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Centre County trustees approve first‑dollar coverage for Revive Health weight‑loss drugs for QHDHP members
Summary
Trustees voted unanimously Dec. 2, 2025, to cover Revive Health weight‑loss medications from the first dollar for employees enrolled in the county's qualified high‑deductible health plan, after Human Resources flagged implementation problems and the county solicitor advised that coverage carried low risk; the board will reassess pricing and rules for 2027.
Centre County Employee Benefits Trust trustees voted unanimously Dec. 2, 2025, to cover Revive Health weight‑loss medications from the first dollar for members enrolled in the county's qualified high‑deductible health plan (QHDHP).
Human Resources Director Kristen Simkins told the board the program's rollout on Jan. 1, 2026, "has not gone smoothly," and that several employees reported receiving invoices for weight‑loss drugs from Revive Health. Simkins said Human Resources contacted Revive and included Kathy Cook of Benecon in the communications, and that the county discovered QHDHP rules generally bar first‑dollar coverage for nonpreventive medications.
Simkins said the county discussed the issue with County Solicitor Betsy Dupuis, noting that federal Internal Revenue Service guidance on preventive care is ambiguous about weight‑loss drugs. "Our Solicitor felt that given the low number of employees covered and having to review this again in 2027, they felt the County is safe to cover these medications first dollar for the QHDHP members," the minutes state.
Controller Jason Moser moved that the board cover the cost of Revive Health weight‑loss medications dollar one for members on the QHDHP; County Administrator and Chief Clerk John Franek seconded the motion, and the board voted unanimously to approve it.
Trustees directed that the EBT review Revive's pricing and any regulatory or rule changes in the fall ahead of 2027 coverage decisions. The minutes note the board will decide whether to continue first‑dollar coverage, limit coverage to PPO members, or adjust coverage based on the 2027 cost estimate.
The meeting record lists trustees present as Commissioner Mark Higgins (chair), Commissioner Amber Concepcion, Commissioner Steven Dershem, County Administrator/Chief Clerk John Franek and Controller Jason Moser. The meeting was called to order at 2:32 p.m. and adjourned at 2:42 p.m. The next EBT meeting is scheduled for March 24, 2026, at 1 p.m.
The minutes reference IRS materials on preventive care but do not quote or cite a specific regulation; the minutes record the solicitor's advice as the basis for the short‑term coverage decision and the board's plan to revisit the issue with updated pricing and any rule changes in 2027.
