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Trustees hear detailed briefing on joining Bridged Health Alliance; administrators say long-term savings likely
Summary
District staff reviewed a proposal to join the Bridge/Bridged Health Alliance insurance trust, outlining projected first-year savings, changes to pharmacy management, and protections for the district's $10 million reserve; trustees pressed for details on formularies, appeals costs and legal review.
The Missoula County Public Schools board on Monday received an information-only briefing on joining the Bridged (Bridge) Health Alliance, a multi-district insurance aggregator that administrators said could lower long-term health-care costs for the district and expand coverage options for part-time employees.
"Bridal has projected that we'll have $1,800,000 in savings in year 1," said Micah, the superintendent leading the presentation, noting the district's late start would reduce the near-term savings estimate to about $1,540,000. Micah also told trustees the district's stop‑loss premium rose about $600,000 this year and that Bridge's pooled membership exceeds 16,000 employee lives.
Trustees and staff discussed pharmacy-network changes from Navitus to Capital Rx (referred to in the presentation as Judy Rx/CapRx) and the potential disruption of drugs moving in or out of formulary. "There were 46 medications or drugs that weren't covered under Judy Rx that are covered under Cap Rx or Navitus," Micah said, adding that most were generic, low-cost items but that the district could choose an open or closed formulary.
Several trustees emphasized protections for the district's locally held reserves and autonomy. "The $10,000,000 that everyone talks about that's in our trust, we do not hand that over to Bridge," one trustee said, noting MCPS would retain control of its trust and premium-setting. Trustees also asked about appeal fees, which staff said would rise from $250 to $400 per appeal under the new prescription manager; administration said independent consultants (PRISM) and legal counsel have vetted the agreements.
Administration noted additional benefits: expanded hospital networks under the negotiated Allegiance contracts, an essential-access plan that would give employees working 20–29 hours an option at no cost, and a potential reduction in stop‑loss cost if the district joined Bridge. Staff recommended more review time to resolve remaining fine-print items and said that final action would be scheduled for a future meeting once outstanding questions were answered.
