Shawnee County Commission Summary
Week of June 2, 2026
Tria Health proposes new weight management program for county employees
Commissioner questions potential cost shift to employees for weight loss drugs
Mays backs affordable copays for county employees' anti-obesity medications
County pharmaceutical management yields 8-to-1 return on investment
Employee health engagement doubles industry averages
Commissioners link sports complex investments to local high school success
Renovated tennis center to host grand opening celebration
Tria Health proposes new weight management program for county employees
SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. — During the Shawnee County Commission meeting on Monday, June 1, 2026, Tria Health pitched a new weight management program that would require employees taking expensive anti-obesity medications, like Zepbound and Wegovy, to participate in targeted health coaching. District 1 Commissioner Bill Riphahn did not comment during the presentation. The program aims to curb the county's $465,114 annual spend on the drugs by pairing users with clinical pharmacists and health coaches to ensure long-term diet and lifestyle changes. Any modifications to the benefit plan will first go through the county's insurance committee before returning to the commission for a final recommendation.
Commissioner questions potential cost shift to employees for weight loss drugs
SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. — District 2 Commissioner Kevin Cook expressed concerns during Monday's meeting that a proposed weight management program could drastically increase out-of-pocket costs for county employees. During a presentation by Tria Health, Cook noted that one coverage option presented would raise an employee's monthly copay from $35 to roughly $100, stating, "All they really did was shift their cost from the county to the employee." Representatives clarified the county could choose a model that retains the $35 copay while still realizing an estimated $160,000 in gross plan savings, prior to factoring in the overhead cost of mandatory coaching.
Mays backs affordable copays for county employees' anti-obesity medications
SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. — District 3 Commissioner Aaron Mays advocated for maintaining a $35 copay for county employees utilizing anti-obesity medications, warning against "nickeling and diming" staff to save money upfront. Mays argued that keeping the drugs affordable prevents employees from dropping the medications, regaining weight, and eventually suffering severe, costly medical events like heart attacks down the road. Tria Health estimated that keeping the current copay while implementing and paying for mandatory health coaching would still result in a net savings for the county of nearly $95,000 annually.
County pharmaceutical management yields 8-to-1 return on investment
SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. — A health monitoring program for high-risk Shawnee County employees delivered an 8-to-1 return on investment for the 2024–2025 reporting period, according to Tria Health's own analysis. The program, which pairs employees managing multiple chronic conditions with a clinical pharmacist, generated a 2.6-to-1 return on prescription savings alone, based on the vendor's estimates. Overall savings were largely attributed to switching patients to generic alternatives, eliminating duplicate therapies, and reducing costly emergency room visits.
Employee health engagement doubles industry averages
SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. — Shawnee County employees are participating in the county's pharmacy management program at more than double the national average, according to Tria Health's annual review presented Monday. By the end of the 2025 reporting year, 159 county members actively worked with clinical pharmacists, representing a 30 percent engagement rate of identified eligible employees. Tria Health representatives noted their standard book of business typically averages a 14 percent engagement rate.
Commissioners link sports complex investments to local high school success
SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. — Commissioners praised the positive, unintended consequences of Shawnee County's investment in local sports complexes, citing a dominant weekend for local high school athletes at the recent state tournaments. District 3 Commissioner Aaron Mays noted that Shawnee County schools placed third or higher in every state baseball class — a verifiable claim supported by recent KSHSAA results showing top finishes for local programs, including a Class 6A state championship for Washburn Rural and a Class 5A runner-up finish for Shawnee Heights. Mays attributed the success to local youths growing up playing at the county-funded Bettis Family Sports Complex, Ken Berry Fields, and Dornwood Park. The facilities were initially pitched to generate tourism and tax revenue, but commissioners agreed the boost to local athletic development has been equally valuable.
Renovated tennis center to host grand opening celebration
SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. — The recently renovated county tennis complex will host a grand opening celebration this Friday, June 5, at 5:30 p.m. in conjunction with the 86th annual Jayhawk Open. The county invested $1.7 million into upgrading the Kossover Tennis Center this year, which commissioners anticipate will drive regional tourism and benefit local athletes. The weekend tournament is expected to draw a highly competitive field, including 16 "USTA Level 1" players, representing some of the highest-ranked amateur talent in the country based on the United States Tennis Association rating system.
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