Dunn County reports higher savings from care-navigation program; late insurance claims explained

Dunn County staff told the Committee on Administration that the county's care-navigation service produced higher net savings in 2024 after the county introduced cash incentives for employees who followed recommended lower-cost options.

The county's HR presenter said the net savings for 2024 was $239,000, compared with about $60,000 in 2023. "We saw a dip in the 2nd year. So I think it was really timely that the committee and the board approved those cash incentives...and I think we're seeing what we'd like to see," the HR presenter said, summarizing utilization and the impact of incentives.

Staff explained the care-navigation service helps plan nonemergency imaging and elective procedures by offering best-value options and, for 2024, added a cash incentive for employees who followed the recommendation and completed a survey. The presenter said increased outreach, including in-person meetings during open enrollment, likely raised utilization and that an October spike may reflect employees scheduling procedures before a deductible reset.

The HR presenter also reviewed the county's self-funded health insurance summary and explained why the net row showed a roughly $1.1 million negative balance in the packet: "In 2024, we paid about $1,100,000 worth of claims that actually were serviced in 2023. ... that 1,100,000 in late claims ... was accounted for in the 2023 audit report as a liability," the presenter said, adding the 2023 audit had reflected the liability and that 2024 was expected to close roughly even once stop-loss reimbursements and pharmacy rebates are collected.

Committee members asked for additional utilization details (for example, how many WIC participants use the breastfeeding peer-counseling service); staff said those counts were not immediately available but could be provided later.