Berrien County delays final action on GLP‑1 coverage; board to meet Blue Cross Blue Shield and purge employee mailing list

The Berrien County Board of Commissioners discussed whether to maintain or eliminate county health-plan coverage for GLP‑1 medications — drugs prescribed for type 2 diabetes that are also used off-label for weight loss — and directed staff to seek options from the county’s third‑party administrator, Blue Cross Blue Shield.

A commissioner reviewed a current resolution that would end coverage for GLP‑1 drugs at the end of the calendar year except when prescribed by a physician for type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. Because employees are currently making open-enrollment choices and because commissioners wanted more information on clinical, budgetary and procurement implications, the board agreed to form a small working group comprised of board chairs and vice chairs, staff (including the county…