Nick Lees proposes health plan cost-cutting strategies to county officials

Scotts Bluff County is exploring significant cost-saving measures for its health insurance plan, following a presentation by Nick Lees from Next Gen Benefit Solutions during the recent County Commissioners Meeting. Lees proposed a comprehensive review of the county's health plan, suggesting that the county could save nearly $1 million annually by restructuring its contracts and utilizing more cost-effective healthcare providers.

Lees highlighted that the county currently spends approximately $3.7 million a year on health insurance, with about $2.9 million allocated to claims. He emphasized the need for transparency in healthcare costs, noting that many local governments are unaware of the actual expenses associated with each claim. By comparing local costs to Medicare rates, Lees argued that the county is overpaying for healthcare services, often by hundreds of percent.

His recommendations included issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to engage an independent consultant who could provide unbiased advice on optimizing the county's health plan. This approach could lead to substantial savings without negatively impacting employee benefits. Lees estimated that if the county adopted his suggestions, it could return about $1,000 to each employee through lower premiums.

The discussion also touched on the importance of balancing budget increases with taxpayer expectations. Some commissioners expressed concerns about arbitrary budget increases, advocating for a more strategic approach to managing county finances. The meeting concluded with a consensus to further explore Lees' proposals and potentially involve the county's insurance committee in future discussions.

As the county considers these recommendations, the focus remains on ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently while maintaining quality healthcare for employees. The next steps will involve setting up meetings with the insurance committee to delve deeper into the proposed changes and assess their feasibility.