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Board authorizes Excel Group review of county health plans and signs HIPAA business associate agreement
Summary
Bremer County approved a $2,000 contract with the Excel Group to conduct a market analysis of county health plans and signed a HIPAA business associate agreement to allow Excel access to claims history; the board also discussed property/liability values and deductible options with the Excel Group regarding county equipment and buildings.
Supervisors authorized a limited engagement with the Excel Group to perform a market analysis and benchmarking of Bremer County’s health insurance plans at a flat fee not to exceed $2,000. Board members and staff said the engagement is a one‑time review this year to determine whether broader procurement or plan changes are warranted.
The board also executed a business associate agreement enabling Excel to access claims history and plan details under HIPAA privacy requirements; staff explained Excel needs those data to conduct the review. Separately, the group and staff discussed property and liability insurance values for county equipment — including whether to continue full coverage for high-value items such as a $300,000 grader — and considered the tradeoffs of higher deductibles and selective coverage for outlying equipment.
Why it matters: The Excel Group review could lead to changes in the cost or design of employee benefits. The HIPAA agreement is a prerequisite for Excel to receive claims data needed for benchmarking. The property/liability conversation could affect county risk exposure and future premium costs.
Next steps: Staff will coordinate with Excel on data collection under the business associate agreement and report findings to the board; any recommendation to change insurance coverage or benefits would return to the board for approval.
