NATCHEZ — Two changes in county health-care matters have Adams County supervisors expecting to see substantial savings this year.

The county is in its first year in recent history to self-insure health care costs for county employees and just one month removed from hiring its own nurse practitioner rather than contracting out for services.

County Administrator Joe Murray said if the trend of claims continues at the approximately $150,000 per month pace, the county will save approximately $200,000 over last year’s total $2 million in health-care costs.

With three months remaining, including February’s claims, Murray cautioned that figure could drastically change because he does not know who has been in the hospital.

“It is looking like it is going to be lower,” Murray said. “Over the last several years, we have budgeted $2 million and right now we are looking at it coming in at $1.8 million.

“But again, the next three months could come in and it might bump that average up.”

Adams County Board of Supervisors President Mike Lazarus said the numbers are looking good on insurance and employees are happy.

“I have not received one complaint over insurance,” Lazarus said. “One thing about working for the county, while the salary is not great, we do have good insurance and a great retirement package.”

Murray said another positive — which may not have a huge impact this year but could in future years — has been the hire of nurse practitioner Stacy Cook.

Cook started in November providing visits to the jail and juvenile justice center, which is a service that had previously been contracted out at a cost of $115,000 annual. Cook’s salary and benefits package are less than $115,000.

For a little more than a month, Cook has been seeing county employees and their dependents in addition to covering inmate health-care needs. Lazarus said if an employee visits the emergency room or the after-hours clinic, the cost to the county — depending on insurance deductions — can be as much as $1,000.

“If Stacy is seeing four to five people a day, that’s $4,000 to $5,000 a day,” Lazarus said. “That’s a lot of money in a year’s time. And the beauty to the employee, they don’t have to pay a copay.”

With the flu going around, Murray said many employees are going to Cook for flu shots, which is an insurance savings to the county and helps employees stay healthier. Murray said Cook is averaging two to three people a day visiting.

Lazarus said having Cook next door or across the street is also convenient for the employees, and it also means less time off work.

“A lot are not sick enough to not come into work, but they still want to see a doctor,” Lazarus said. “It is convenient and saves us money. Being able to see (Cook) more easily is also going to keep our employees healthier.”

On Monday, the supervisors will hear from its reinsurance agent about how the insurance has gone this year.

Several supervisors have requested to hear proposals from insurance agents, and plans are due to be submitted Friday. Lazarus said other insurance agents would not be on the agenda Monday.

Lazarus said he hopes the county continues with its current plan for at least another year because next year he anticipates more savings.

“We are trying to get the best insurance we can for employees for the least amount of cost for the taxpayer,” Lazarus said. “Self insurance is a gamble, but our census showed we have a lot of healthy people.

“I am hoping the board takes a strong look at it and gives it a chance to work. All the things we have in place — like the nurse practitioner — will continue to make the cost go down.”