Special Board of Commissioners Meeting | September 28, 2026

The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting on September 28, 2026, primarily to discuss health care plan design options and related budget impacts. The board reviewed three options concerning coverage of GLP-1 medications, which are costly anti-obesity drugs, and their effect on the employee benefits fund. Option three, which included eliminating GLP-1 coverage under the plan but increasing employer contributions to employees' Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), was adopted. This option is projected to save approximately $500,000 annually in the employee benefits fund, with discussion on potentially reallocating some savings toward employee salary increases. Additionally, the board authorized the health officer to electronically sign several routine grant agreements with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to meet a September 30 deadline, covering approximately $7 to $7.3 million in local public health services funding and $300,000 for emerging threats. The meeting included detailed discussions on premium increases, deductible structures, and the importance of ongoing evaluation of health plan providers and costs.