County taps ARPA funds to cover $815,000 in COVID health claims

Richland County, Ohio, commissioners on Jan. 5 approved spending $815,693 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to reimburse county departments for health insurance costs related to COVID-19 medical care, reports the Richland Source. The county is a member of County Employee Benefits Consortium of Ohio, a self-insured purchasing pool, and its health plan is provided by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. CEBCO and Anthem documented $815,593.63 in actual health insurance claims due to COVID-19 for the period between March 3, 2021, and Nov. 30, 2022.