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Board awards employee health TPA contract to Anthem after competitive RFP
Summary
After a multi‑month RFP and committee review, the board approved a five‑year award to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nevada to administer medical, prescription, dental and wellness services for the district’s 12,000‑member self‑funded plan; the estimated contract value is $15,569,289.12 over the initial term.
The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees unanimously awarded its request‑for‑proposal (RFP) for third‑party administrator (TPA) services to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nevada, approving a five‑year initial term beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
District benefits staff described a formal RFP process run by purchasing with broad representation from bargaining units, HR, finance, legal and an outside insurance consultant. “We received four proposals, interviewed finalists and the committee ultimately selected Anthem,” said Andrea Sullivan, senior director of supply chain management. The recommended scope covers medical, prescription (including PBM coordination), dental, wellness, employee assistance and claims administration; the district estimated the initial contract value at $15,569,289.12.
Trustees disclosed plan participation with several noting they are enrolled in district coverage. Trustee Smith pressed staff about pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) arrangements and described a personal case in which formulary/program changes created a serious member hardship. "I would never want anybody in WCSD... to be put in a situation where discontinuation of a life‑critical medication is driven by rebate chasing," Smith said, urging careful contract language and oversight.
Staff explained Anthem will administer benefits and will work with a PBM (called Carelon in the presentation) and that the contract includes language requiring notice and stewardship over formulary and pharmacy program changes. The board moved and seconded the award motion and voted to approve the contract award unanimously.
What happens next: staff will finalize contract negotiations, implement vendor integrations (including Oracle), and transition administration with attention to PBM oversight and member communications.
