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Board rejects Ochsner Digital Medicine renewal after member questions program performance
Summary
The St. Charles Parish Public School Board voted 5–3 on June 23 to reject renewal of the Ochsner Digital Medicine employee wellness program, citing concerns about performance and cost; administrators said the move reduces district expenses by roughly $125,000 (approx.).
The St. Charles Parish Public School Board voted 5–3 on June 23 to reject a one-year renewal of Ochsner Digital Medicine, a remote monitoring and clinical-support program for employees with chronic conditions.
The administration recommended renewing the program for one year using available UMR wellness credits to offset costs. During discussion, a board member objected, saying the program “has not performed as intended or expected,” and added, “I do not know how we can justify spending any amount of money on this renewal, especially given our financial circumstances. For that reason, I’m out and I will be voting against this item.” The board member’s statement is in the public transcript; the board ultimately voted against renewal.
Board leaders recorded the outcome as a 5–3 failure. The chair noted the failed renewal reduces district expenditures by an estimated $125,000, a figure listed in the meeting materials and described in the discussion as an approximation tied to the number of employees participating; the chair also noted the district retains certain wellness credits that can still be used.
Administrators framed the program as supporting employees with hypertension and type 2 diabetes and said it had previously produced participation and disease-management outcomes that exceeded national benchmarks. Opponents on the board disputed that the program met expectations and questioned whether any district funds should be committed to its renewal despite available credits.
The motion to renew was moved and seconded during the personnel and policy committee’s recommendations; the motion failed on the board floor. The immediate fiscal effect was described by the chair as reduced district spending for the coming year and continued availability of some vendor credits.
Next steps: the board did not approve a renewal; district staff indicated they will reconcile available credits with vendors and may continue exploring alternative wellness supports through existing vendor relationships.
