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Commissioners asked to clarify process after managed‑care proposals arrive late in workers' comp open‑enrollment period
Summary
A dispute over submission routes and competitive fairness surfaced after two Managed Care Organization (MCO) proposals were presented late in the county's open‑enrollment period for Bureau of Workers' Compensation services; human resources and the prosecutor's office had differing guidance on whether a formal bid process is required.
The county's human resources and claims staff briefed commissioners about a contested open‑enrollment period for managed‑care organizations (MCOs) that handle Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation claims management. Two proposals were submitted and discussed at the meeting; some commissioners said they had not received the materials in advance and expressed concern about consistency and fairness.
Human resources staff told the board that state rules do not require the county to solicit bids during the open‑enrollment period and that employees are free to choose an MCO, citing guidance from the Bureau of Workers' Compensation and an opinion from the prosecutor's office. The county representative said, "The Ohio law does not require employers to formally solicit bids or engage in competitive bidding process during the open enrollment period for managed care organizations."
Commissioners, however, said they wanted time to review submitted proposals and asked for a clearer process going forward. One commissioner said the county should give all potential providers a fair chance and noted confusion about who had been contacted and why some firms had direct access to commissioners. Human resources offered to review the two proposals and provide recommendations within 24 hours; commissioners requested a consistent future schedule for receiving such materials so they would not arrive at the eleventh hour.
Ending
The board did not select an MCO at the meeting. Human resources will review the proposals, advise commissioners, and recommend next steps; the commissioners asked staff to develop clearer submission and review procedures for future open‑enrollment periods.
