School board approves insurance change to end some direct-access clinic contracts, expand Achieve Health services

The Eau Claire Area School Board voted to approve the administration’s recommended Option 2 in an insurance update that will end the district’s relationship with direct-access clinics affiliated with Marshfield and expand services through Achieve Health.

The action, presented as the night’s single action item, followed extended discussion by board members about whether the change would preserve employees’ ongoing relationships with their primary-care physicians and whether referrals to specialty care within specific hospital systems would be maintained. The administration said the district expects the same or greater access to care through Achieve Health and through in‑network referral pathways.

“Direct Access is specific for primary care,” said the presenter from the administration, explaining the district’s intent to improve care navigation and appointment availability; the presenter said Achieve Health offers 30‑minute and 60‑minute appointments compared with shorter visit times at some clinics. Diane Hanchke, identified as the district payroll and benefits lead, joined administration remarks about referral connections and onboarding plans.

Board members pressed administration on whether former direct‑access physicians who had admitting or ordering privileges inside Marshfield Clinic would retain the ability to refer patients for specialty procedures. “Until I understand that these providers at Achieve will have the same access to specialty care within Marshfield Clinic and the same ordering and admitting privileges within the Marshfield system, I don’t think I can support it,” said one board member expressing concern about narrowing staff access to specialty referral networks.

Administrators said they had negotiated multiple direct connections for specialty access and a care‑navigation process for specialty referrals; they also noted Achieve Health offered a temporary 60 percent fee reduction for November and December during the onboarding ramp‑up. The administration said a minimum 60‑day notice was required to end the prior clinic relationships and that the district had provided substantially more notice.

On a roll call the motion to approve Option 2 carried; commissioners recorded in the roll call as voting yes were Commissioner DeMent, Commissioner Farrar and Commissioner Nordine. The motion was recorded as approved and administration said it will provide onboarding updates and periodic reports on access, including intended updates in November and December.