CEO Message
Fall has arrived, and with fall comes the pride and pageantry of college football! Nothing brings together so many diverse allegiances, all with the same hope and optimism of having a great year or even winning a championship. But without the fans and sponsorship advertising, there is no college football. Fans support their alma maters, their favorite players, and attend the games, bringing passion and excitement to the event. Fans are proud of their teams and the work they’ve done to put a good work product on the field. Sponsors are the financial backbone of sports entertainment, without which fans that can’t go to games or want to enjoy some post-season football would be without options to see their favorite teams compete.
Ironically the same things that make college football successful make employer healthcare conferences and convenings successful. Employers’ attendance, energy, and engagement create fuel and excitement for the event. The success stories employers share regarding benefits and wellness strategies showcase the pride of their organizations and give other employers hope that they can accomplish a “winning season” with the right corporate culture and strategic execution. Sponsors help fund our venues and bring innovation and expertise to the experience, giving employers a chance to check out all the latest and greatest opportunities for successful value-based benefits partnerships.
To that end, I would like to extend a huge thanks to all the employers and sponsors who attended our Nashville and Memphis conferences this year. HealthCareTN enjoyed the highest attendance ever at both conferences, a tribute to the hard work of the HCTN team, our strategic consultants ro3, and the great team at Connect Healthcare Collaborative. It also confirms the commitment that HCTN employer members and sponsors have made to make these conferences the best healthcare events annually in Tennessee!
Now let’s keep that momentum going! Click here to register for the Knoxville regional conference, our final conference of the year. Let’s make this one the best conference to date in Knoxville. Look forward to seeing all of you there!
Phil Belcher
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Cervical Cancer Prevention: Helping Employees Cut Through the Noise
September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month—a timely opportunity for employers to connect employees and families with trusted information about cervical cancer prevention.
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NCQA Deploying AI in the Development of HEDIS Measures
On August 26th, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) announced that it is partnering with Komodo Health, an AI powered Healthcare Intelligence company, to develop HEDIS measures. The partnership promises to streamline the development and approval of new measures. According to the plan outlined in the press release the NCQA benefits from a larger data set (Komodo’s Healthcare Map) and the assistance of Komodo’s AI to “rapidly explore complex healthcare questions while producing transparent, reproducible analyses grounded in real-world evidence.”
Employers should pay attention. Providers and plans are deploying AI in an arms race to optimize their bottom lines, while NCQA appears to be leveraging the technology to improve quality. Employers should ask their consultants how to make full use of HEDIS measures when selecting partners.
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Marsh Predicts 8.2% Increase in Employer Sponsored Healthcare Costs
Marsh (formerly Mercer) projects an 8.2% increase in employer healthcare costs for 2027 even after plan adjustments aimed at mitigating an unadjusted projected rise of 11%. According to the survey, the primary cost drivers include:
- Provider consolidation
- Government funding not keeping pace with inflation
- Advanced treatment options
- AI software deployed to optimize billing
- GLP-1 medications
To monitor these rising pressures, the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions tracks employer perceptions of plan affordability through its Pulse of the Purchaser Survey, while HCTN tracks our cohort of responding members for the POP.
Coming soon for HCTN employer members: the National Alliance/HCTN cohort Pulse of the Purchaser report. Stay tuned for more information.
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Florida Lawsuit Signals Red State Defense of Independent Pharmacies
Florida's Attorney General is suing Express Scripts and Prime Therapeutics, alleging the two colluded to push down reimbursement rates for independent pharmacies.
Details aside, this suit fits a broader pattern: states stepping in to protect independent pharmacies from PBMs. But there's a catch most coverage misses — protecting one sector drives up costs across the entire commercial healthcare market.
Independent pharmacies have a loud voice in state legislatures. Employers need one too, or they'll keep being disadvantaged by these decisions.
HCTN and partners like TN Employers Benefits Alliance (TEBA) are helping employers build that voice. To get involved, contact Jeffrey Townsend at jtownsend@hctnonevoice.org.
| | HCTN KNOXVILLE Employer Conference | | |
Employers are under increasing pressure to manage healthcare costs, but true cost control starts with understanding where plan dollars are going – and whether they are delivering value. Transparency is not simply a compliance requirement; it is a critical tool for uncovering the true cost of care, identifying hidden fees and misaligned incentives, and creating greater accountability across the healthcare ecosystem.
This conference will explore how employers can move beyond the traditional “buyer” mindset and take a more active role in managing healthcare costs. By leveraging unblinded data, transparent pricing, and stronger vendor accountability, employers can make more informed decisions, better align their partners, and take greater control of healthcare spending, while fulfilling their responsibility as prudent fiduciaries to act in the best interests of their plans and participants.
Register now to save your seat for this actionable conference!
| | HealthCareTN Chattanooga Luncheon | | |
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Thursday,
October 8, 2026
STIR Restaurant
1444 Market St.
Chattanooga, TN 37402
11 am - 1 pm ET
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Join us for lunch and networking at STIR in Chattanooga. This gathering is an opportunity for HealthcareTN members and prospective members to connect with fellow employers, hear what’s shaping the self-funded market, & introduce a prospective employer colleague or peer to the HealthcareTN community.
The program will feature a sponsor presentation from Lockton on trends shaping the self-funded employer landscape, followed by a presentation from One to One Health on concierge medicine, the evolving role of primary care, & other timely issues facing employer health plans.
Come for the conversation. Bring a colleague. Leave with new connections & ideas.
| | HCTN Health, Well-Being and Benefits Peer Roundtable | | |
Exclusive to HCTN employer members
Tuesday,
October 20, 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.
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Monday, Nov. 2
9 - 11 am CT/
10 am - 12 pm ET
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Exclusive to HCTN employer members.
Save the date for this online event! Registration will open soon.
| | National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions Forum | | One of the values HCTN membership is our association with the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions. NAHPC is a nationally renowned organization amplifying the employer voice and championing transparency, payment reform, and value-based purchasing. This fall we invite members to join HCTN staff in Washington DC for the following events associated with NA’s annual forum - Beyond Transparency. | | | | |
Annual Forum - Beyond Transparency - Seeing Clearly, Acting Bolding: The Employer’s Moment of Truth at Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA.
This is a premier national event with over 400 attendees and 80+ speakers. Note: Jeffrey Townsend will co-lead a panel on HCTN’s Policy Initiatives on Wed. Nov 18. Early bird pricing ends Sept 25.
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Come early for the pre-conference High-Cost Claims workshop - Monday, Nov. 16
High-cost claims continue to be one of the most significant challenges facing employer health plans. To help employers address this growing concern, the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions is offering a pre-forum workshop on November 16 in Arlington, VA.This intensive, four-hour workshop will equip employers with practical tools, expert perspectives, and effective strategies for addressing high-cost claims, with a particular focus on oncology and other complex care needs that are driving healthcare spending.
Register Here
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Stay for Hill Day - Thursday, Nov. 19
Each November the National Alliance schedules Hill Visits with federal legislators so they can hear from employers their concerns about the healthcare market. This is a very dynamic event. Last year several teams visited over 60 legislators. Attendees are eligible for a hotel stipend through the NAHPC (1night under $280) and must be placed on a schedule for security clearance. Please let Jeff Townsend know if you are interested in attending (jtownsend@hctnonevoice.org).
| | Follow HealthCareTN on LinkedIn! | | | HCTN is a proud member of The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions. | | | | |
