| Provide Your Feedback to the Group Purchasing Committee |
As you may remember, The Alliance formed a Group Purchasing Committee of employer representatives to identify and evaluate wellness vendors that offer turn-key solutions for members. The committee, which recently had its first meeting, includes the following member representatives: Diane Aaroen, Webcrafters, Inc., Madison, Wis. Laurie Kelly, Park Bank, Madison, Wis. Brian Baumgart, Nord Gear Corporation, Waunakee,Wis. John Becker, Rock County, Janesville, Wis. Lisa Reimer, Foremost Farms USA, Baraboo, Wis. Jan Bruss, Lab Safety Supply, Janesville, Wis. Kristi Schalow, Trek Bicycle Corporation, Waterloo, Wis. Wendy Culver, SPHR, Mead & Hunt, Madison, Wis. Colleen Esch-Smith, Clack Corporation, Windsor, Wis. Jean Stefano, Hendricks Holding Company, Inc. dba ABC Supply Co. Inc., Beloit, Wis. Mat Haeger, School District of Janesville, Janesville, Wis. Sheridy Zimmerman, Fiskars Brands, Inc., Madison, Wis. To guide their work, they are looking for feedback from agents on wellness vendors that you'd recommend. Please take a few moments today to provide your feedback by completing this short survey. If you have questions about the Group Purchasing Committee, please call John Stampen, Alliance product development manager, 800.223.4139, ext. 6636.
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| The Alliance 2008 Annual Meeting |
As you know, we recently held our 2008 Annual Meeting, which included a year-end review, election of the Board of Directors, and educational session. If you haven't yet, download a copy of the presentations and an executive summary of the Nuts and Bolts (and Legal How-Tos) of Carrots and Sticks today.
The following members were elected to serve as representatives of the Board at the Annual Meeting:
Lee Bauman, President
WI Auto & Truck Dealers Insurance Corp., Madison, Wis.
Paul Lefebvre, Chief Financial Officer WEA Insurance Corporation, Madison, Wis.
Wendy Culver, SPHR, Human Resources Director
Mead & Hunt, Madison, Wis.
Jennifer Pagels, Manager - Human Resources
Trek Bicycle Corporation, Waterloo, Wis.
They will join the following member representatives, serving on the Board for 2009:
Brian Baumgart, Chief Financial Officer/VP/Treasurer
Nord Gear Corporation, Waunakee, Wis.
Vikki Brueggeman, Director of Human Resources
Zimbrick, Inc., Madison, Wis.
Ed Herrman, Director, Human Resources
Monroe Truck Equipment, Monroe, Wis.
Michael McDonald, V.P., Human Resources, Safety and Communication
Foremost Farms USA, Baraboo, Wis.
Angel Tullar, Manager of Employee Relations
School District of Janesville, Janesville, Wis.
Pat Whitmore, Vice President of Human Resources
HUFCOR, Inc., Janesville, Wis.
Timothy Wolff, Director of Human Resources
The Swiss Colony, Inc., Monroe, Wis.
We're pleased to recognize these members for their exceptional leadership, support of and service to The Alliance.
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| New Toolkit: Using Information to Get High Quality Care |
Encouraging workers to make informed, evidence-based decisions about their health care is an important strategy to control costs and improve the health of employees.
A new tool by the National Business Group on Health can help employers do just that. The Communication Toolkit: Using Information to Get High Quality Care takes the concepts of making health care decisions on evidence and translates them into language that employees can understand.
The materials included in the toolkit were developed based on extensive research and testing with employees, employers, unions and others. This research included reviews of current literature, interviews with employers and focus groups with employees.
To access the toolkit, visit www.businessgrouphealth.org/benefitstopics/et_communications.cfm. For future reference, this and other helpful tools are also available on our Employer Resource Center Web-Based Resources section.
To access, visit our Employer Resource Center and click on the Wellness Planner Feature graphic. Next select Web-based Resources in the bottom left. From the new Alliance Web site, www.the-alliance.org, you can access the Employer Resource Center by clicking on the green logo.
To access this information, you'll need your password. If you don't know your password, call Jen Linden, 608.210.6635, or 800.223.4139, ext.6635, and she will be happy to assist you.
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| Alliance Staff Member Featured at National Conference |
John Bott, The Alliance's value-based purchasing manager was featured on a panel of experts at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) 2008 Conference: Promoting Quality, Partnering for Change in September. As a member of the panel, Bott provided insight into the question:
"What has to change in American health care so that in 5 years, we're not having the same discussion about why health care isn't safer, more effective, and less costly than it is today?"
Bott provided information on ways to help consumers understand and evaluate quality, cost measurement and transparency as well as the need for more significant measures in value-based purchasing.
Other members of the panel included: Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Director, AHRQ; Dr. Arthur Kellermann, Associate Dean for Health Policy at Emory University School of Medicine; Dr. Darrell Kirsch, President and CEO, Association of American Medical Colleges; and Carol Cronin, Founder, The Informed Patient Institute.
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| QualityCounts for Employees |
- Health care-associated infections cause nearly 90,000 deaths each year. This piece includes tips employees can take to avoid one of these infections.
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| News You Can Use |
The Alliance highlights health care and benefit management news for employers in News You Can Use with a link to take you to the original story or report.
- The Deloitte Center for Health Solutions released their 2008 Survey of Health Care Consumers. Read some of the highlights here.
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| About the Agent and Consulting Briefing |
Each month, The Alliance Agent and Consultant Briefing delivers the latest news to insurance agents and consultants about Alliance services, programs and events as well as information on health benefit trends, issues, and ideas of interest to our mutual clients. Subscriptions are available on a complimentary basis. To subscribe, please send an e-mail message with your name and agency to the Sales and Member Services Department.
Reader comments, suggestions, and topics are always welcome.
Cathy Lanser, Editor
Melanie Cannon, Designer
Mary Borland, Director, Sales and Member Services
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| Don't Forget to Register for Weighing the Issue of Obesity in the Workplace |
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November 11, 2008
7:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center
Obesity is one of the most critical health issues facing workers today. You need effective solutions to manage and prevent obesity in your organization.
Join us to learn more about obesity, the economic consequences, and the impact it has on your employees and your bottom line. Receive tangible tools and ideas for action that you can take with you.
Download an Invitation and Register today! | |
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The Alliance encourages employers to distribute the