CEO Message
Last week I had the opportunity to attend a meeting in Brentwood, Tennessee, where several benefits and HR leaders each shared a 5-minute TED talk on a subject of interest to them and the attendees. One of my team members had the honor of presenting and the title of her talk was “Why Employers Must Disrupt the Healthcare System It Pays For.” We all know that employers are the largest purchasers of healthcare, behind Medicare/Medicaid: so, employers have the power to demand, design for, and expect change!
The punch line from the presentation was “Disrupt or be Disrupted.” Standing still and continuing to roll out the same strategies of the past are no longer an option. Employers in Tennessee are already challenging the status quo by utilizing innovative benefit solutions that result in higher quality of care, more transparent pricing, and better outcomes for employees and their families. Here’s my challenge to all Tennessee employers – come be a part of the premier employer conference in Tennessee to learn more about the bold and effective strategies that Tennessee and national employers are using to accelerate value and savings in their benefit offerings! CLICK HERE to learn more and register.
Phil Belcher
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Tennessee Spotlight: OrthoSouth Surgery Center Earns National Recognition
HealthCareTN (HCTN) is proud to highlight OrthoSouth Surgery Center – Germantown, recently featured in a national case study by The Leapfrog Group for its commitment to patient safety and high-quality care.
This recognition places a Tennessee ambulatory surgery center (ASC) on the national stage and underscores the growing role ASCs play in delivering safe, cost-effective care.
As the Tennessee Regional Leader for Leapfrog, HCTN is committed to advancing transparency and elevating high-performing providers. We are especially excited to see a Tennessee ASC recognized in this way—reinforcing our state’s leadership in healthcare quality and safety.
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AI Continues to Rewrite Rules for Healthcare Industry Innovation
Novo Nordisk and leading pharmaceutical companies are harnessing the power of AI across their entire enterprises — and the momentum is only accelerating. Employers must rise to the challenge, ensuring AI delivers real, tangible value for the purchasers who depend on it.
HCTN is bringing this critical conversation and others to the forefront at our June 3rd Conference in Nashville. Don't miss your chance to be part of it — register today!
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Prior Authorization Reform is Here, but Can Everyone Agree On It?
For years, physicians have voiced frustration over Prior Authorizations — long viewed as a disruptive barrier to timely, effective patient care. Now, the momentum for meaningful Prior Authorization reform has never been stronger.
HCTN is stepping up to lead the conversation. This August, we will host an exclusive, invitation-only roundtable bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders to share perspectives and shape the future of Prior Authorization and Utilization Management.
Are you an employer who wants your voice heard? We want to hear from you. Reach out to Jeffrey Townsend at jtownsend@hctnonevoice.org to express your interest in participating.
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Department of Labor Signals Strong Partnership with Employers
Employers may have found a powerful ally in Washington. At a recent meeting with the Department of Labor (DOL), HCTN, and the National Alliance, Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling confirmed that recent DOL rules are designed to support employer fiduciary efforts — a welcome and significant development.
Next up: HCTN meets with Representative Diana Harshbarger's healthcare policy staff on May 4th in Morristown, TN. Interested employers are encouraged to attend — but space is limited. Contact Jeffrey Townsend at jtownsend@hctnonevoice.org today.
| | HCTN Nashville Employer Conference | | |
Panel #1 - INSIGHT:
From Insight to Action: How Employers Use Data to Create Leverage
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Shawn Gremminger (Moderator)
President & CEO
National Alliance of Healthcare
Purchaser Coalitions
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Hugh O’Toole
Chief Executive Officer
Innovu. LLC
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Chris Skisak
Executive Director
Houston Business Coalition on Health
| | Everyone knows that data is king! Without the right data, employers don’t have the raw material necessary to challenge the status quo and make confident decisions about creating value-based care models for their employees. Join HCTN for this exciting panel discussion convening top industry professionals discussing the role of AI in data, a data toolkit that better informs provider transparency conversations, and a new national, bold initiative that will give employers the data and ownership they need to make better informed benefit decisions. | | Make Your Voice Heard - Meet Your Legislators | | |
Exclusive to HCTN employer members
Monday, May 4, 2026
9 am - 12 pm ET
Morristown, TN
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Over the winter/spring of 2026, HCTN has coordinated roundtables between members of Tennessee’s federal delegation and HCTN employers to discuss healthcare. Several employers joined us in March in Nashville for meetings with Senators Blackburn and Hagerty. For our next meeting, on May 4th, we will be in Morristown, TN (First Horizon Main Morristown Office) to meet with Representative Diana Harshbarger’s staff. We need employers to accompany us. The event will take place from 9 am - 12 pm ET, with the first two hours dedicated to a pre-meeting strategy session / Legislative update. HCTN will develop the resources including a “leave behind” flyer. This is a great opportunity to engage your executive team or your government affairs personnel. Space is limited and filling up fast.
CLICK HERE to learn more. To sign up contact Jeffrey Townsend (jtownsend@hctnonevoice.org).
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Webinar - Employer Lessons on Hemophilia Management: Actions and Plan Design Can Drive Future Savings and Member Outcomes
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Wednesday
May 19, 2026
1 - 2:30 pm CT/
2 - 3:30 pm ET
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Hemophilia is a high-cost, chronic genetic disorder that presents unique challenges for employer-sponsored health plans. It’s critical for employers to understand the financial exposure of hemophilia, regardless of whether they currently have a member on their plan with this condition.
This 90-minute webinar will include how employers can take a proactive approach to align clinical best-practices with cost-effective and member-centered outcomes. The hemophilia journey from the provider, caregiver and employer perspective will address how employers can effectively manage the high cost of this bleeding disorder while improving the lives of those impacted by this chronic, but treatable, condition.
| | HCTN Health, Well-Being and Benefits Peer Roundtable | | |
Exclusive to HCTN employer members
Tuesday,
June 16, 2026
8:30 am - 9:30 am CT/
9:30 am - 10:30 am ET
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As an employer-led coalition, HealthCareTN is grounded in the belief that employers learn best from one another—and your feedback consistently confirms this as one of the most valuable benefits of HCTN membership. These peer roundtables are designed to create a space for employers to connect, exchange ideas, and lead the conversation on benefits and workforce well-being.
This roundtable is intentionally designed to be:
- Employer-only (no vendors, consultants, insurance TPAs, etc.)
- Closed-door and not recorded (notes may be taken for follow-up purposes only)
- Facilitated, but informal
- A safe space to network, share strategies, collaborate, and learn from peers facing similar challenges
For more information contact Trinette Small, tsmall@hctnonevoice.org.
| | MARK YOUR CALENDAR! HCTN 2026 Regional Employer Conference Series | | Follow HealthCareTN on LinkedIn, where we share the latest updates on events, initiatives, and resources. | | | HCTN is a proud member of The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions. | | | | |
