CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY COMMISSION UPDATE

The Cape Girardeau County Commission announced Monday the recent approval of a county employees health insurance plan, which provides improved benefits and a savings of $118,729 over 1995's premium cost. The county has provided employee insurance coverage since 1980.

County Clerk Rodney Miller coordinated the bidding process to secure an improved health plan with substantial financial savings to the county. Miller has considerable experience in dealing with various insurance plans. He has served as state chairman of the Missouri Association of Counties insurance committee since 1985 and chairman of the M.A.C. Workers Comp board since 1987.

The statewide county self-insurance pool has worked very well for Cape Girardeau County. In 1995, Cape County received a refund of $13,793 from MOPERM and a refund of $8,631 from the workers comp pool.

Cape Girardeau County has tried to select the best insurance plans to serve the needs of their employees, but the soaring cost of health care has caused serious budget considerations.

The Missouri Consolidated Health Plan was made available to public entities in Missouri in July. The HMO plan was part of the competitive bidding process, which is required by state law.

"As Cape County government plans for capital improvements or new road developments, there must also be planning to attract qualified employees, to retain valuable employees and to motivate employees to serve the citizens in the most effective way possible," stated Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones. Associate Commissioners Larry Bock and Joe Gambill provided valuable input into the insurance selection process.

"Health benefits to employees is certainly a big issue in planning for an effective work force," Bock said.

"Effective use of the county tax dollar is most efficiently rewarded where strategic planning anticipates the future while delivering the services required today," Gambill added.

Clerk Rodney Miller summed everything up when he said "this commonsense approach to health coverage for government bodies by the state of Missouri is a prime example of government and private industry working together to serve the best interests of the citizens of Missouri."

The Cape Girardeau County Commission submits a monthly article reviewing recent accomplishments.