The Berrien County Board of Commissioners is forming a work group to seek a meeting with Blue Cross Blue Shield, the county’s health insurance provider, to try to maintain an employee benefit set to be cut at the end of the year.
Speaking to the board Thursday, chair Mac Elliott said coverage for GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic for treating obesity will soon be dropped after commissioners were told maintaining it would cost the county another $1 million next year. However, Elliott said given the host of more costly health problems that obesity can cause, an effort should be made to keep that coverage.
“Obesity is probably the single biggest controllable risk factor,” Elliott said. “So, we’re going to pay for the heart surgery, we’re going to pay for the gastric bypass, we’re going to pay for the joint replacements, and we’re going to pay for them to be off work. So, our productivity curve declines, or can we find a way to help people make positive lifestyle choices?”
Elliott suggested a meeting with Blue Cross Blue Shield.
“Say, look, we want to find a way to make things work. It’s great if you’re telling us you can save money by doing this, but tell us what are our options if we want to continue doing something?”
Elliott said if something can’t be worked out, perhaps a new insurer should be explored. He also suggested continuing the employee Ozempic coverage for six months while an arrangement with Blue Cross Blue Shield is sought.
Several commissioners balked at that second proposal, saying every effort needs to be made to have a balanced budget next year, something that’s being worked on right now. In the end, it was decided only to seek the meeting with the insurer. For now, it looks like the Ozempic coverage for obesity will end December 31.
Meanwhile, commissioners have set a target of November 20 to adopt the next county budget.
