Broker team says rebates and plan changes kept county health costs well below national trend; larger savings options flagged

The county’s broker team told commissioners on Aug. 4 that Henry County’s self‑funded health plan has been managed to limit premium growth and capture sizable pharmacy rebate credits.

Chris Clark, a principal with EPIC’s Atlanta office, said the county’s current UnitedHealthcare arrangement produced cumulative increases well below national trends. “We estimate 15 to 20 percent of your health claims could potentially be saved by a structured approach using that strategy,” Clark said, referring to reference‑based pricing as a possible, but disruptive, option. Clark also described the plan’s rebate structure: “The $45 per month employee credit adds up to about 1000000 dollars a year,” and staff cited additional rebate credits of about $1,600,000 and $2,500,000 in recent plan years.

Speakers said those rebates generally appear as credits against administration or claim costs rather than direct checks. Commissioners pressed staff on whether the county actually receives cash payments and on the operational tradeoffs of alternatives such as reference‑based pricing or carving out specialty drug programs. Clark warned that some approaches can create “friction” for employees and could lead to balance‑billing disputes with hospitals. The board asked staff to explore options, consider an employee survey to measure acceptance, and said county leadership would decide how urgently to pursue mid‑year changes.

The presentation included a pledge from the broker team to provide supporting invoices and a willingness to brief commissioners in more detail. No policy change was adopted at the meeting; commissioners directed staff to follow up with additional analysis and stakeholder engagement.