Committee Meeting - February 2026

The Calcasieu Parish School Board held an employee benefits committee meeting on February 25, 2026, focusing primarily on health insurance and related procurement matters. Key discussions included a renegotiated pharmacy benefits contract with Express Scripts, projected to save 23.34% or $54.5 million, and enhancements to pharmacy management programs such as advanced utilization management and opioid monitoring. The board reviewed medical and pharmacy spend trends, projecting a 6.8% increase in medical plan costs and a 9% increase in pharmacy costs, with a total projected budget increase of approximately $3.7 million. They also discussed employee premium contributions and plan enrollment shifts, noting an 11% migration to high deductible plans. The committee reviewed dental coverage options, comparing Humana and Sun Life plans, with a recommendation to move to Sun Life due to competitive rates and enhanced benefits. An RFP for an employee health clinic was conducted, but no vendor was selected due to high costs. Motions to approve the recommended medical and dental plans were made, seconded, and passed by the committee. The meeting included discussions on Medicare Advantage plan participation and wellness program updates, but no contract awards beyond the pharmacy and dental plans were finalized during this session.