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The Board and staff debated further and contemplated whether to do a survey or <br />if it was more suitable to proceed with a RFP versus a RFQ. <br />Charlie Wilson, representing a group of area Physicians with questions, argued that we <br />have jumped right into the RFQ/RFP questions and we have not really asked ourselves whether <br />we should be doing this at all. He also argued that even if it is stipulated that it would save the <br />County money, was it the County's job to be going into competition with private physicians; <br />does this drive a further wedge between the public and public employees; and should public <br />employees have something that is not available to the taxpayer? <br />Commissioner Wheeler noted that in employment across the Country, different <br />companies and governments offer different things, and this Board has looked at the concept of <br />this and he found it quite appealing, because it provides a service to the employees. If we are to <br />do something, he wanted to see what our best possible program is, that would save the County <br />some money. <br />Mr. Wilson said the City of Fort Pierce was an example, because it has a benefit where <br />the city employees and dependents pay zero. He asked whether it was just him that sees <br />something wrong with having a two-tiered medical system where government employees have <br />access to healthcare that private citizens do not. <br />Commissioner Solari recalled a point he made earlier regarding having a process which <br />invited the private sector to come and approach us with any type of solutions, and remarked that <br />he was not starting with any preconceived ideas and would rather go with a private sector <br />solution that will be creative, address the needs, and reduce costs. <br />Commissioner O'Bryan presented an example of why he thought the "fee-for-service <br />model" is broken. He saw this as one way to break that cycle, and said if government can lead <br />May 19, 2009 31 <br />