Cookeville Employees Would Continue CRMC Benefit Pending Vote

Cookeville city employees would be able to continue visiting Cookeville Regional’s Medical Clinic if City Council approves a new agreement Thursday.

The benefit ended this summer when the city moved from a self-insured system to an outside firm. At issue, federal rules that prevented employees with a Health Savings Account from using the clinic. City Manager James Mills said the city worked with a North Carolina attorney with expertise in health insurance to secure a new agreement.

“Basically, it was either do this, or no longer have the benefit of the clinic,” Mills said. “The vast majority of our employees use the clinic and it will certainly benefit them.”

If Cookeville City Council approves the agreement Thursday night, it would go to the Cookeville Regional Board of Trustees for approval. The plan would be effective January 1.

Of the roughly 380 city employees enrolled in the city’s Health Insurance plan, just 37 have Health Savings Accounts. Mills said Cookeville Regional has also agreed to keep the prices at the same level as they have been for roughly a decade.

“I certainly didn’t want to do away with it,” Mills said. “I think we’ve done the best we can to maintain this clinic for our employees.”

In another change, the city will no longer payroll deduct for the clinic’s charges. Mills said that change will reduce the burden on the city’s finance department.

Mills said city employees will be notified of the change once the council approves the agreement.