Pine County votes to end Blue Cross care-coordination delegation; three staff to be reassigned to mandated services

The Pine County Board approved a motion on May 20 to terminate the county's care-coordination delegation agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield effective at the end of the year.

Health and Human Services Director Becky Fossum told the board the county has provided Blue Cross care-coordination services through three staff members but is facing growing waiting lists and mandated work, including MNChoices assessments and home- and community-based-services requirements. She said the department intends to reassign those three employees to mandated services and that Blue Cross will need to contract with another provider to continue delegated care-coordination services for its members.

“We'd like to modify our agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield to no longer provide that service, redirect those resources that we have to mandated programs, including MNChoices assessment and home and community based services,” Fossum said.

Commissioners moved and seconded the termination motion and the board voted in favor; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript. The action was presented as administrative reallocation of staff rather than a staffing layoff: Fossum said staff will be shifted to county-mandated assessments and supports.

No further formal actions or contractor appointments were made at the meeting; the board’s vote ends the county’s delegation arrangement with Blue Cross as of year-end and places responsibility on Blue Cross to secure a new delegate for its care-coordination work.