“We had one, which this individual is no longer on the plan, but through December claims just for that individual were about $687,000,” Zavacky said. “The next highest claimant is about $270,000, and then we’ve got a premature baby that’s about $97,000.”
Zavacky says brand name prescription drugs are one of the factors that are driving costs. One script for the premature baby costs almost $5,000 every time it is filled. Zavacky and local insurance agent Dave Bennett plan to conduct a work session with the council and commissioners soon to talk about ways to reduce costs next year. They anticipate a 25-percent increase in the county’s costs due to the implementation of the federal health care law. Zavacky suggested making generic drugs mandatory and increasing the out-of-pocket cost for the most expensive name-brand medications as ways to save money.
