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Board hears plan to pilot employee health-and-wellness program after $50,000 startup check; EAP proposed as first service
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Summary
Staff said a broker procured a $50,000 startup check to pilot a county employee health-and-wellness program; an employee assistance program (EAP) with additional sessions and initial annual cost estimates of about $12,000 were discussed, with staff proposing slippage (returned insurance funds) to sustain the program.
County staff told commissioners a broker had secured a $50,000 check to kick-start a county employee health-and-wellness program aimed at boosting preventive care and slowing rising claims costs.
"Jake was able to, actually procure a $50,000 starting fee check to for health and wellness to start funding a health and wellness program," staff said. The funding would be used to pilot activities such as onsite blood-work clinics, a public-health partnership for a health fair and an employee assistance program (EAP) to expand behavioral-health access beyond the county’s current three-visit insurance limit.
Staff estimated that maintaining core services could cost about $12,000 annually and suggested using slippage — money returned to the county when employees depart mid-month and insurance premiums are recovered — to fund recurring costs. Staff reported historical slippage returns of roughly $35,000–$45,000 in a year, and noted the county currently has low participation in annual preventive care (under 10% of employees use preventive-care services annually).
Commissioners and staff discussed incentive options (paid time off for testing, small cash payments on proof of screening) and legal/privacy concerns, and staff recommended bringing the insurance broker in for a dedicated presentation before the Board makes a final decision. The EAP item was removed from the consent agenda to allow the broker to present program details and first-quarter insurance-reporting before the Board votes.
What happens next: staff will invite the broker to present program details and return with a proposed implementation plan and cost breakdown for Board consideration.
