Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Department of Human Resources, Employee Benefits/Risk Management Section, requires services to verify the accuracy of the Bureau of Workers' Compensation payroll and claims data for the City of Columbus; to provide occupational injury management data, general workers' compensation consulting services; to calculate the allocation of workers' compensation claims experience by department, division, and fund; to conduct claims management on a per request basis; and to attend Industrial Commission hearings on a per request basis.
The Department of Human Resources, Employee Benefits / Risk Management Section submitted a Request For Proposal (RFP) in December, 2016, for workers' compensation cost containment services. In accordance with relevant sections of the Columbus City Codes, Chapter 329, CCI Investments-CareWorks Consultants (dba CareWorks Comp) was the recommended service company based on its ability to assist the city with cost saving strategies in its workers' compensation program. CareWorks Comp clearly demonstrates the ability to perform and complete the requirements requested in the RFP. In addition, CareWorks Comp is adequately staffed and experienced in servicing the demands of large public sector clients.
CareWorks Comp has been the city's third-party administrator for the workers' compensation cost containment program since March, 2009. The term of the current contract is from March 1, 2017 to February 29, 2020. This legislation authorizes the Department of Human Resources to contract with CareWorks Comp for year one of the three year agreement. The annual cost of the contract is $55,000.
Fiscal Impact: Sufficient funds are budgeted within the Department of Human Resources 2017 employee benefits fund budget.
The federal tax identification number for CCI Investments-CareWorks Consultants (dba CareWorks Comp) is 54-2193040.
Emergency Action: Emergency action is requested to allow for continuation of actuarial services with regard to workers' compensation cost containment programs.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Human Resources Department to contract with CCI Investments-CareWorks Consultants, dba CareWorks Comp, to provide workers' compensation cost containment services from March 1, 2017 through February 28, 2018; to authorize the expenditure of $55,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to pay the cost of said contract; and to declare an emergency. ($55,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to contract with CareWorks Comp to provide workers' compensation consulting and actuarial services from March 1, 2017 through February 28, 2018; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $55,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to pay contract costs for actuarial services; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Department of Human Resources in that it is immediately necessary to contract for workers' compensation actuarial services thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; Now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Human Resources Department is hereby authorized to contract with CareWorks Comp to provide workers' compensation consulting services from March 1, 2017 through February 28, 2018.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $55,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, from the employee benefits fund 5502, Human Resources Department, Division No. 46-01, Object Class 03 Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage, if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.