MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Executive Plaza.

Recognizing that drug delivery has changed as the country has gone through the COVID pandemic, Lycoming County Commissioners have amended county employee health and benefits plans to reflect that telemedical visits will now be covered .

“It was brought to my attention recently by one of our employees that the telemedicine component of our plan was not covered unless through Teladoc,” Human Resources Director Jessica Segraves told the commissioners.

“Before COVID, I think it was very common. After COVID, telemedicine appointments with your PCP (primary care physician) are normal,” Segraves said.

Changes have been made to the following plans following consultation with the county provider: the group health plan for retirees before age 65; the employee benefit plan-AETNA PPO Group Plan; Prisons Union Employee Benefit Plan; Union employee benefit plan prior to release; and the Seniors’ Plan Retiree Benefits Plan.

The county is building a health and wellness center for county employees and their families. Visits would be at no cost to employees and appointments would not be required. In the past, commissioners have said the hope is that employees will use the center rather than going to the emergency room or other health care providers to reduce costs for the county.

The county’s insurance company, according to commissioner Tony Mussare, said it could see where the county could save money with the innovative approach to health care.

“Not only saving money, but making our workforce much healthier,” Mussare quoted the carrier as saying.

In other actions at their recent meeting, commissioners voted to award a request for proposal for consulting services for the Brownfields Revolving Fund Program to Brownfield Redevelopment Solutions, Inc. The program is 100% funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, the commissioners noted. .

Brownfields are defined as former industrial or commercial sites where future use is affected by actual or perceived environmental contamination.

“That means if you have these properties or want to acquire them for development, you should contact the county and we can help you clean them up,” said commissioner Rick Mirabito.

In other actions, Commissioners approved the following budget items:

• A letter of engagement with Baker Tilly US, LLP.

• An amendment to an agreement with Windstream for service at the transfer station. The amendment will result in faster bandwidth at a cost of $205 per month for five years.

• The purchase of a software upgrade to Carlson Landfill’s GPS compaction software with Carlson Software Inc. in the amount of $21,645.

• An amendment to the agreement with Professional Petroleum Service Company which includes grease, lubricants and anything used with equipment vehicles in the Resource Management Department. According to Director Jason Yorks, the amendment includes an average increase of about 12.5% ​​for services.

Other deals approved by the commissioners included an internship agreement with Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania; a municipal waste disposal agreement with the County of Northumberland; and a Transportation Infrastructure Investment Funding Repayment Agreement with the Department of Transportation regarding the Route 15 acceleration and deceleration lanes. They also approved the Funding Repayment Agreement resolution.

The commissioners announced that they will begin an information series at their next meeting regarding what nonprofits are doing for the county.

The next meeting of Commissioners will be April 7 at 10 a.m. in the Board of Commissioners Room, 1st Floor, Executive Plaza, 330 Pine St.