Comprehensive Employee Benefit Audit

The County of Santa Barbara is seeking proposals from qualified independent contractors to conduct a comprehensive audit of the County's employee benefits program. The audit will assess the effectiveness, cost-efficiency, competitiveness, sustainability, governance, and data integrity of the County's current benefits program and its alignment with industry best practices and public-sector standards. The selected contractor will be required to provide a draft comprehensive audit report, a final comprehensive audit report, and actionable recommendations. Some key aspects of the job include: • Evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining participation in the PRISM Health Pool versus transitioning to alternative health coverage models. • Assessing the effectiveness, cost-efficiency, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability of the County's employee benefits program. • Analyzing financial, operational, staffing, system, and retiree-related impacts associated with each coverage option. • Reviewing governance, controls, and advisory relationships to ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with the County's best interests. • Evaluating the effectiveness and value of PRISM Health "value-add" programs and their role in controlling healthcare costs.