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Fulton County commissioners cancel Apex contract, hire Creative Benefit Solutions for employee benefits
Summary
Fulton County commissioners voted July 17 to terminate their contract with benefits adviser Apex and contract with Creative Benefit Solutions, citing communication problems, contract complexities and a compliance review tied to the Consolidated Appropriations Act.
Fulton County commissioners voted July 17 to cancel their contract with benefits adviser Apex and move the county’s employee-benefit advisory services to Creative Benefit Solutions.
The vote followed a staff presentation raising contract irregularities, a compliance issue tied to the Consolidated Appropriations Act and concerns about missing claims reporting to the county auditor. Commissioners voted 3-0 in favor of termination and transition.
Kathy, a staff member, told the commissioners the county should “move our service provider benefit provider from Apex to Creative Benefit Solutions.” She said the switch would allow the county to “step right into your relationship with UMR,” the county’s third-party administrator, and continue stop-loss coverage with Sun Life through the upcoming renewal.
A benefits consultant (identified in the meeting as Rick) said the transition has “some complexities due to the contract arrangement with Apex” but added, “Long story short, at the end of the day, of course, the county can decide who represents them as an adviser for your benefits.” The consultant also flagged a separate compliance matter requiring a future decision by the board under the Consolidated Appropriations Act.
Staff told commissioners the county auditor had not been given claims reporting from Apex since the auditor position was filled, limiting the county’s ability to review claims trends and control costs. The consultant said restoring regular reporting would be an early priority and that preliminary budget numbers would be provided soon to support upcoming budget work.
Meeting participants described practical contract complications. Staff said the Apex contract appears to show an effective date of Aug. 25 and that Apex expects 90 days’ payment after formal notification; county staff said they will not charge the county extra for the 90-day runout. Staff also described the existing contract as offering only “one off-ramp per year.”
Kathy said the county attorney had reviewed the plan to pursue a new contract and “was on board with it.” Commissioners then voted to cancel the Apex contract and contract with Creative Benefit Solutions, citing a breach of contract as the reason for termination.
The discussion also included a technical example: staff said Apex recommended a Medicare-plus pricing approach used in a larger jurisdiction (they named Noble County) that “does not work in small counties” because it can exclude rural hospitals and create balance-billing risks for members.
The session concluded with the formal motion, a second and a 3-0 recorded vote in favor of termination and transition. Staff said they will coordinate the runout period, begin the transition to Creative Benefit Solutions and complete the reporting and budgeting tasks noted during the meeting.
No ordinance, statute citation beyond the Consolidated Appropriations Act, or additional budget appropriation was adopted during the meeting; the decision recorded was the commissioners’ direction to terminate the Apex contract and retain Creative Benefit Solutions as the county’s benefits adviser.
