The City Council approved multiple employee‑benefit items as part of the consent agenda on Oct. 20, including a vendor for bundled‑surgery services, an expanded employee assistance program (EAP), and stop‑loss insurance details.

Tashkamatra (HR director) explained a $48.46 per‑enrolled‑employee‑per‑month fee that covers components of the city’s employee insurance design; she said the cost is shared between employees and the city but the exact split varies by plan and was not specified during the public discussion. Councilmembers requested staff to provide the exact premium split and plan‑level costs after the meeting.

Staff described the bundled surgery program with Direct Healthcare LLC (branded in the discussion as Lantern Health Specialties) as a one‑stop referral option intended to streamline referrals and reduce claims costs under the city’s self‑funded plan. Staff said some plan designs (EPO/co‑pay plans) can allow waivers of certain cost‑sharing while the high‑deductible HSA plans would not waive the deductible but could waive coinsurance in some cases.

The city’s employee assistance program contract with CompSAC (Comp Psych) was approved; staff said the new program increases free sessions from six to eight per incident and offers virtual options and first‑responder resources with specialized providers able to respond to critical incidents. CompSAC is Chicago‑based with local network coverage.

Council also approved specific stop‑loss (specific claim) coverage for large claims, described as triggering at claims costing $750,000 or more; staff presented the stop‑loss premium line (noted in the packet as $32.63 per employee per month) that covers risk beyond that threshold.

Staff committed to provide council with additional clarifications on plan design and exact employee/city premium splits where the meeting discussion left the details unspecified.