The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners held a special meeting on August 13, 2025, to discuss critical issues surrounding the county's health insurance procurement process. A significant focus of the meeting was the decision to implement a bid waiver in the selection of a health insurance provider.

The discussion began with concerns raised by commissioners regarding the rationale behind the bid waiver. A representative explained that the county had issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) and received two submissions, ranking Aetna as the top choice and AvMed as the second. The selection committee emphasized Aetna's strong proposal, but the county's local preference rules necessitated consideration of AvMed, a local company that was within 5% of Aetna's score.

The representative clarified that the bid waiver arose from a parallel negotiation process with both companies, rather than the traditional sequential approach. This method was deemed necessary to expedite negotiations and ensure competitive pricing. The county attorney confirmed that this approach constituted a bid waiver under existing rules.

Commissioners expressed concerns about the timing of the negotiations, questioning whether earlier discussions with providers could have led to a smoother process. The Chief of Human Resources noted that negotiations with AvMed had been ongoing for 18 months prior to the RFP, but efforts to secure better pricing had not been successful, prompting the need for a competitive market evaluation.

The meeting also highlighted the nature of the services being procured. The county is seeking administrative services from a third-party provider to manage its self-funded health program, which means the county is responsible for all medical claims incurred by its employees.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored the complexities of the procurement process for health insurance in Miami-Dade County, particularly the balance between local preference and competitive pricing. The board's decision to pursue a bid waiver reflects an effort to navigate these challenges while ensuring that employees receive quality health coverage. Further discussions and decisions are expected as the county moves forward with its health insurance procurement strategy.