Township hires new health care benefit company

Following issuing a request for qualifications (RFQ) for a new organization to provide professional healthcare consultant services, Bloomfield Township trustees unanimously approved the recommendation of staff to work with Cornerstone Agency at their meeting on Monday, December 10.

Elizabeth Parrott, human resource and benefits administrator for the township, explained that an RFQ was sent out in August to identify companies qualified to provide healthcare and benefit consulting services. She said there were 38 companies which visited the RFQ, and nine submitted a request for proposal (RFP).

“Of those, we got four back, and of those we did informal interviews,” Parrott said. “Of those, we recommend Cornerstone Agency.”

The township's RFP requested that respondents have a minimum of 10 years experience providing healthcare consulting services in the Michigan municipal market or with other related agencies, authorities or commissions. They also should have current healthcare broker or consulting clients that are Michigan municipalities. They were asked to submit evidence of their qualifications to provide their services and to perform comprehensive analysis of the township's current programs, and to recommend and facilitate future changes.

Trustee Dave Buckley asked what were the kinds of things they were looking for, and why.

“The township looked at the benefits, and the money and how they could give employees the best possible benefits for the money,” Parrott said.

She said the contract would begin January 1, 2019, with benefit renewal in April.

“A big part is d ealing with the unions,” supervisor Leo Savoie said. “They work with 37 other municipalities, so they have a very thorough understanding of the issues. It's something I have not seen since I have been here – that depth of understanding. It would be handled directly by them. They do an outstanding job, and would help us get a real handle on the rising costs of the last five, six, seven years.”

Trustees approved the recommendation, 6-0, with treasurer Brian Kepes absent.