Agenda Item Wording:
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PRISMHealth amended memorandum of understanding – Authorize the City Manager to execute the amended memorandum of understanding for the PRISMHealth Program.
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Agenda Date: 09/08/2026
Prepared by: Andrew Guzman, Risk Manager, Andrew.Guzman@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4335; Shonna Oneal, Administrative Services Director, Shonna.Oneal@visalia.gov , (559) 713-4053
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Visalia City Council authorize the City Manager to sign the amended memorandum of understanding for the continued participation in the PRISMHealth Program.
Summary:
The City of Visalia provides medical and prescription benefits to employees and retirees through its participation in the PRISMHealth Program (“Program”). The PRISMHealth Committee, which is comprised of representatives from Program members, approved amendments to the program memorandum of understanding (MOU) on March 26, 2026. The amendments modernize the MOU to reflect PRISMHealth’s transition to an independent self-funded program and align the governing document with the health program’s current operations. The MOU revisions clarify existing governance, administrative processes, and operational procedures.
To continue participation in the program, the City will need to sign and return the amended MOU.
Background Discussion:
The City of Visalia joined the program on January 1, 2005. The health program was originally organized by the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) to provide a self-funded health plan option for public agencies in California. The program, as a whole, was a member of the Self-Insured Schools of California (SISC) to provide protection to its membership in plan years where expenses exceeded the premium. In this arrangement, SISC retained the risk of the program.
The PRISMHealth Committee is a nine-member committee responsible for providing oversight and governance of the PRISMHealth program. Committee members are repres...
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