Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Employee Benefits Contracts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Trustees approve July 1 benefit-contract renewals with Blue Cross, Uprise and Ryan Specialty
Summary
The trust approved renewal of network, employee assistance and stop-loss contracts to take effect July 1, 2025, choosing a one-year Blue Cross access fee to preserve flexibility while staff pursues TPA procurement.
The San Luis Employee Benefits Trust approved contract renewals that will take effect July 1, 2025, selecting a one-year access-fee arrangement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and renewing contracts with Uprise Health (employee assistance program) and Ryan Specialty Benefits (stop-loss insurance), trustees and staff said.
"This present this item is to present the new contracts that will take effect July 1, 2025," said Maria Barajas, acting human resources manager. Barajas reviewed three options for the medical-network access fee: a one-year agreement at $22.50 per employee per month (option 1); a two-year agreement at $22.50 the first year and $23.00 the second year (option 2); and a two-year agreement at $22.75 per employee per month for both years (option 3).
Barajas said the benefit consultant recommended option 1 to preserve flexibility while the trust conducts procurement for a third-party administrator. "If we go out to request proposals for the TPA and the TPA may work with different networks, then we may have to change the Blue Cross Blue Shield," she said. Selecting a one-year contract allows the trust to renegotiate if necessary.
Barajas also presented the employee assistance program through Uprise Health, a three-year agreement with an administrative service fee of $1.91 per employee per month; she said that rate decreased from $2.39 under the prior agreement. For stop-loss coverage, Barajas said the individual stop-loss premium increased by 16 percent and that there is a potential laser of $200,000; the stop-loss contract is renewed annually.
Board members asked for a comparison spreadsheet before approving contracts; Barajas said a spreadsheet comparison had not been prepared. Trustees nevertheless moved to approve the agreements. The motion to approve the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona contract under option 1, to approve the Uprise Health agreement, and to approve Ryan Specialty Benefits as stop-loss carrier passed on an affirmative voice vote.
No amendments or conditions were added to the contract approvals at the meeting.
