Mahaska approves prescription plan change for county employees

Kyle Ocker, The Oskaloosa Herald, Iowa
·2 min read

Apr. 1—OSKALOOSA — A new prescription plan that will be offered starting July 1 to Mahaska County employees could save both the employees and the county some money for higher-tier prescription drugs.

Supervisors approved the change, which was also endorsed by the county's insurance committee, during their meeting on Monday. The plan is a new option for the county for the coming fiscal year called Prudent RX.

Recipients would need to receive their prescriptions through a mail service, but would not have to pay a copay to receive it. Meanwhile, the county would also see a reduction in their costs, as well.

Prudent RX will begin reaching out to employees who are receiving prescriptions and could benefit from moving to the service in June ahead of a July launch. There will also be continuous monitoring to notify employees going forward, as well. The employees are not required to take part in the program, but they would then pay 30% of the out-of-pocket costs for that drug.

The county's insurance contract renews July 1, and this change will be included at that time.

In other action:

— Supervisors approved a five-year plan and secondary roads budget, both of which need to be reported to the Iowa Department of Transportation annually to comply with various funding requirements. Supervisor Chairman Mark Groenendyk expressed concerns with the secondary roads department funds balance being drawn down to roughly $700,000 over the next fiscal year, and he felt a minimum of $1.5 million should be left in the fund each year. The approximately $700,000 fund balance is an estimate that assumes projects come in at budget, all projects are completed in the fiscal year as currently scheduled, and all expected revenues are received. County officials will be able to monitor the balance and could opt to delay projects, or projects could come in under budget, to improve the fund balance situation over the upcoming fiscal year.

— General Technology Assessment with South Iowa Area Crime Commission which found some information technology security concerns. The commission is comprised of Mahaska County as well as the counties of Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Monroe, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington and Wayne. Each are being asked to commit $1,000 per year to address the commission's concerns.

Kyle Ocker is the editor of the Ottumwa Courier and the Oskaloosa Herald. He can be reached at kocker@ottumwacourier.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, and on Threads @Kyle_Ocker.