Williamson County approves Cigna stop-loss contract after debate over RFP transparency

The Williamson County Board of Commissioners approved Resolution 6 25 1, authorizing the county mayor to execute a stop-loss insurance contract with Cigna Healthcare, after an extended discussion about the procurement process and limited competition.

The vote followed public comment and floor debate in a special-called meeting. Commissioners said stop-loss coverage is necessary because the county is self-insured, but several members said the single bid and how the stop-loss item was presented in the RFP undermined transparency and may have limited competitive responses.

Commissioner David Webb, who explained the item to the commission, said the stop-loss purchase is routine for a self-insured employer and that the competitive process followed state purchasing guidelines. "This is a normal process. The insurance stop loss is something we have every year because we are self insured," Webb said.

The concern among some commissioners centered on how the stop-loss requirement was described in the larger employee-benefits RFP. "When you name an RFP for medical and prescription, stop loss, there are a lot — this is a very competitive area and there are other companies outside of major medical providers that will bid on it and give us a much better rate. So this was hidden,"…