Building the Bridge To Advance Care Together: Major Group Summit

During the 2026 Major Group Summit, 365 total attendees learned about work to be done in the coming year, recent changes that may impact their claims processing or customer service, new policies, and legislation that might affect their groups.

The Group Leader Summit, designed for human resource professionals and group decision-makers, was a one-day event in Columbia. The Agent Summits were one-day events held in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville.

This year’s theme was “The Bridge.” It centered on three pillars:

• People: Connecting members with customer service teams that can help them navigate their plans
• Care: Directing members to the lowest-cost, most effective providers in their network
• Progress: The work being done with artificial intelligence to streamline policies and claims processing

Each pillar reflects a key part of the work Major Group is doing for members.

By helping everyone learn, connect and share ideas, Major Group grows strong partnerships. This leads to better service and quality for members and communities across South Carolina. The Summit demonstrates our company values of service and quality as we focus on the customer, work to understand and exceed their expectations, and strive for excellence in everything we do for them.

(Shamico Harris, Jennifer Ballard, Amanda Kelly)

(Britney Gilbert)

(Valerie Gardner and Elizabeth Kolnik)

CGS® Presents Annual Wall of Fame Awards

CGS Administrators LLC (CGS) recognized the winners of its 2025 Wall of Fame awards at its annual celebration luncheon at the end of the first quarter.

CGS established the Wall of Fame recognition program in 2012 to honor employees who have gone above and beyond to exemplify CGS’ values and mission statement: We IMPACT Lives!

Each quarter, the company recognizes one award recipient in each of the following categories: Associate, Leader, Compliance Idol and Team. The executive leadership team then reviews the quarterly recipients to select the annual CGS Wall of Fame awardee for each category.

CGS proudly announces the following 2025 Annual Wall of Fame award recipients:

2025 Associate of the Year
Mae Skeean
Customer Service Representative III
Jurisdictions B and C DME MAC Provider Customer Service Program
Mae consistently exemplifies CGS core values through exceptional service in delivering clear, knowledgeable support to suppliers. Her professionalism, expertise and commitment to educating others reduces repeated issues and improves the overall CGS experience. Mae’s ability to resolve complex inquiries while guiding customers with confidence sets a strong standard of excellence for her team.
 

2025 Compliance Idol of the Year
Kadie Safranek, RN
Senior Provider Education Consultant
Jurisdiction 15 A/B MAC Medical Review
Kadie helped uncover a complex issue involving unintentionally embedded content that was causing emails to be blocked. She collaborated closely with Compliance and Corporate IT, testing multiple scenarios and guiding teams through her process to identify the source of the problem. Kadie’s diligence and commitment helped resolve a companywide issue and establish best practices for the future.
 

2025 Leader of the Year
Katherine Zaharopoulos, RN, MSN
Senior Director, Medical Review
Jurisdictions B and C DME MAC Medical Review
Katherine excels as a leader, effectively overseeing a large department with complex staffing and operational demands. She has strengthened the management team and ensures timely responses to all Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services inquiries. Her commitment to data quality has resulted in flawless external and internal audits, while her workload expansion efforts have delivered key enhancements and significant savings. Katherine’s strategic vision and commitment to excellence continue to advance CGS’ mission and core values.
 

2025 Team of the Year 
Provider Enrollment Training Team
Jurisdiction 15 A/B MAC
The provider enrollment (PE) training team delivered an extraordinary volume of work in 2025, providing more than 60 weeks of PE training both internally and to external partners. Team members managed these activities while also acting as subject matter experts for various other PE functions. Despite the many initiatives, they still completed all core workload responsibilities on time while ensuring they met or exceeded timeliness and quality goals. The training team’s customer-focused dedication led to successful performance outcomes and continued positive impacts on CGS staff, enrollment teams and Medicare providers.
Team Members include:

Amanda Birk Senior Provider Enrollment Analyst	Janaris Brown Business Analyst	Broderick Chunn Business Analyst	Melissa Church Senior Provider Enrollment Analyst	Sharis Davis-Jones Business Analyst
Karen Hughes Business Analyst	Jacqueline Hurst Senior Provider Enrollment Analyst	Evin Keele Senior Provider Enrollment Analyst	Colette Murphy Peppers Business Analyst	Cindy Woodard Business Analyst

Not Pictured:
Amanda Green, Business Analyst
Susan Schwenk, Business Analyst
 

Left to Right:
Back Row: John Kimball, Melissa Church, Katherine Zaharopoulos, Broderick Chunn, Steve Smith, Evin Keele, Karen Hughes, Mike Logan
Front Row: Melissa Kirchenbauer, Jacqueline Hurst, Amanda Birk, Sharis Davis-Jones, Mae Skeean, Colette Murphy Peppers, Melissa Lamb

Congratulations to all 2025 CGS Wall of Fame award recipients!

Doing Good Works: Blood Drives Coming to a Location Near You

This month, we’re excited to launch our American Red Cross campaign. The Red Cross plays an important role in helping communities during emergencies. This June, we invite you to get involved by donating blood or items for comfort kits.

The Red Cross helps people in times of need. It provides disaster relief, collects and supplies blood, and helps families recover from emergencies. It also supports military families and prepares communities across the country for future disasters.

Join the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Blood Drive Blitz! Sign up to donate blood at one of our upcoming drives. Your donation can help save lives. Schedule your blood donation appointment* today on the American Red Cross website.

You can also help by donating items for comfort kits. These kits provide basic supplies and support to people and families affected by emergencies, such as home fires or natural disasters.

Comfort kit items:

• Combs
• Conditioner
• Razors
• Shampoo
• Soap or body wash
• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Washcloths
• Fuzzy socks

We will collect these items through the end of the business day on Monday, June 22. Donation boxes will be available in the Percival, Atrium, Tower and GPC buildings. You can also send items through interoffice mail or mail them to AX-210.

To learn more, email Community.Relations@bcbssc.com.

*This link leads to a third-party website. The American Red Cross is solely responsible for the content and privacy policy on its site.

Celebrating Excellence at the 2025 Palmetto GBA® Annual Awards

There was reason to celebrate on the evening of Thursday, May 14. Palmetto GBA hosted its 23rd annual awards banquet to highlight the achievements of both teams and individuals over the past year. Awards were presented to recognize the hard work, innovation, teamwork and excellent service of its employees.

In 2025, Palmetto GBA associates’ innovations produced more than $208 million in cost savings, resulting in more than $2 million in efficiency savings and more than a 90 percent increase in quality improvement.

Here are the winners of this year’s awards:

• Associate of the Year — Gokul Sethuram
• Team of the Year — Jurisdiction J and Jurisdiction M Part B Appeals Department Lead Team
  Team members: Cheryl Hannibal, Rae Mahaney, Ryan McCall, Jane Parsons, Trecia Sexton, Shondra Smith and Cassandra Teeters 
• Coach of the Year — Tawanda Dunn
• Process Improvement of the Year — Meet Sage, Provider Contact Center’s Automated Assistant
  Team Members: Shravya Boochireddy, Venu Gopal Boppa, Georgette Cantey, Yunus Chhipa, Renea Cloud, Brenda David, Gerald Eichelberger, Vishvada Ganapati, Amukta Jambula, Jeejun Kim, Marlowe Leverette, Juwan Murphy, Daniel Navis, Satish Palakurthi, Derek Roberts, Melissa Thompson, Santhosh Thota, Ramya Vaddempudi, Yamini Vytla and Emily Wright

Check out pictures from the event here.

Congratulations to all the award winners!

Raising Healthy Kids: Simple Steps Every Parent Can Take

Keeping kids healthy can be challenging, but simple habits can help. Regular checkups, up-to-date vaccines, good sleep, regular physical activity and limited screen time all support strong growth and lifelong health.

Wellness Checks and Physicals
Well-child visits are a key part of keeping your child healthy. These visits:

• Help track growth and development.
• Give parents a place to ask questions.
• Make sure children receive needed screenings.
• Offer guidance on nutrition, behavior and safety.

Immunizations
Vaccines help your child stay safe from serious diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccines from birth through the teen years. These shots protect kids as they grow and help to keep them healthy.

Your child’s doctor should know what shots are needed at each age. Keeping your child on schedule helps prevent illnesses such as:

• Measles.
• Polio.
• Whooping cough.

Importance of Sleep and Physical Activity
Children need adequate sleep to improve:

• Memory.
• Behavior.
• Mood.
• Learning.
• Health

Sleep needs change with age. School-age children need nine to 12 hours each night. Teens need eight to 10 hours.

Physical activity is important, too. The CDC says children ages 3 to 5 should stay active throughout the day. Kids and teens ages 6 to 17 should get at least 60 minutes of moderate to intense activity each day.
Activities can include:

• Running.
• Biking.
• Playing sports.
• Dancing.
• Playing on a playground.

Movement helps your child grow strong. It builds muscle and bones. It supports heart health and helps your child focus.

Unplugging From Devices
Screens are part of daily life, but too much use can affect sleep, mood and movement. Children under age 2 should not use screens. Older children should use screens only for short, purposeful times. For kids ages 2 and up, screen use should support learning or physical activity. Try to keep total screen time for your child low each week. Avoid screens during meals and snacks to build healthy habits. Reducing screen time gives children more time to play, read and connect with family. These activities support healthy development.

Small changes can make a big difference. Regular checkups, vaccines, good sleep, daily movement and mindful screen use help children grow, learn and thrive. If you ever have questions, your child’s health care provider can guide you and support your child’s well-being.

The CDC is an independent organization that provides health information you may find helpful.

Engaging With the Executive: Tracy Kempf, Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Systems Support for CGS® Administrators

Each issue of Communiqué highlights an executive in one of our lines of business. We hope you will get to know the executives a little better, both professionally and personally.
This month, we introduce you to Tracy Kempf. She is the chief information officer and vice president of systems support for CGS Administrators. She has been with the company for 14 years.

1. Tell us about your first job.
   My first job was at 15, working at the only shoe store in my hometown. I helped older ladies find the perfect pair of SAS shoes and helped farmers with new work boots. After that, I moved on to a local pizza place, where I learned how to make hand-tossed pizzas. Later, I became a pharmacy technician at Walmart. At the time, certifications weren’t required, so there I was — a 17-year-old bottling heart medication. (Don’t worry! The pharmacist double-checked everything.)
2. Describe some of your hobbies or interests outside of work.
   I’m a proud aunt to eight nieces and nephews and bring my “strong aunt game” whenever I see them. I love traveling with friends and family, catching a stand-up comedy act, and dining out. After work, I recharge by walking my dog, Betty White. I follow numerous animal rescue groups on social media and fall in love with all of them. And like many people, I love binging a great TV series. Recent favorites include “Ted Lasso,” “Shrinking,” "Somebody Somewhere” and “Reservation Dogs.”
3. What’s your favorite food? If it’s from a restaurant, which one?
   I primarily eat vegetarian food but make exceptions for a great smashburger or my mom’s lasagna. When the weekend arrives, I’m all about comfort foods, such as pasta, pizza, Mexican food and ice cream. One of my favorite things about living in Nashville is its incredible food scene.
4. What’s your favorite movie, and why?
   It’s impossible to pick just one. I love comedies such as “Tommy Boy” and “Bridesmaids”; feel-good classics such as “Clueless,” “Legally Blonde,” and “Dumplin’”; romantic comedies such as “Palm Springs” and “Lovebirds”; and inspiring biographical films such as “Hidden Figures,” “Julie & Julia,” and “The King’s Speech.” I like anything but horror movies; my anxiety can’t handle those. 
5. What’s your favorite book, and why?
   Another tough one! Some of my recent favorites include “Everything Here Is Beautiful,” “The Great Alone” and “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” which is now a movie on Netflix.
6. Tell us about your favorite sports team.
   I’m not a huge sports fan, but I cheer for Mizzou whenever I’m back home in Missouri.
7. Describe one or more of your pet peeves.
   People who don’t deboard a plane in the correct order. There’s a simple row-by-row system. I get it if someone has a tight connection, but the person behind me who can’t wait the extra five seconds for me to get my bag down? That one makes me take a deep breath.
8. Based on your experience, what are three keys to success for employees early in their career?
   First and foremost, take initiative. Be willing to step up, whether it’s owning a meeting, championing an idea or seeking new opportunities. Second, be a great colleague. People remember who shows up prepared, communicates well and is enjoyable to work with. Finally, stay curious. Ask questions to understand why, embrace learning and seek opportunities to grow.
9. Whom do you admire most, and why?
   I appreciate women who broke down barriers in the workplace, such as Madam C.J. Walker, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Billie Jean King.
10. Tell us about your greatest achievement.
    I hope my greatest work achievement is still ahead of me. Recently, I was promoted to chief information officer at CGS, something I’ve worked toward for many years. I’m excited not only to lead my department but also to elevate the role technology plays for our users and our processes.