St. Louis County Executive Sam Page says health insurance for county employees is at risk

CLAYTON — St. Louis County Executive Sam Page this week urged the County Council to approve a controversial new health insurance contract, but the council continued to delay as it seeks answers.

Open enrollment begins Aug. 15 for county employees, but the council has yet to approve United Healthcare's winning bid, Page wrote in a letter to the council dated Monday. That could leave employees without an enrollment option.

"It is imperative that the county obtain these services as soon as possible," Page wrote. "Failure to do so will result in the inability to offer benefits via open enrollment to employees."

But the losing bidder, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Missouri, disputed Page's portrayal of the situation. It's not "an emergency," said Stephanie Vojicic, president of Anthem in Missouri, which currently provides the county's health insurance plan. And the council should take time to examine why United won, she said.

"This request does not allow the council to do their due diligence," Vojicic said during the public comment period at Tuesday night's council meeting.

Anthem's contract expires at the end of September, but the county could extend it at the current cost with "no disruption in care for county employees," according to a letter dated Tuesday from Anthem's attorney, Amy Fehr.

Vojicic said in June that United's proposal will cost taxpayers $4 million to $6 million more, and she said the county changed rules in the middle of the bidding process.

The council held off on advancing the United contract, and set a hearing on the issue for Aug. 13.

Anthem filed a formal complaint on June 13 with the county protesting its choice.

The county's procurement office said the process was fair, and denied Anthem's protest. In the denial, dated July 5, county acting director of procurement Jennifer Keating said it's common to clarify requirements, and that all the bidders were notified fairly. And she said the evaluation criteria were clearly set forth.

"Award is not based on a low bid, but rather best value," Keating wrote.

But Anthem believes the county didn't justify why it rejected the company's protest. Anthem submitted the lowest bid, and has high approval ratings from county employees since it began providing county services in 2017, according to Fehr's letter from this week.

"The denial does not explain why many millions more should be paid, or what value the county and its employees will receive by virtue of adding this additional spending," Fehr wrote. "The denial merely states that the committee selected a proposal it deemed to be the 'best value' without any explanation."

'They blatantly disrespect this council' says St. Louis County Council chair of executive and staff

St. Louis County Council Chair Shalonda Webb, and other council members, tried to hold a hearing about federal funding for some nonprofits, but County Executive Sam Page and his staff didn't attend. Later, Webb tried to block Page from giving a statement at the council meeting; other members moved to allow the statement. Video provided by the county; edited by Beth O'Malley

___

(c)2024 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Visit the St. Louis Post-Dispatch at www.stltoday.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.