Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Benefits Healthcare topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners review proposal to move county health plan from Blue Cross Blue Shield to UnitedHealthcare
Summary
County staff and benefits consultants told commissioners a proposed move would not change employee coverage but could cut premiums and prescription-driven claim costs by roughly $187,000 annually; commissioners asked for time to complete checks and references.
Linn County commissioners heard a presentation June 16 from benefits consultants (USI) about unbundling the county’s pharmacy benefit and moving health-plan administration from Blue Cross Blue Shield to a UnitedHealthcare-administered arrangement.
Consultants said prescription drugs — especially high-cost specialty medications — account for a large share of claims. By changing pharmacy benefit managers and using patient-assistance programs for specialty medications, the consultants said the county could conservatively reduce annual claims costs by about $187,000; an additional $30,000 in savings was identified by eliminating a consultant fee in the proposed structure.
What would change for employees: Consultants and county staff said the plan design, employee contributions and in‑network access would remain the same; members would not see a change to deductibles or the core benefit structure. The consultants said pharmacies and drug availability would largely remain consistent and that UnitedHealthcare’s national provider network should avoid significant disruption to provider access. One specific change noted: a biosimilar for Humira would be used where appropriate.
Questions and follow-up: Commissioners asked about timing (the current renewal is August 1), whether providers would remain in-network and whether other public employers had transitioned smoothly. The consultants said multiple counties and municipalities have made similar moves and reported a near-seamless transition; commissioners requested references and additional details about the captive stop-loss/transplant protections noted in the proposal.
Next steps: Commissioners asked staff to marshal references and bring a motion-level recommendation back next week. Consultants will provide additional documentation and named references for other public-sector clients; staff will confirm administrative details for an August 1 renewal if the board chooses to proceed.
