District hears two vendor proposals to address rising health‑insurance claims

The Highlands County School Board met in a workshop July 28 to hear two vendors — Foundation Risk Partners and FBMC Benefits Management — offer contract‑effectuation services intended to curb rising health‑insurance costs.

A board member opened the workshop by detailing recent losses and the district's exposure: "the 1 week last week was $1,200,000 claim in a 1 week, period," and said the district transferred just over $3,000,000 from the general fund for insurance. Fleet, the trust coordinating vendor contracts, introduced two approved vendors under Fleet's master services agreement that could be given a Highlands‑specific exhibit if the board directs staff to pursue a contract.

Daniel Tillman of Foundation Risk Partners said his firm would focus on education, population management and an employee advocacy line called "Benefits VIP" (an extended‑hours case‑management phone service) to reduce inappropriate or expensive care choices and guide employees to lower‑cost clinic options. "We're a top 20 broker in the country," Tillman said, framing the proposal as stewardship and hands‑on enrollment support rather than a purely enrollment‑only vendor offering.

Ray Griffin of FBMC emphasized boots‑on‑the‑ground enrollment teams and a bilingual 8 a.m.–8 p.m. call center; FBMC proposed funding an on‑site account manager from commissions on voluntary ancillary products while charging nothing for medical in year one unless Fleet advises otherwise. "We bring in our own enrollment team every year," Griffin said, describing a model of year‑round on‑site support to educate staff and reduce duplicate or inappropriate coverage.

Board members pressed both vendors on measurable year‑one savings and implementation logistics. Tillman cautioned that year‑one work is primarily education and population management and that immediate measurable savings were unlikely without more invasive changes such as changing admin vendors or BIN admin midyear. FBMC said it would assess results after an initial open‑enrollment cycle and seek to place a full‑time on‑site person once commissions permit.

The board discussed next steps with Fleet staff, who explained the contract would be held by Fleet as a master contract with a Highlands exhibit defining scope, and that the board and district staff would decide which vendor to request under Fleet's process. No formal procurement decision or contract award was made at the July 28 workshop; vendors and Fleet left the board with materials and a description of the evaluation and implementation process.