Potter County’s Commissioners Court approved on July 28 the insurance advisory committee’s recommendations for fiscal‑year 2025–26 employee benefit renewals and authorized the county judge to sign the necessary documents as they become available.

County staff and the Fairley Group, the county’s benefits consultant, recommended continuing the county’s direct contract with Northwest Texas Hospital and retaining UMR as third‑party administrator wrapped with UnitedHealthcare. Fairley Group staff said the committee voted to accept a three‑year rate guarantee offered by UMR that would hold medical, stop‑loss and certain administrative costs flat if the county signs the agreement.

The committee also recommended implementing the PharosRx Navigator pharmacy program to manage high‑cost and specialty medications and to allow the county to receive 100% of prescription rebates, the presenter said. For ancillary benefits, the committee recommended moving dental, vision and life lines from MetLife to Renaissance and offering both a high and a low dental option to reduce premium costs for employees who do not need the higher tier. Mutual of Omaha was recommended to remain for short‑term and long‑term disability, with some accident, critical‑illness and hospital products moving under that carrier.

County staff said the committee voted to recommend no increases to employee premium contributions for the coming year. The court approved the benefit renewals by voice vote, 4‑0.

Separately, the court approved an agreement to continue Fairley Group as the county’s insurance consultant. Fairley Group’s engagement had expired May 31; the insurance advisory committee had recommended extending the consulting relationship. The court approved an extension and authorized the county judge to sign the agreement.

Why it matters: The renewals preserve the county’s current medical network and aim to control rising claims costs through fixed‑rate stop‑loss arrangements, pharmacy management and selective vendor changes for ancillary coverage. The broker extension formalizes the county’s consulting relationship for benefits procurement and administration.

No budget figures for the total projected county premium or aggregate fiscal impact were provided in the meeting minutes beyond the committee’s statement that no premium increases were recommended for employees.