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

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.