HealthCareTN’s Phil Belcher named Board Chair
WASHINGTON – June 29, 2026 – The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions announced its slate of new officers for the Board of Governors at its 2026 Strategic Leadership Summit. Officers are elected by their board peers based on proven leadership and commitment to the National Alliance and coalition movement to advance and strengthen the efforts of employers and other purchasers to shape a more effective, affordable and accountable healthcare system.
Executive Committee
Continuing their terms, Phil Belcher, Chief Executive Officer, HealthCareTN, is now Chair; Trevor Putnoky, President and CEO, Healthcare Purchaser Alliance of Maine, is Vice Chair; Michael Howard, President and CEO, Alabama Employers Health Consortium, continues as Secretary/Treasurer; and Laurel Pickering, President and CEO, Gateway Business Health Coalition, continues as At-large Representative for the Executive Committee. Denise Giambalvo, Executive Director, Washington Health Alliance, was newly elected as an At-large Representative.
Additional Board representatives include:
- Tom Belmont, President & CEO, Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health (newly elected)
- Emily Coyle, Incoming Executive Director, Montana Association of Health Care Purchasers (newly elected)
- Cari Marshall, Director, Oklahoma Business Collective on Health (newly elected)
- Marianne Fazen, PhD, Executive Director, DFW Business Group on Health
- Cheryl Larson, President and CEO, Midwest Business Group on Health
- Jon Rankin, President and CEO, North Carolina Business Coalition on Health
- Chris Skisak, PhD, Executive Director, Houston Business Coalition on Health
“Our Board of Governors plays an essential role in shaping the National Alliance’s strategy and advancing the work of purchaser-led coalitions across the country,” said Shawn Gremminger, National Alliance President and CEO. “We are grateful for the leadership of our returning officers and representatives and welcome our new members whose expertise and commitment will help us continue to help employers and other healthcare purchasers drive market change in navigating an increasingly costly and complex healthcare marketplace.”
External Board
Newly elected as external board members are Dana Gelb Safran, Past President & CEO, National Quality Forum, and Managing Principal, Health Transformation Strategies; Candace Shaffer, Associate Vice President, Benefits & Payroll, Purdue University, and Employers’ Forum of Indiana Board Member; and Wayne Rawlins, MD, MBA, who has joined to represent the National Alliance Medical Director Advisory Council. Continuing as external board members are James Gelfand, JD, CEO of The ERISA Industry Committee; and Hemi Tewarson, MPH, JD, Executive Director of the National Academy for State Health Policy.
“I’m honored to serve as Chair of the National Alliance Board of Governors and to work alongside such a strong group of coalition leaders and external advisors, said Phil Belcher. “At a time when purchasers are facing increasing cost and complexity, the National Alliance has an important role to play in elevating purchaser priorities, strengthening regional coalitions, and advancing practical strategies that improve health, equity and value for working families across the country.”
About National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions
For more than 30 years, the National Alliance has brought together business coalitions and their employer and purchaser members to drive high-quality healthcare that enhances patient experience, promotes health equity, and improves outcomes while lowering costs. Its members represent public and private sectors, nonprofits, and labor unions that provide health benefits to over 90 million Americans—more than half of the employer-sponsored insurance market—spending over $850 billion annually. To learn more, visit nationalalliancehealth.org and connect on LinkedIn.
# # #