Lee County hopes hiring a new benefits provider will translate to improved service for employees.
The Board of Supervisors acted on nearly a dozen health care-related items during its May 19 meeting in anticipation of the new fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014.
All were approved, including the hiring of P.R.I.M.E. Benefit Systems out of Cedar Rapids.
Benefits Coordinator Brandi Hull says the firm will manage the health savings accounts employees can use for various health care needs.
She says the change was prompted by some issues the county had with a past provider.
“Sometimes our cards aren’t working properly and they have had them shut off. Hopefully with this new company we don’t have those issues.”
Hull says P.R.I.M.E. will also work with the county to reduce employee deductibles and maintain or lower its health insurance premiums.
She says the cost to the county will be the same and efficiency should improve because the firm will handle the work currently done by two separate companies.
The county has also renewed its insurance coverage with Des Moines-based Wellmark.
