Milwaukee County Extends Healthcare Contract After Lapse

Supervisors vote to retroactively extend deal with UnitedHealthcare and Optum Rx following HR employee error.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted 13-5 to extend the county's previous healthcare contract with UnitedHealthcare and Optum Rx after an HR employee failed to follow proper procedures, leading to the contract's expiration. The extension is retroactive to January 1, 2026 and runs through the end of 2030. While no employees lost coverage, the lapse could have resulted in significant out-of-network costs for the county.

Why it matters

The healthcare contract lapse highlighted issues with oversight and accountability within Milwaukee County's HR department. It also raised questions about the county executive's leadership and potential political fallout during his gubernatorial campaign.

The details

An HR benefits director lost their job after failing to follow county ordinances when seeking a Request For Proposals (RFP) through an outside consultant. The RFP developed by the consultant has not been made public. The county comptroller's office said it received no communication about the contract expiration from the HR director between September 2025 and January 2026.

  • The healthcare contract expired on January 1, 2026.
  • The county board voted to extend the contract on February 5, 2026.

The players

David Crowley

Milwaukee County Executive who indicated he would sign the contract extension legislation.

Margo Franklin

Milwaukee County HR Director who stated she only learned of the contract issues on January 15, 2026.

Liz Sumner

Milwaukee County Comptroller who provided a timeline of the situation.

Sara Rodriguez

Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor who criticized the contract lapse as a "breakdown in leadership."

Mandela Barnes

Former Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor who declined to criticize Crowley over the situation.

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What they’re saying

“When mistakes are made, we must act quickly and decisively to seek out facts and identify solutions to the problem at hand.”

— David Crowley, Milwaukee County Executive (WTMJ)

“I really feel very badly for [Crowley] because he's going to take the brunt of this. It was on his watch.”

— Sheldon Wasserman, Milwaukee County Supervisor (WTMJ)

“Us voting yes is...giving the administration a pass on this.”

— Steve Taylor, Milwaukee County Supervisor (WTMJ)

What’s next

The long-term political fallout for County Executive David Crowley remains unclear as he continues his gubernatorial campaign.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of strong oversight and accountability within government agencies, as well as the potential for political consequences when mistakes are made, even if unintentional.