During the past year, the online care and well-being services offered through The Episcopal Church Medical Trust continued to deliver meaningful value for members while supporting the broader goal of the
Denominational Health Plan, to contain healthcare costs and promote equitable, churchwide pricing. Across programs, the emphasis remained on early intervention, virtual access, and care navigation—practical strategies that help manage utilization and offer cost‑effective care without compromising quality.
Strong utilization was seen across Hinge Health, the Employee Assistance Program, and Teladoc—services designed to reduce barriers to care, expand access, and enable early interventions that may minimize the need for more extensive treatments, which are costlier for all.
Hinge Health alone added more than 700 new users in 2025, building on robust engagement in 2024 and reinforcing its value as a long‑term, virtual solution for managing muscle and joint pain. By emphasizing evidence‑based, nonsurgical treatment, the program supports earlier intervention and helps reduce the likelihood of more expensive downstream care. Teladoc’s 24/7 virtual visits also continued to gain traction, offering members timely access to care with an 89% satisfaction rate and reducing reliance on higher‑cost urgent or in‑person services when clinically appropriate.
Although overall participation in the Employee Assistance Program declined modestly, members who accessed it demonstrated deeper engagement. Sessions per participant increased, and referrals to counseling outside the program rose by more than 5%, indicating appropriate transitions into covered behavioral health services under the medical plan. This pattern reflects effective navigation to the right level of care, a critical component of managing healthcare utilization and costs.
In both 2024 and 2025, clinical issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression accounted for more than 90% of presenting concerns, underscoring the Employee Assistance Program’s role in addressing behavioral health needs.
At the same time, growth in information‑only requests highlighted the program’s increasing use as a proactive resource, helping members understand available benefits and access appropriate care sooner. By encouraging informed decision‑making and early engagement, the program supports better outcomes while mitigating avoidable escalation to higher‑cost services. Last year, we made the Employee Assistance Program available to the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe and 10 international dioceses.
Alongside these health and wellness initiatives, CPG continued its longstanding stewardship of retirement benefits through disciplined pension management. While healthcare and retirement programs operate independently, both reflect a shared commitment to long‑term sustainability, prudent oversight, and balancing compassionate care with financial responsibility—principles that also guide the Medical Trust’s approach to healthcare cost management across the Denominational Health Plan.
Since the launch of
Benefits Bill Pay, our electronic benefits payment system, more than 90% of the 5,000 administrators and individuals who manage domestic benefits invoices have transitioned to online payment. While this represents a significant shift from previous processes, we recognize that the experience has not been seamless for everyone and that adopting a new system takes time.
We are grateful to the administrators and volunteers who have shared candid feedback and worked with us throughout implementation. Their input has helped CPG reduce manual processing and administrative costs and has improved accuracy and payment speed in many cases. We remain committed to listening, addressing concerns, and continually improving the Benefits Bill Pay experience.
Read the 2025 Denominational Health Plan Annual Report
Read Healthcare Affordability: Managing What We Can, Navigating What We Can't
