[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6305407,"mediaKeyId","2448181-ef96bf04a259a3230309726f9c966a7a","parentId",2448181,"title","Cigna says Kroger returning to Medicare Advantage network; commercial reinstatement under review","audioSeconds",123,"startMs",2327000,"endMs",2450000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2448181-ef96bf04a259a3230309726f9c966a7a&start=2327&end=2450","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2448181-ef96bf04a259a3230309726f9c966a7a/thumbnail_2327000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6305407/Rutherford-County/Tennessee/Cigna-says-Kroger-returning-to-Medicare-Advantage-network-commercial-reinstatement-under-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305407-adf9a5976de3ed0579d31ef4fffb10fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1773034190&Signature=X0vTW2xGm9HO-~6~USjGbRdyWj1~rmRsVToeXa4HKnp4tqEQjGjtavBbIf47SK3thvvS7l-aNq-JFTwpsVEcX94r-47XVu2C6NgEa6My59HOtWF189G1Q6Z57KXZds5A3X-7Rpeh2t0SQbPFNh6yBFTDGhvwLm6ae2edj3XgZ20j0zFNO5RwSatRi8iPghm-hQFvoWD622aUpTBBp~JINgiZbF0TJZW7gnh0yurdarkr1021-ybCWmH8Oovj-XlcscTc6wuq5UH3-EUwgx~1NMxlANbQYqL8f9aY8xF6R-vf8TA3WceucpAITcuyOycEe3w7T1yPaUtH-Dn7VJqn5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rutherford County, TN","date","2025-02-27T20:31:40Z","article","A Cigna representative told the Rutherford County Benefits and Insurance Committee that Kroger pharmacies have been reinstated in Cigna's Medicare Advantage pharmacy network and that the company is still evaluating terms for returning Kroger to the commercial network.

Paul Huffman of Cigna Healthcare said that Cigna and its pharmacy benefits manager, Express Scripts, reached an agreement with Kroger to add the chain back to their networks. \"The good news is that...Kroger was added back into the Medicare Advantage network,\" Huffman said, noting that the Medicare Advantage PPO members were able to use Kroger as an in-network pharmacy effective Feb. 5. He added that the timing and cost implications of bringing Kroger back into the commercial network were still being determined.

Committee member Mike Curtis commented that the change came \"about 2 years too late for a lot of people,\" reflecting frustration from members of the public who shifted pharmacies during the earlier separation. Huffman acknowledged the disruption and said Cigna had been willing to negotiate and was working toward commercial network inclusion.

No formal committee action was taken; the presentation was informational and committee members had an opportunity to ask questions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Benefits & Insurance Committee - February 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Cigna representatives told the committee that Kroger pharmacies have been added back to its Medicare Advantage network and that negotiations are ongoing for Kroger's return to the commercial pharmacy network.","taxTitle","Rutherford County, Tennessee","taxId",4625,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6305414,"Benefits fund shows January deficit; committee accepts financial report",139,69000,208000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2448181-ef96bf04a259a3230309726f9c966a7a&start=69&end=208","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2448181-ef96bf04a259a3230309726f9c966a7a/thumbnail_69000.jpg","/articles/6305414/Rutherford-County/Tennessee/Benefits-fund-shows-January-deficit-committee-accepts-financial-report","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305414-9574c0760ea01c3dc861306620ac1bb1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773034190&Signature=Q2VFUoTha3gjS0FqmMLyK1cWLQcGLMZ3U6gJRfWzc-3U9dRutXJlS9HGfJJTygygA~5Gmf2OjF0kxGofipJfIuVSmDl3bv0V-2JU7hj571deCbG2RlwVzDvEdyXjkuSNul79ZtpDaEdSBkSyFDws3ObBuffkA5IfAjV0cabWHSi7j8eBn7cJxV-gX0TqIUg-mbXOquszlsr-WBeNqTrL4nlU0TzzCE0UsnKUsqh3tbWxVWWB8Pzi96p5nLvTau7GEvrSPcp85kHEuXU~D5HfoCQvruSexzm-0SmhbqOUDO56Iw~uFa62I3Yg8wsB9ZhghTZENQ4Bk1DrpXsJFhYAQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rutherford County benefits staff presented January financial results showing the benefits fund ran a deficit for the month and the fiscal-year-to-date comparison, and the Benefits and Insurance Committee voted to accept the financial report.

Finance presenter Mr. Elam reported that for the month of January the benefits fund (stated as the $2.64 fund) recorded revenue of $1,860,406 and expenses of $2,297,236, leaving a monthly deficit of $436,830. For the fiscal-year-to-date comparison for the 2024–25 period, Elam reported revenue of $13,607,985 and expenditures of $15,315,517, a year-to-date deficit of $1,707,533. He also provided figures for the Workers' Compensation and OJI line items and a combined year-to-date total for those categories.

\"And that concludes my report, Mr. Chairman,\" Elam said after presenting the numbers.

Committee members had no substantive questions during the presentation and moved to accept the report. A roll-call vote was conducted; members present voted to accept the financial report.

The committee did not adopt additional actions tied to the report during the meeting; staff will continue regular financial monitoring and return with updates in subsequent meetings.","Finance staff reported a monthly and year-to-date deficit in the county benefits fund for January; the committee accepted the report by vote.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6305419,"Rutherford County committee defers new employee wellness points plan for one month",2030,283000,2313000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2448181-ef96bf04a259a3230309726f9c966a7a&start=283&end=2313","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2448181-ef96bf04a259a3230309726f9c966a7a/thumbnail_283000.jpg","/articles/6305419/Rutherford-County/Tennessee/Rutherford-County-committee-defers-new-employee-wellness-points-plan-for-one-month","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305419-aa770977ca630c066f90ac35d7043088/orig.mp4?Expires=1773034190&Signature=jBq5XYXCv7My-uHUmHZMF349GaPZRo2qNObmbSwKrcnalGVVMaaTINvGSYQ14olmZjGWCGI3Cx1vf-QfX~~XLS5~pzeJBAL0MxpBowkH21oHuy-vlxs56VIR84ofj08B87fVLAF0jmHD6tGsjytFjugr8NbH1V-DqeLJULvSckwxYP3e43fkzO4JIQHRLbYeVd2tTIafCGUAzpDBDLCkaACOYkDs2I8G9oeAtauQyVa3DoYTd1NBliU0PqMOOL5fibqMkO4Lhb7p4~UQuhigo7szaQyWF30jAo-sKWK92TaLzB6DZtsa3b13OcdTbf4PRGoy8eB-GPZGn41ZBn0mag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rutherford County's Benefits and Insurance Committee voted to defer for one month a proposed change to the county's employee wellness points program after extended discussion about point values, access and cost implications.

The committee considered a plan to move the county from the Motivate Me platform provided through Cigna to a new platform, MyBenefitsChannel, and to change the annual point-accumulation structure from a 300-point minimum to a 500-point framework with an \"essential\" tier (required healthy actions) and an \"elective\" tier (additional activities such as dental cleanings, eye exams and online education).

The proposal presented by Miss Howell, benefits staff, said the essential tier would preserve current healthy actions but increase point values (for example, an annual physical would be scaled from 200 to 300 points in the new structure) and that employees could earn up to 200 additional points in an elective tier through dental, vision or educational modules. Howell said the MyBenefitsChannel platform allows both automated file feeds from insurers and manual uploads when claims do not generate a record, and staff would assist employees who lack email or Internet access.

Committee members pressed for details about which screenings received higher point values and how claims and uploads would be tracked. Commissioner Mary Hickerson voiced concerns that the current required 300-point threshold (to avoid higher premiums) still leaves some employees — particularly field crews and others who do not work at desks — disadvantaged. \"What I have trouble with is mandating...the first 300 points still has to come off of the initial point system,\" Hickerson said, adding that some employees struggle to get the first points and that adding elective options helps to get from 300 to 500 but does not solve the initial access issue.

Cigna representative Emily Lambert, introduced as a well-being coordinator for Butler County and a Cigna representative, urged the committee to emphasize preventive care. \"If your departments kind of struggle to see why it is important for me to get biometric screenings done or why should I go see my primary care provider? That's what I'm here for,\" Lambert said.

Committee members proposed edits and alternatives during the discussion. Eric Tutobeni suggested moving dental and eye exams into the essential tier and leaving educational content in the elective tier to reduce access concerns. Michael Smith, a committee member, said he could produce a financial analysis showing whether the change would save or cost the county and moved to defer consideration for a month so staff could gather broader employee feedback and cost projections. Commissioner McAdoo seconded the motion.

In a roll-call vote on the deferral, Amber Brown and Mike Curtis voted no; all other members present voted yes. The motion carried. Chairman Phillips asked Smith to provide financial data and directed staff to seek input from employees across departments during the postponement.

The committee's staff said if the county switches platforms before the next accumulation period (beginning Oct. 1 under the proposed schedule), points would roll over to the new system; any substantive changes to point requirements would be timed to annual enrollment to avoid mid-year changes.

The committee will reconvene on the wellness proposal at its next meeting and review the financial analysis and employee feedback requested by members.","The Benefits and Insurance Committee delayed adopting a proposed switch from Cigna's Motivate Me to MyBenefitsChannel and a move from a 300-point to a 500-point structure, asking staff for more financial analysis and employee feedback.","actionData","errors"]

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Cigna says Kroger returning to Medicare Advantage network; commercial reinstatement under review

Benefits fund shows January deficit; committee accepts financial report

Rutherford County committee defers new employee wellness points plan for one month