“Adding a chief medical officer is part of our growth strategy to support the efforts of our member coalitions and other key stakeholders to optimize workforce health, productivity and performance for employers,” said Michael Thompson, National Alliance president and CEO. “We’re delighted to work with Dr. Sherman to address the latest science and employer health benefit strategies to help employers improve health and healthcare value.”

In addition to serving as CMO for the National Alliance, Dr. Sherman serves as Medical Director, Population Health Management for the RightOpt private exchange offering at Conduent HR Services and is an active researcher in workforce health strategy. Previously, he has served as the consulting corporate medical director for Whirlpool Corporation and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. A frequent speaker, Dr. Sherman presents on a broad array of workforce health, productivity, and human resources practice-related topics to diverse audiences, and has published numerous related, peer-reviewed articles. He received his MD from NYU School of Medicine, his MA from Harvard and his ScB from Brown.

“I’m pleased to join the National Alliance team in their mission to drive innovation and value in health and wellbeing for the organization’s coalition members, their membership, and the employees, families and communities where they work and live,” said Dr. Sherman.

About National Alliance

The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions is a nonprofit network of business coalitions, representing more than 12,000 purchasers and 45 million Americans. The National Alliance is dedicated to driving innovation, health, and value along with its coalition members through the collective action of public and private purchasers. The organization seeks to accelerate the nation’s progress toward safe, efficient, high-quality healthcare and the improved health status of the American population. To learn more, visit nationalalliancehealth.org or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

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An employer-led healthcare coalition of employers, physicians, hospitals, health plans, public health officials and other stakeholders in Indiana, the Employers’ Forum of Indiana works to improve the value payers and patients receive for their health care dollars. Coalition members include Chrysler, Inc., Cummins, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Indiana University, Purdue University and the State of Indiana.

“We’re pleased to have the Employer’s Forum of Indiana join our network of member coalition ‘change agents’ from across the country with deep knowledge of healthcare and their regional environments,” said Michael Thompson, National Alliance president and CEO. “Our members play a central role in supporting, aligning and guiding purchasers to drive market transformation.”

Gloria Sachdev, BS Pharm, PharmD, FASHP, president and CEO of the Employers’ Forum of Indiana, commented, “We look forward to being an active participant in the National Alliance. Our coalition shares common interests and vision, and we’re exploring potential collaborations that will benefit our members as well as the employers across the country.”

About National Alliance

The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions is a nonprofit network of business coalitions, representing more than 12,000 purchasers and 45 million Americans. The National Alliance is dedicated to driving innovation, health, and value along with its coalition members through the collective action of public and private purchasers. The organization seeks to accelerate the nation’s progress toward safe, efficient, high-quality healthcare and the improved health status of the American population. To learn more, visit nationalalliancehealth.org or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

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“It’s critical that we continue the national dialogue to avoid unnecessary medical tests, treatments, and procedures,” said Michael Thompson, president and CEO of the National Alliance. “Our employer/purchaser coalition members are in the unique position to develop best practices relative to Choosing Wisely recommendations, push for increased communication between patients and physicians in their communities, and support a research agenda that measures the impact of these efforts.”

The National Alliance is a natural fit for partnering with the ABIM Foundation as many of its coalition members across the country are already engaged in promoting Choosing Wisely, including the Florida Health Care Coalition, Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health, Rhode Island Business Group on Health, St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition and Well OK.

Through its national network of business health coalition members, the National Alliance will disseminate information and encourage use of Choosing Wisely by employers and their employees and family members. Planned activities include convening a consumer/purchaser advisory committee to enhance Choosing Wisely dissemination strategies to improve care and reduce unnecessary procedures/treatments, and measurement of outcomes around educational promotion of Choosing Wisely recommendations that have the most significant impact to employers (e.g. overuse of imaging).

“We are delighted by the opportunities present in this new partnership for the Choosing Wisely campaign,” said Richard J. Baron, MD, President and CEO of the ABIM Foundation. “The National Alliance and its network across the country provide a new and vitally important avenue of outreach to advance conversations about overuse in health care.”

In late 2017, the ABIM Foundation released Choosing Wisely: A Special Report On The First Five Years to outline the many ways the program is inspiring conversations, projects and collaborations to reduce overuse in health care.

About ABIM Foundation

The mission of the ABIM Foundation is to advance medical professionalism to improve the health care system. This is achieved by collaborating with physicians and physician leaders, medical trainees, health care delivery systems, payers, policy makers, consumer organizations and patients to foster a shared understanding of professionalism and how they can adopt the tenets of professionalism in practice. To learn more about the ABIM Foundation, visit www.abimfoundation.org, connect on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

About Choosing Wisely^®

First announced in December 2011, Choosing Wisely^® is part of a multi-year effort led by the ABIM Foundation to support and engage physicians in being better stewards of finite health care resources. Participating specialty societies are working with the ABIM Foundation to share the lists widely with their members and convene discussions about the physician’s role in helping patients make wise choices. Learn more at www.ChoosingWisely.org. 

About National Alliance

The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions is a nonprofit network of business coalitions, representing more than 12,000 purchasers and 45 million Americans. The National Alliance is dedicated to driving innovation, health, and value along with its coalition members through the collective action of public and private purchasers. The organization seeks to accelerate the nation’s progress toward safe, efficient, high-quality healthcare and the improved health status of the American population. To learn more, visit nationalalliancehealth.org or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

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• The 2018 Leadership Summits, will be held March 14-15, 2018 in Dallas, focused on four key tracks of growing importance to employers – Healthy Minds, Obesity, Caregiving, and Culture & Community. The Summits’ offer employers, coalitions, and other healthcare stakeholders a fresh view on how to better define market opportunities and strategies critical to addressing these issues of growing importance to purchasers.

 

• The 23^rd Annual Forum, held November 12-14, 2018 in Washington, brings together employers and other healthcare purchasers, business and health coalitions, health plans, providers, and other key stakeholders to focus on critical issues in the healthcare marketplace that promote value, quality, and a more engaged workforce.

 

Confirmed speakers for the 2018 Leadership Summits include:

• Liz Beckius, Senior Manager, Work Life Programs, Best Buy
• Susan Campbell, Senior Leader, Wellness Strategy, American Airlines
• Maureen Corcoran, Vice President, Health & Wellness, Prudential Financial
• Andy Crighton, Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, Prudential Financial
• Kim Fortunato, President, Campbell Soup Foundation, and Director of Community Affairs, Campbell Soup Company
• Mark Goldberg, Global Wellness Manager, Latham & Watkins
• Trina Histon, Senior Principal Consultant, Clinical & Operational Improvement, Obesity Kaiser Permanente
• Melissa Hohenberger, Health and Productivity Manager, VWR Scientific Products
• Nance Lee Mosquera, Employee Benefits Manager, City of St. Paul
• Bruce Rogen, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Cleveland Clinic Employee Health Plan
• Bob Stephen, Vice President, Caregiving and Health, AARP
• Mike B. Weiner, LMSW, EY Assist Leader, Total Rewards, Ernst & Young
• Michelle Zamperetti, Assistant Director, Community Health Programs, GE Ventures

 

Registration is complimentary for all employers affiliated with a National Alliance member coalition. For additional details and to register for the 2018 Leadership Summits, visit: http://www.nationalalliancehealth.org/2018leadershipsummits/home.

 

About National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions

The National Alliance is a nonprofit network of business coalitions, representing more than 12,000 purchasers and 45 million Americans. The National Alliance is dedicated to driving innovation, health, and value along with its coalition members through the collective action of public and private purchasers. The organization seeks to accelerate the nation’s progress toward safe, eff

• Mike B. Weiner, LMSW, EY Assist Leader, Total Rewards, Ernst & Young

icient, high-quality healthcare and the improved health status of the American population. To learn more, visit nationalalliancehealth.org or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

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Note to editors: A limited number of passes are available for accredited media at these events upon request.

Started by clinicians, advocates and economists as an effort to forgive $8 million of medical debt for needy families in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the non-profit Campaign to End Medical Debt is expanding to forgive medical debt for high-need families and veterans and to prevent medical debt in the first place. A volunteer effort, the Campaign is supported by founding partners HealthBegins, RIP Medical Debt and the Research Consortium on Medical Debt.

 

“Our national and regional structure of coalition member change agents across the country offers deep knowledge of healthcare and specifically the regional environments that make the National Alliance ideally suited to assist the countrywide expansion of the Campaign to End Medical Debt,” said Michael Thompson, National Alliance president and CEO. “Given the far-reaching impact of medical debt to nearly everyone –  friends, neighbors and employees – it’s critical that this effort is part of a broader strategy to educate individuals, hospitals and employers about ways to reduce and prevent medical debt in the first place.”

 

December 19 Webinar

As part of these education efforts, the National Alliance is hosting a webinar for coalitions and their employer members and other healthcare stakeholders on Tuesday, Dec. 19, from 2:00-3:00 pm Eastern. Rishi Manchanda, MD, president HealthBegins, will lead the webinar and offer insights as to how the Campaign works and ways to expand the program throughout the US. For additional details or to register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/843433557706700035.

 

“This holiday season is an ideal time to grow our impact to forgive and prevent medical debt nationwide,” said Dr. Manchanda. “Our Campaign to End Medical Debt coalition bundles gifts from generous donors to buy large portfolios of medical debt for pennies on the dollar. We then forgive that debt, impacting thousands of families. Donations also support our efforts to educate people about specific ways to reduce or prevent medical debt in the first place.”

 

Far-reaching impact

A $50 tax-deductible donation to the Campaign to End Medical Debt eliminates approximately $5,000 of medical debt for a needy family. As the donation amounts grow, so does the impact with a $500 donation eliminating $50,000, and $1,000 relieving at least $100,000 of burdensome medical debt.

 

About Campaign to End Medical Debt

Launched by clinicians and advocates, the Campaign to End Medical Debt is a coalition effort that improves the financial security and health of high risk, vulnerable populations by forgiving and preventing medical debt and its harmful effects. For more information and to get involved, please visit www.endmedicaldebt.org or connect with us on Twitter.

 

About HealthBegins

Founded by physicians and public health experts, HealthBegins believes that healthcare is better when it routinely addresses ‘upstream’ social and environmental conditions that make people sick, especially for our most vulnerable patients and communities. HealthBegins advances a culture of health in the US and abroad by mobilizing and equipping health professionals to improve care and the social determinants of health. For more information, please visit www.healthbegins.org.

 

About RIP Medical Debt

RIP Medical Debt is a nonprofit organization that allows generous donors and organizations to erase the debt of Americans whose lives have been ruined by destructive medical debt. Founded in 2014 by two former collections industry executives, Craig Antico & Jerry Ashton, RIP rose to national prominence on an episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver that has been viewed almost 10 million times, where RIP facilitated the erasure of $15 million in medical debt that only cost $60,000. To learn more, and get involved, visit www.ripmedicaldebt.org.

 

About National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions

The National Alliance is a nonprofit network of business health coalitions, representing more than 12,000 purchasers and 41 million Americans. The National Alliance through its regional network of coalitions are dedicated to driving innovation, health and value through the collective action of public and private purchasers. The organization seeks to accelerate the nation’s progress toward safe, efficient, high-quality healthcare and the improved health status of the American population. To learn more, visit nationalalliancehealth.org or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

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“We’re pleased to highlight the efforts of Southwire and the Nevada Business Group on Health as prime examples of employers and coalitions committed to improving the health and productivity of their workforce and communities,” said Michael Thompson, National Alliance president and CEO.

 

Southwire, based in Carrollton, Ga., is one of North America’s largest manufacturers and distributors of wire and cable products. The company is an active member of EmployersLikeMe, a coalition of Georgia employers focused on improving the health and wellbeing of Georgia’s communities and workforce.

 

Since 1993, Southwire has provided on-site medical and pharmacy services for its Carrollton, Ga. employees. While on-site health services are not a new concept, more businesses are considering these options as healthcare costs continue to escalate. Southwire has expanded this idea by managing specialty drug spending and extending their on-site pharmacy to serve locations around the United States.

 

“Specialty drug spending is growing at double digit rates and is one of the largest, growing costs for employers,” said Lisa Evans, senior director of Living Well for Southwire.“While costs are going up at an accelerated rate, we have identified ways to bend the trend. Through the efforts of our on-site pharmacy, we have been able to manage our specialty drug spending and better serve our employees.”

 

Recognized for its leadership in innovative contracting initiatives, the Nevada Business Group on Health (NVBGH)/Nevada Health Partners is a non-profit business group of local employers, anchored by large self-insured public and private companies. These employers are leading the way to quality health care in our community balancing value based care to improve health and lower costs.

 

“This recognition was accepted on behalf of our employer members who are leading the way in making meaningful changes to improve the value and quality of healthcare for our employees, employer members and the community,” said Chris Syverson, NVBGH CEO who accepted the award at the annual conference on behalf of the coalition with Larry Harvey, Director of Human Resources at Click Bond, Inc. and NVBGH co-founder and board chair.

 

About National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions

The National Alliance is a nonprofit network of business health coalitions, representing more than 12,000 purchasers and 41 million Americans. The National Alliance through its coalitions  are dedicated to driving innovation, health and value through the collective action of public and private purchasers. The organization seeks to accelerate the nation’s progress toward safe, efficient, high-quality healthcare and the improved health status of the American population. To learn more, visit nationalalliancehealth.org or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

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“Employers have been left with little choice but to chart their own course to support and improve the health, wellbeing and productivity of their workforce while managing the costs and value of a run-away system,” said Mike Thompson, National Alliance President and CEO. “We developed much of the content and invited thought leaders with this in mind. This year’s conference will offer insights and best practice strategies to enable employers and coalitions to collectively act as a national force to bring about meaningful change.”

 

The conference theme, Driving Innovation, Health and Value - Perspectives, Policy and Practices, reflects the combination of fresh perspectives and leading practices that will shape our health strategies in the next few years. Conference topics include:

• Innovation – Employers Take the Wheel in Healthcare Marketplace; Innovation in Value-based Contracting; Re-framing Our Approach to Successful Obesity Initiatives
• Health Benefits Strategy – Strategies and Insights from the UAW Trust; Bringing it Together for Health, Wellbeing and Value; Consumerism: The Next Generation
• Health & Wellbeing – Population Health- A Fresh Look Across the Spectrum; Stepping Up on Opioids and Pain Management; Mental Health: Executing on our Collective Agenda
• Value Based Marketplace – Health Policy Perspectives: What's Next? What's needed?; Getting out of the Box with Primary Care; Value in Drug Spend- Getting to the Heart of the Matter

 

Speakers include:

• Rob Andrews, CEO, Health Transformation Alliance
• Adam Beck, Vice President at America's Health Insurance Plans
• Leah Binder, President & CEO, The Leapfrog Group
• Todd Bisping, Compensation and Benefits Manager, Caterpillar
• Ceci Connolly, President & CEO, Alliance of Community Health Plans
• Suzanne Delbanco, President, Catalyst for Payment Reform
• Dr. Jeffrey Durmer, Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer, Fusion Health
• Paul Fronstin, Director, Health Research & Education, Employee Benefit Research Institute
• James Gelfand, Senior Vice President, Health Policy, The ERISA Industry Committee
• Joel Hopper, Enterprise Data Management & Analytics, Kimberly-Clark Corporation
• Dr. Ivor Horn, Chief Medical Officer, Accolade
• Andrew Hu, Director, Public Policy, Patient-Centered Outcomes and Research Institute
• Mary Beth Kuderik, Chief Strategy & Financial Officer, UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust
• Dominic Lorusso, Director, Health Partnerships, Consumer Reports
• Nick Macchione, Agency Director, County of San Diego, HHSA Agency
• Brian Marcotte, President & CEO, National Business Group on Health
• Benjamin Miller, Chief Policy Officer, Well Being Trust
• Marcia Peterson, Manager Benefit Design and Strategy, Washington State Health Care Authority
• Lynn Quincy, Director Healthcare Value Hub, Altarum Institute
• John Schall, Chief Executive Officer, Caregiver Action Network
• Mark Stadler, CEO, Bridge Health
• Garen Staglin, Co-Founder and Chairman, One Mind

 

Registration is complimentary for all employers affiliated with a National Alliance member coalition. For additional details and to register for the conference, visit: https://www.nationalalliancehealth.org/2017annualconference/home.

 

About National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions

The National Alliance (formerly the National Business Coalition on Health) is a nonprofit network of business coalitions, representing more than 12,000 purchasers and 45 million Americans. The National Alliance is dedicated to driving innovation, health, and value along with its coalition members through the collective action of public and private purchasers. The organization seeks to accelerate the nation’s progress toward safe, efficient, high-quality healthcare and the improved health status of the American population. To learn more, visit nationalalliancehealth.org or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

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Note to editors: A limited number of passes are available for accredited media upon request.

 

“The National Alliance is focused on driving innovation health and value in healthcare and these coalition leaders play a critical role in shaping and driving our strategic agenda,” said Michael Thompson, National Alliance president and CEO. “Our organization is not only fortunate to have the participation of these industry experts, but we’re also seeing growth of our membership as new coalitions are being developed throughout the country. Our key areas of focus will continue to include thoughtful health reform, value-based contracting, specialty drugs, community health initiatives, obesity, mental health and wellbeing.”

Elected Officers to the Board of Governors:

• Chair – Neil Goldfarb, President and CEO, Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health
• Vice-chair – Jessica Brooks, Chief Executive Officer, Pittsburgh Business Group on Health
• Secretary/Treasurer – Chris Skisak, Executive Director, Houston Business Coalition on Health
• Representative, – Cristie Upshaw Travis, CEO, Memphis Business Group on Health
• Representative – Karen van Caulil, President and CEO, Florida Health Care Coalition

Elected At Large Representative to the Board of Governors:

• Denise Giambalvo, Executive Director, Employers’ Health Coalition
• Christopher Goff, CEO and General Counsel, Employers Health
• Diane Hess, Executive Director, Central Penn Business Group on Health
• Anne Ladd, CEO, Wyoming Business Coalition on Health
• Laurel Pickering, President and CEO, Northeast Business Group on Health
• Chris Syverson, CEO, Nevada Business Group on Health
• Lisa Wear-Ellington, President/CEO, South Carolina Business Group on Health

New this year to add additional skill sets and industry expertise to leadership, the National Alliance has opened the board to two external (non-coalition) members:

• Garry Carneal, Founder, Schooner Strategies and Senior Policy Advisor, Kennedy Forum
• Kulleni Gebreyes, Principal, Health Industries Advisory Practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers

Growing national footprint

The National Alliance continues to add new member coalitions in communities throughout the US, with The Economic Alliance for Michigan and the North Carolina Business Group on Health the most recent organizations to join.

Annual Conference

Convening employers, policymakers, business coalition leaders and other healthcare stakeholders, the National Alliance will host its 24th Annual Conference, November 13-15, 2017 in Arlington, VA. Registration and sponsorship information can be found here.

About National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions

The National Alliance is a nonprofit network of business coalitions, representing more than 12,000 purchasers and 41 million Americans. The National Alliance is dedicated to driving innovation, health, and value along with its coalition members through the collective action of public and private purchasers. The organization seeks to accelerate the nation’s progress toward safe, efficient, high-quality healthcare and the improved health status of the American population. To learn more, visit nationalalliancehealth.org or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.
                                                                                                                                     # # #

 

 

The Five Rights framework targets critical issues and opportunities for specialty stakeholders including manufacturers, providers, health plans, and pharmacy benefit managers. The framework outlines key areas for each stakeholder to improve and was developed to raise purchaser expectations for industry stakeholders to help them better understand, evaluate and improve the specialty drug marketplace.

“Specialty drugs are the fastest growing area of spend for employers today,” said Mike Thompson, National Alliance president and CEO. “While these new drugs are truly innovative and important, the specialty drug marketplace itself is dysfunctional with high cost, high variation and high waste. We need to collaborate with stakeholders to wring out the costs of poor quality and unwarranted cost, complexity and conflicts.”

The framework was developed as a collaborative effort of the National Alliance and several purchaser-led member coalitions including the Minnesota Health Action Group, Midwest Business Group on Health and the Florida Health Care Coalition. The information is being shared with purchaser coalitions across the country.

“After two years of intensive study, Action Group members developed this framework to offer a common ground for all stakeholders,” said Carolyn Pare, president and CEO for the Minnesota Health Action Group, developer of the initial Five Rights. “Offering a road map for the Right Drug, Right Price, Right Place, Right Support and Right Data, this framework provides insights for each stakeholder to do their part to deliver on that promise.”

Cheryl Larson, vice president for the Midwest Business Group on Health, a coalition that developed and is leading a national employer specialty drug initiative added, “Vendor contracting should be based on full transparency and accountability to eliminate waste, reduce the impact of middlemen, mitigate costs and lead to overall improved plan performance and member health. We’ve established these rules of engagement to assist employers in raising the bar.”

Highlights of The Five Rights framework includes:

• Base practices and decisions on clinical efficacy and safety independent of conflicted interests.
• Cover testing that supports improved assessment of correct drug, dose, and duration of treatment for specific patient.
• Require purchaser transparency and engagement on key issues and National Drug Codes used by all providers, in all settings.
• Align value based contracting with performance and adherence to high value drugs with correct dose and duration consistent with guidelines.
• Require cost parity or benefits differentials across sites of care for same drugs and services.
• Support patients on drug administration and needed emotional and social support to increase adherence and improve outcomes.
• Discontinue consumer coupon programs that encourage use of low-value, high-cost drugs in place of therapeutically equivalent.

“As purchasers and purchaser coalitions, we play a critical role to help rationalize the specialty drug marketplace,” said Karen van Caulil, president and CEO of the Florida Health Care Coalition and National Alliance board chair. “When we act together and are open to disruptive innovation, we can change the system for the better.”

Additional details can be found on the National Alliance website.

About National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions The National Alliance is a nonprofit network of business health coalitions, representing more than 12,000 purchasers and 41 million Americans. The National Alliance through its coalitions are dedicated to driving innovation, health, and value through the collective action of public and private purchasers. The organization seeks to accelerate the nation’s progress toward safe, efficient, high-quality healthcare and the improved health status of the American population. To learn more, visit nationalalliancehealth.org or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.