FqyThehRkEtQrtp6vaYPo2y9ynO~-j~ozq5EVADu05fQjvZP5ns-nX91l4311Hm8ftBq0a0Lf5w1rlZKV2i5urGDX~nP51b7piXSFC44KKcbMKbPAwyz7gC~S4QEFF2Ox6y9gw8L49C3y1duHw9oMihFGl-La2F5re4uK3K06C3XOj61tk3bfi9Oa-U6CpmGe7ttqFBavlQDNmtWGq-uQTPNgQW7OaiU6tPsCaDWlPSr5tHjiKQCz5KOOqDRIApTXumiz1kOxllCUAmEnezT8i8qpL7a7p1DkwjsvbzTVwJ7xeJ-HCA7HhfokJiLscAsCtPAdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Johnson County's Youth Crisis Stabilization Center (YCSC) received a National Association of Counties (NACo) achievement award and county and partner staff presented a one-year operational update to the Board of County Commissioners.

Kevin Koobelt, division director of clinical services at the Mental Health Center, described the center's operations and partners, noting the program grew from planning and hiring in early 2024 to opening in September 2024 after securing licensing and staff training. Koobelt said the YCSC has served just over 200 youth through July 30 and was housing youth numbers 205 and 206 at the time of the report. Admissions have come from about 20 cities, with Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa and Gardner among the largest sources.

Staff presented multiple operational statistics: roughly 60 percent of admitted youth already received services from Johnson County Mental Health; 27 percent were involved with the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF), child-in-need-of-care (CINC), police protective custody or the foster-care system; and 13 percent had stepped down from acute hospitalization or detention. About 35 percent of referrals came directly from parents, and 31 percent had law-enforcement contact, encompassing co-responder referrals and juvenile intake pathways. Koobelt said 70 percent of admitted youth had a diagnosed mental-health condition, and roughly 17 percent had a history of substance use. The center reported that females comprised 53 percent of admissions and that 15-year-old females were a prominent subgroup.

Commissioners and staff discussed funding and referral sources. Commissioner Fast asked whether payer sources were predominately Medicaid; Koobelt said about 70 percent of youth were Medicaid-funded, with a mix of private insurance and other sources for the remainder. Commissioners praised the center's partnership model, noting involvement by corrections, law enforcement co-responder teams, county crisis lines, schools, hospitals and area mental-health providers. Several commissioners praised the program's community impact; Commissioner Myers and others noted the award as recognition of Johnson County's broader services and innovation.

County and mental-health staff said the center planned to expand services and would continue coordination with schools, law enforcement and hospitals. The board did not take a vote on the presentation; the report was informational.","The Johnson County Youth Crisis Stabilization Center received a NACo achievement award and staff presented a one-year operational summary showing more than 200 youth served, a majority on Medicaid or already connected to county mental-health services, and referrals from law enforcement, parents and schools.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Johnson County approves new group medical and pharmacy contracts after public comment on cost weighting

Board approves Johnson County Area Agency on Aging 2026'2029 plan after debate on measurable outcomes

Johnson County commissioners approve multiple board appointments after brief dispute over public disclosure

County manager gives capital-project update: fleet expansion, MEDDAC, Health Services Building near milestones

Youth crisis stabilization center wins national award; county hears one-year operational update