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Wichita County hires consultant for employee health plan RFP, creates benefits committee
Summary
The court authorized up to $25,000 to contract with Health IQ LLC to develop a request for proposals for the county's employee health insurance and created a multi-office employee benefits committee to guide the process toward a target renewal decision date.
Wichita County Commissioners on Tuesday authorized a consultant to help design a request for proposals for the county’s employee health insurance program and approved a committee to develop and evaluate options.
The court voted 5-0 to authorize the county judge to sign a consultant agreement with Health IQ LLC and to approve payment of up to $25,000 from Department 409 for creation of an RFP and related services. Commissioners also approved the formation of an employee benefits committee consisting of County Auditor Matt Davis, Collector Tom Smythe, First Assistant Auditor Mike Sloan, Benefits Coordinator Sonia Labrie, Ryan Sudall from the county clerk’s office and Sergeant Eric Wish of the sheriff’s office.
Kelly Fristoe, president of Health IQ LLC, presented to the court and urged a deliberate, data-driven procurement that examines plan design, pharmacy benefit-manager practices, direct-provider contracting and total cost transparency. “When you know better, you can do better,” Fristoe told the court, arguing the county could pursue options that lower costs while improving employee access and outcomes.
County officials explained the urgency: the county spends roughly $5 million annually on health premiums and the benefits renewal cycle means proposals must be in hand well before the county’s September 1 renewal deadline. Fristoe proposed a timetable that would return RFP responses by late July and support a selection process for a plan effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Commissioners discussed the need for specialized expertise to draft a comprehensive RFP and to review complex vendor contracts. The consultant will help craft the RFP, structure outcome-based evaluation criteria, and assist in reviewing contract terms that can shift costs to employers and employees. The court emphasized the consultant’s role is not a criticism of current services from the Association of Counties pool but an effort to evaluate alternatives and fiduciary responsibilities.
The employee benefits committee — approved 5-0 — will conduct detailed pre-bid work, serve as an internal review body and reduce the number of times the full commissioners court must post and hold public sessions on detailed technical matters.
The court also discussed potential pilot or direct-contracting models used elsewhere and indicated a preference for an RFP that rewards price transparency and measurable value to plan participants.
