CEO Message
October brings some of the most beautiful and perfect days of the year! As I’m writing this message, it’s clear blue skies, with crisp morning air, and hints of brilliant Fall colors all around. October also brings ghouls and goblins and candy and gatherings. One of the fun Fall activities is attending costume parties. It’s amazing to see the thought and depth that goes into some of the outfits and masks, and I often cannot even identify who is behind the mask - which is certainly the whole point of the disguise! Costume party goers definitely exploit a lack of transparency so individuals can go about their evening incognito – “in the dark” so to speak!
For years and years employer plan sponsors have felt like they were “in the dark” when it comes to understanding how their health plan partners are charging them for services or how much they’re actually being charged for medical and pharmacy services. But now there’s hope on the horizon because the masks have been removed! On October 5, 2026, the Transparency in Coverage (TiC) final rules were issued jointly by the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury. These rules are designed to make healthcare pricing public and accessible to consumers, employers, and researchers. By forcing group health plans and health insurance issuers to disclose negotiated rates, out-of-network payments, and personalized cost estimates, the framework aims to drive market competition and curb healthcare cost inflation. The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions has been on the front lines of shaping these rules and representing the employer voice. HealthCareTN’s employers have also played a part in educating lawmakers of the importance of transparency in creating a true value-based and fair healthcare marketplace.
You can learn more about this important rule by CLICKING HERE or by engaging with HCTN as we continue to amplify the employer voice in healthcare policy.
Phil Belcher
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Beyond the Pink Ribbon: How Employers Can Make a Difference
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month—a time to move beyond awareness and inspire meaningful action. Breast cancer remains one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among women, making early detection, timely treatment, and workplace support essential.
For employers, supporting breast health is about more than encouraging mammograms—it's about creating a workplace culture that encourages preventive care, supporting employees throughout their health journeys and empowering employees to prioritize their health.
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HealthCareTN’s Memphis Conference Inspires Employer Action
What an incredible day! The Memphis HealthCareTN Employer Conference delivered a wonderful day of learning, connection, and practical ideas. On September 23, conference attendees gathered for The Whole Health State: Cracking the Code on Chronic Conditions in Tennessee. The program featured a preconference cancer workshop, an insightful whole-person health keynote, engaging panels and discussions focused on chronic disease prevention and management.
A highlight was the panel discussion, Healthy Moms, Healthy Workforce: Why Maternal Health Is an Employer Issue. Bonnie Miller (Regional One Health), Katie Burggraf Stewart (The Leapfrog Group), Emily Neiman (Visana Health), and Elle Carr (Helen Ross McNabb Center) connected maternal health to chronic conditions, preventive and primary care, hospital quality, benefits, and workplace support. Special thanks to employer, Helen Ross McNabb, for sharing the employer perspective and thoughts on their collaboration with HCTN on the development of their Expectant Parent Resource guide.
Employers left with clear actions: review maternity claims and trends; evaluate hospital safety and network quality; identify gaps in access, care, and benefit use; educate employees on maternity benefits; expand navigation and postpartum support and establish supportive return-to-work practices.
This is the value of HCTN membership in action! HCTN can help employer members develop customized resources and help support their chronic condition prevention and management efforts through our NO COST pilots, in partnership with Omada and Form Health.
COMING SOON: We are redesigning our Employer Chronic Disease pilot program. The new program will feature expanded options, new partners, and clearer implementation pathways.
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Employers Are Joining Class Action Lawsuits
HCTN wants members to know about two class action settlements that self-funded employers may be eligible to join. Both have claim deadlines coming up soon.
Generic Pharmaceuticals Pricing Antitrust Litigation (End-Payer Settlement)
This settlement grows out of multi-district litigation (In re Generic Pharmaceuticals Pricing Antitrust Litigation) alleging widespread anticompetitive conduct across the generic drug industry. End-payer claims must be submitted by November 9, 2026. Separately, the Tennessee Attorney General is part of a consumer restitution action with a deadline of March 8, 2027.
Third-Party Payer Opioid Settlement
This class action is a major piece of the broader multi-district litigation (In re National Prescription Opiate Litigation) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Third-party payers (TPPs) have until December 1, 2026, to submit a claim in the active settlement.
Questions? Contact Jordan Harmony, Sr. Operations Advisor, at DCAP Claims, 702-588-4645
jharmonay@dcapclaims.com
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HCTN Policy Initiative Panel at Dec 8 Conference in Knoxville
Healthcare policy has become a lever employers can’t afford to overlook when shaping their benefits strategy. HCTN is excited to announce a policy panel discussion at our Knoxville conference on December 8.
Moderated by Jeff Townsend, HCTN policy lead, the panel includes:
- Margaret Faso, Director of Health Policy, National Alliance
- Michael Curcio, Chair, TEBA
- Cindy Dempsey, Director of Benefits, Genesco
The panelists will cover state and federal legislation and the significant role employers can play in shaping policy. Register for the December 8 conference to learn how your organization can get involved.
| | HCTN welcomes ALTTRAX and Vida Health as our newest Affiliate members! | | HCTN KNOXVILLE Employer Conference | | Keynote: Defining Transparency, Pass-Through, and Fiduciary: What Is Your PBM Actually Promising? | |
Your PBM says it is transparent. But does that mean you can see every claim, keep every dollar of rebates and discounts, or count on your PBM to put your plan first? Those are three different promises, and the industry has used the words interchangeably for years. That leaves plan sponsors signing contracts they can't fully evaluate and enforce.
Christine Johnston of Foundational Pharmacy Strategies shares the framework being developed with the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions to give employers clear, consistent definitions of each standard, along with what to expect from a PBM that claims to meet it.
You will learn:
- How transparency, pass-through, and fiduciary differ, and why a PBM can claim one without delivering the others
- What each standard should mean for your plan in practical terms: data you can use, pricing you can verify, and accountability you can enforce
- How to use the framework to ask sharper questions in an RFP, negotiate stronger contract language, and hold your current PBM to what it has promised
Keynote Speaker:
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Christine Johnston
Co-Founder and President
Foundational Pharmacy Strategies
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Monday,
November 2, 2026
Virtual Event
9 - 11 am CT/
10 am - 12 pm ET
Exclusive to HCTN employer members.
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PBM Speed Dating is one the most popular events HCTN conducts. Whether you are in the hunt for a new PBM, or just planning your PBM partnership strategy, you will want to join us for this lively event.
Three PBM vendors will have 20 minutes to:
- Tell you who they are
- Tell you how they are different
- Tell you how they will bring value to your program
Featuring: AffirmedRx, Ventegra and SmithRx
HCTN employer members should contact Jeff Townsend, jtownsend@hctnonevoice.org, for more information.
| | 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.
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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 (1 night 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).
| | HCTN Health, Well-Being and Benefits Peer Roundtable | | |
Exclusive to HCTN employer members
Tuesday,
December 15, 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.
| | Follow HealthCareTN on LinkedIn! | | | HCTN is a proud member of The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions. | | | | |
