The company that manages Springfield's workers comp caseload wants to go outside the county for a key hire. City aldermen questioned that move last night.
The contract with Triune Health Group says the nurse representative it used must be in Sangamon County. The company says the job is highly specialized and it can't find anyone within the county who is qualified.
Instead, the firm wants to use a nurse in Macon County. Some aldermen at the committee of the whole meeting were left scratching their heads, since the Springfield area has a wealth of healthcare workers.
City Budget Director Bill McCarty says the decision comes down to philosophically how Springfield wants workers comp claims handled.
“We can have someone with 30 years of experience who lives just inside Macon County, or we can have someone with about 5 years of experience, if that, who lives within Sangamon County who oversees the nurse case management of our 4 million dollar cost center,” McCarty said.
McCarty says the administration wants the more experienced person. The contract change will come before aldermen at next week's council meeting. Several indicated they will vote against it.
