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Category: Employee Engagement

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

On the Minds of Health Benefits Managers: Health Plan Design and Management Tips

Questions abound as health benefits managers rise to meet the challenges of changing health landscape, so we sat down with Joseph McCool, Principal of The McCool Group and moderator of the Employer Panel at Validation Institute’s Memphis Health Care Benefits Summit, to talk through some of the hot-button topics we’ve heard from employers while out on the road. Ensure employees have access to outcome-driven primary care physicians to reduce costs over time Healthcare... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Commentary Benefit Design Employee Engagement Health Benefits

Thursday, February 16, 2017

MBGH CEO Culture of Health Initiative Receives National Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 16, 2016 Contact: Bailey Jacobs , U.S. Chamber Foundation, 202-463-57               Memphis Business Group on Health Named a Winner of the Inaugural Health Means Business Healthy10 Awards   February 16, 2017—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Health Means Business campaign named Memphis Business Group on Health  one of the 10 winners of the inaugural Healthy 10 Awards ,... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Thursday, February 16, 2017
Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement Health and Wellness CEO Culture of Health Healthier Tennessee National Leadership

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

RivalHealth CEO, Pete Durand, to Keynote MBGH Annual Awards Luncheon

Pete Durand, CEO of RivalHealth, will keynote MBGH's Annual Awards Luncheon on April 27, 2017 11:30-1:00 at Rhodes College. He will also sit in on our CEO Culture of Health Learning Session at 10:00 that morning.  Fitness, it's what Pete does. A recovering engineer, MBA and somewhat scarred/successful entrepreneur, he decided that pouring passion into your career makes sense only if you REALLY believe in what you do. Eight years ago Pete started RivalHealth, a company... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement Health and Wellness CEO Culture of Health

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

MBGH Hospital Safety Grade Facebook Ad Reaches 8,000 Memphians!

To reach more Memphis-area residents to help them learn about the Hospitals Safety Grade and see results for local hospitals, MBGH ran an ad on Facebook for a week last fall. Click here to read about Memphis hospital grades. The results were impressive with 7,920 people reached and 696 engaging with the post by clicking on the map or going to the Hospital Safety Grade website for more information. Although it makes sense, it was interesting to note that as people aged they were... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Tuesday, January 3, 2017
The Leapfrog Group Report Cards Quality Employee Engagement Hospital Safety Score

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

See Why Cristie Thinks You Should Attend the August 18 Conference

Your browser doesn't support video. Please download the file: video/mp4 Click here to learn more and register Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Tuesday, July 12, 2016
MBGH Annual Conference Employee Engagement

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

MBGH 2016 Conference Update: More Breakout Sessions Announced

Click here to register for MBGH's August 18, 2016 Annual Conference "Rethink Employee Engagement to Drive Better Results". Early registration ends July 10 and prices increase July 11. Three more breakout sessions will be offered at 10:45. Start thinking now about which one you will attend. They are all excellent and you can only attend one!  ReThink: The Essential Role of Benefits Communication in Employee Engagement Brandon Moore, Strategic Accounts Manager,... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Tuesday, July 5, 2016
MBGH Annual Conference Employee Engagement

Monday, June 13, 2016

MBGH 2016 Conference Update: First Three Breakout Sessions Announced!

Click here to register for our 2016 Wellness & Health Benefits Conference "Rethink Employee Engagement to Drive Better Results" on August 18, 2016! You will get to attend one of the following 9:30 breakout sessions. Start thinking about it now because they are all excellent and it will be a tough choice! ReThink: Full Engagement: Harnessing the Power of Participation Barbara McClanahan, PhD, EdD, Associate Professor, University of Memphis Health Promotion... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Monday, June 13, 2016
MBGH Annual Conference Employee Engagement

Friday, May 27, 2016

Keynote Speakers Announced for MBGH 2016 Wellness & Health Benefit Conference

Click here to register now to come "Rethink Employee Engagement to Drive Better Results" and hear from these national experts on why you must rethink your approach and which strategies work to engage employees and reduce health benefit cost trend! Shelly Wolff, Health and Workforce Effectiveness Leader and a senior consultant in Willis Towers Watson's New York City office , kicks off the conference addressing the very real disconnect between the health and wellness... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Friday, May 27, 2016
Benefit Design Worksite Wellness MBGH Annual Conference Employee Engagement Health Benefits Health and Wellness

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Is There a Link Between Worker Health, Stock Price?

According to three new peer-reviewed studies released in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, there is growing evidence that the health and well-being of an organization is one component of a high-performing, well-managed organization. An article in Employee Benefit News notes that  "The studies examined the change in stock prices for three portfolios of employers after they won awards for their employee wellness programs or self-scored themselves as having a... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement Health and Wellness CEO Culture of Health

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Learn What Works for Worksite Wellness Programs in Memphis

A special learning and networking session only for MBGH members and participants in our CEO Culture of Health program on April 26, 2016. MBGH knows that you want to learn from each other what works in worksite wellness programs and how you made it work.  Knowing what works right here in Memphis and Shelby County will give you confidence to consider similar programs and you will have someone you can contact to get more information, advice, and to share back your experience. MBGH... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Worksite Wellness MBGH Member Benefits Employee Engagement Health and Wellness CEO Culture of Health Healthier Tennessee

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Employers Get Ready for "It's Quittin' Time in Tennessee"

February 22-26 is "It's Quittin' Time in Tennessee" week, a statewide campaign to promote awareness of and resources for quitting smoking. Click here to download the graphic and use it in your communications to show your employees this is a community-wide campaign! The evidence is clear why employers should care: Quitting smoking saves lives, improves health and reduces health care costs. Reducing workforce smoking rates improves employee health, increases... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement Tobacco Cessation Health and Wellness CEO Culture of Health

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Menu and Vending Machine Calorie Labeling Regulations Announced

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has finalized two rules requiring that calorie information be listed on menus and menu boards in chain restaurants and similar retail food establishments and vending machines.  This is a significant act and will go a long way in helping your employees and their families make wiser choices when they eat out or use your company vending machine. We know that transparency changes behavior!   Menu labeling final rule: Applies to restaurants and... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Commentary Health Reform Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement community health Obesity Health and Wellness CEO Culture of Health

Friday, November 14, 2014

Engaging Employees Year Round Ranks as #1 Communication Challenge for Employers

Most employers (56%) say improving employees’ understanding and perceived value of benefits is their main focus, yet companies still lack personalized benefits communication at a time when it’s commonly expected by employees.   These are among the findings of a new survey of more than 330 employers conducted by the non-profit National Business Coalition on Health and Benz Communications. A collaborative effort, the 2014 Inside Benefits Communication Survey gathered key data from... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Friday, November 14, 2014
Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement Health Benefits

Monday, October 6, 2014

A Culture of Health Spreads Throughout Duncan-Williams Inc.

“My father passed away at 56 from heart disease. He worked hard his entire life in a very stress filled business, and ultimately his health suffered from it. So it has always been important to me to try and stay healthy,” Duncan Williams, President of Duncan-Williams, Inc. explains. Duncan’s personal connection with health and wellness has ultimately spurred the adoption of a worksite culture conducive to health at Duncan-Williams, Inc. Duncan-Williams, Inc. is one of forty-nine companies... Read More
Posted by Tara Hill at Monday, October 6, 2014
Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement Health and Wellness CEO Culture of Health

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Employers Share Efforts to Adopt Value-based Health Benefit Strategies

NOTE: MBGH members have access to a Purchaser Self-Assessment Tool that will help you identify where you need to improve the effectiveness of your health benefit plan. This tool can lay a foundation for you to move in a similar direction as these employers. Contact Cristie Travis for more information. From the National Business Coalition on Health:  Improving health while reducing costs was a key focus for the employers who participated in the American Health Strategy Project... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Benefit Design Worksite Wellness Value-Based Benefits Employee Engagement

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Benefit Designs Should Include "Clinical Nuances" to Reduce Costs

From the National Business Coalition on Health: Drs. Mark Fendrick and John Ayanian argue that in order to shift health care spending from volume-based to value-based, payment models must consider certain “clinical nuances.” The authors conclude that "By basing consumer cost sharing on the clinical value – not the price – of services, payers can actively engage consumers in seeking high-value care and foster more regular conversations with providers regarding low-value services."  ... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Saturday, January 18, 2014
Benefit Design Value-Based Benefits Employee Engagement Health Benefits Diabetes

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Employee Wellness Programs Can Reduce Health Costs, Hospital Admissions

From the National Business Coalition on Health : According to a report on PepsiCo's Healthy Living wellness program published in Health Affairs, employee participation in BOTH disease and lifestyle-management workplace wellness programs resulted in a cost reduction of $160 per month and a 66% decline in hospital admissions. The disease-management program alone helped employees cut health costs by $136 each month. Employees that only participated in the lifestyle-management initiative did... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Saturday, January 18, 2014
Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement Health Benefits Choosing Wisely Campaign Health and Wellness

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Program Overview: CEO Cancer Gold Standard

In the CEO Culture of Health Initiative, participating employers select one of four national, evidence-based programs to serve as a road map for their comprehensive worksite wellness program. The CEO Cancer Gold Standard is one of the choices. What is the Gold Standard? The CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ is a series of health-related recommendations with special emphasis on cancer, developed by the CEO Roundtable on Cancer, to promote healthy lifestyles in the workplace. The Gold... Read More
Posted by Tara Hill at Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement Cancer Health and Wellness CEO Culture of Health

Monday, September 23, 2013

Plan Worksite Activities for Food Day: October 24th

Memphis area employers and their employees have a great opportunity this month to get involved in support of Food Day: a national campaign for healthy, affordable, and sustainable food. Food Day is October 24th and employers are encouraged to get their companies involved! Food Day aims to help American's eat real. This means choosing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and sustainably raised protein over sugar drinks, packaged foods and factory-farmed meats.This can be achieved at your own... Read More
Posted by Tara Hill at Monday, September 23, 2013
Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

New MBGH Staff Will Focus on Worksite Health & Wellness

Memphis Business Group on Health is pleased to announce that Tara Hill has joined our staff as Project Coordinator to assist our members in planning worksite health and wellness strategies, including early program implementation, and to coordinate MBGH's CEO Culture of Health initiative. Tara is available to provide assistance to MBGH members and employers who have signed on to the CEO Culture of Health initiative. As part of that assistance, she can: perform a brief worksite health... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Worksite Wellness MBGH Member Benefits Employee Engagement

Monday, March 18, 2013

TN Receives an "F" in Price Transparency

Tennessee is one of 29 states that received an "F" in a report released today by Health Care Incentives Improvement and Catalyst for Payment Reform. Tennessee is among the majority of states that provides information on hospital and some outpatient "charges". But we know that "charges" are only relevant to those that have no insurance since both public and private insurance plans negotiate prices and therefore do not pay charges. In fact, the negotiated price has little, if any, relationship... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Monday, March 18, 2013
Commentary MBGH Annual Conference Payment Reform Employee Engagement Consumer Directed Health Plans Price Transparency

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Engaged Employees Exercise More, Eat Healthier

The Gallup Daily tracking interviews in 2012 showed that engaged employees eat healthier and exercise more than non-engaged employees or disengaged employees.  This is not the first connection Gallup research shows between employee engagement and health. Previous Gallup research shows that engaged employees: Are healthier overall with fewer chronic diseases and lower obesity rates Are 21% more likely to participate in worksite wellness programs Gallup points out that it is not... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Cost Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement Health Benefits Obesity Diabetes

Monday, March 11, 2013

More Physician Groups Release Lists of Tests and Procedures We May Not Need

On February 21, 2013,  the Choosing Wisely® campaign released an additional 18 lists of tests or procedures to question, highlighting potentially unnecessary — sometimes harmful — care provided in the United States.   More than 130 tests and procedures to question have been released as part of the ABIM Foundation’s Choosing Wisely® campaign, which aims to spark conversations between patients and physicians about what care is really necessary.   Each specialty society... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Monday, March 11, 2013
Cost Getting Quality Care Campaign MBGH Member Benefits Employee Engagement Choosing Wisely Campaign

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

MBGH Awarded Grant to Expand National Diabetes Prevention Program in Tennessee

The National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH) announced that six member coalitions have been selected to receive $182,000 in funding of grants and stipends to increase awareness and lay the groundwork for coverage of the lifestyle change program that is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP). This initiative is a public-private partnership designed to bring to communities an evidence-based... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Benefit Design Worksite Wellness MBGH Member Benefits Employee Engagement Diabetes National Diabetes Prevention Program

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Workers Recognize Rewards of Workplace Wellness Programs

From the National Business Coalition on Health: More American workers recognize the rewards of participating in workplace wellness programs, according to the latest survey from Principal Financia l. Sixty-two percent of workers, up from 55% in 2011, believe workplace wellness activities are successful in improving health and reducing health risks. In addition, 51% of respondents feel wellness benefits encourage them to work harder and perform better, and another 59% of program... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Benefit Design Health Reform Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Consumer Attitudes on Health Care Costs

From the National Business Coalition on Health : New Robert Wood Johnson Foundation research shows many Americans don't understand why health care costs are increasing nor how the trend affects them on a daily basis. RWJF orchestrated a series of eight focus groups in four major U.S. cities: Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia and Charlotte, N.C. Four of the focus groups included people with employer-sponsored health insurance, two groups were comprised of people who were self-insured, one group was... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Saturday, January 12, 2013
Healthcare Cost Cost Employee Engagement Health Benefits Price Transparency

Monday, December 24, 2012

Survey: Consumers Welcome Active Role in Care

From the National Business Coalition on Health: American healthcare consumers are buying into the notion that they must take an active role in their healthcare, according to a recent survey by Wolters Kluwer Health. click here for the survey report. The survey found 80 percent of healthcare consumers believe the trend of individuals taking a more active role in their own care is positive for Americans. Further, and somewhat surprisingly, the consumers feel ready to do so: 76 percent... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Monday, December 24, 2012
Value-Based Benefits Employee Engagement Health Benefits

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Employees Get the Flu Vaccine For Economic Reasons

From the National Business Coalition on Health: A study presented on October 29, 2012 at the American Public Health Association annual meeting in San Francisco and recently published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that influenza-like illness took a significant toll on employee health and productivity during a recent influenza season. A new employer-sponsored influenza immunization program that was developed for this study was effective at engaging both... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement Health Benefits

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

HHS Releases Proposed Regulation on Incentives for Nondiscriminatory Wellness Programs

Helpful links to understand the specifics of this proposed rule: Health Affairs Blog:  http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2012/11/21/implementing-health-reform-wellness-programs-and-medicaid-faq/ Kaiser Health News coverage of all 3 proposed rules: http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2012/November/20/administration-releases-new-rules-for-health-law.aspx Coverage on all 3 of the proposed rules from across the nation at ... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Health Reform Worksite Wellness Value-Based Benefits Employee Engagement Health Benefits Tobacco Cessation

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

HHS Releases Proposed Regs: Essential Health Benefits, Actuarial Value, Accreditation Standards

Helpful links to help you understand the specifics of this proposed rule: Health Affairs Blog:   http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2012/11/21/implementing-health-reform-essential-health-benefits-actuarial-value-and-accreditation/ Kaiser Health News coverage of all 3 proposed rules:   http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2012/November/20/administration-releases-new-rules-for-health-law.aspx Coverage of all 3 proposed rules from across the nation:  ... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Benefit Design Health Reform Health Insurance Health Insurance Exchanges Value-Based Benefits Employee Engagement Preventive Services Health Benefits

Thursday, November 15, 2012

MBGH Launches Culture of Health Initiative

MBGH recently launched an initiative to encourage and assist Memphis-area employers in creating cultures of health within their organizations. This initiative is in support of Healthy Shelby (the most recent initiative of Memphis Fast Forward focused on better health, better care and lower costs as strategies for economic vitality). MBGH is working closely with Memphis Tomorrow, the association of chief executive officers of Memphis’ largest enterprises, to build CEO adoption and spread the... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Thursday, November 15, 2012
Worksite Wellness MBGH Member Benefits Employee Engagement Health Benefits

Thursday, November 15, 2012

State of Tennessee Wins Excellence in Value-Based Purchasing Award

The State of Tennessee, a member of Memphis Business Group on Health (MBGH), was presented with the Employer Excellence in Value-Based Purchasing Award at the National Business Coalition on Health’s (NBCH) annual conference. The award is sponsored by Ethicon Endo-Surgery and Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems. At the awards ceremony, Cristie Upshaw Travis, MBGH CEO, thanked the State on behalf of the citizens and tax payers of Tennessee, for taking bold steps to reign in the costs of... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Thursday, November 15, 2012
Benefit Design eValue8 Cost Value-Based Benefits Vendor Selection/Management Employee Engagement Health Benefits Members

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Employers Use Scoring Models as Part of Wellness Plans

From the National Business Coalition on Health: According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the future of employee wellness programs may be an individual health score, much like a consumer has a credit score. Allina Health of Minneapolis is among a growing number of employers using employee health scoring models, such as myHealthCheck and HealthCheck360°. The programs work by rating each employee based on health screening data. At Allina, employees who score high on myHealthCheck can get up... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Saturday, November 3, 2012
Benefit Design Worksite Wellness Value-Based Benefits Employee Engagement Health Benefits Consumer Directed Health Plans

Friday, September 21, 2012

Working to Get the CDC's Diabetes Prevention Program to Memphis!

As those of you that attended our September 6, 2012 Annual Conference know, MBGH is working through the National Business Coalition on Health and the CDC to get the CDC's National Diabetes Prevention Program to Memphis! This evidence-based, small-group setting, lifestyle coaching program is geared toward pre-diabetics, to help them not develop full-blown Type 2 diabetes. We know that generally, there are about 2.5 times as many pre-diabetics in the US as diabetics and the only way to slow... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Friday, September 21, 2012
Healthcare Cost Cost Worksite Wellness MBGH Annual Conference MBGH Member Benefits Payment Reform Employee Engagement Health Benefits

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Adult Obesity Rates Could Exceed 60% in TN by 2030

As you read this article on the impact of diabetes in the US and Tennessee and the potential we have to decrease the financial as well as disease-related impact by just decreasing our average BMI by 5%, consider participating in MBGH's efforts to bring the Center for Disease Control's National Diabetes Prevention Program to Memphis and Tennessee! See the presentations from our Annual Conference on this evidence-based, highly successful program and contact Cristie Travis at ... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Thursday, September 20, 2012
Commentary Healthcare Cost Cost MBGH Annual Conference MBGH Member Benefits Employee Engagement Preventive Services community health Obesity

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Poor Health Costs Employers $227 Billion in Lost Productivity

Take the MBGH Brief Worksite Health Assessment to see if you have the evidence-based policies, environmental and social supports in place to work in conjunction with your health benefit to increase the health and productivity of your employees! All participants in the survey will receive a report summarizing major findings so you can use it to benchmark your worksite programs with other employers across Memphis.Then read how poor health impacts your bottom line! From the National... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Healthcare Cost Cost Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement Preventive Services

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Hospitals as Employers Using Wellness Programs Find Benefits Beyond a Healthy Workforce

From the National Business Coalition on Health: Hospitals are emphasizing employee health, in part to give them credibility when they pitch wellness programs to other companies. Hospital executives increasingly agree that employee wellness programs show a hospital can manage population health and can help the facility stand out as an employer in competitive markets. According to Becker's Hospital Review , employee health management is an opportunity for hospitals to put their money where... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Accountable Care Organizations Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Employers Turn to Biometric Data To Manage Costs

From the National Business Coalition on Health: As employers continue to use wellness programs to improve employee behavior and their health, many are taking advantage of benefits automation tools; however, they also have not reached the potential for cost savings and operational efficiency, according to the 2012 Wellness & Benefits Administration Benchmarking Study by bswift. “Employers are actively modifying and upgrading their wellness programs as they learn from experience,... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Thursday, August 23, 2012
Benefit Design Healthcare Cost Cost Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement Health Benefits

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Survey Finds Wellness Strategies Gaining Traction as Way to Curb Health Cost Increases

From the National Business Coalition on Health: Global costs for employee health benefits are expected to increase this year, but wellness programs are gaining traction as a way to keep people healthier and lower long-term costs, according to the  2012 Towers Watson Global Medical Trends Survey  of insurers. Towers Watson officials say the rate of cost increases is slowing and 29% of insurers reported using wellness programs as one way to control costs. While traditional cost... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Saturday, July 28, 2012
Benefit Design Health Insurance Healthcare Cost Health Plans Cost Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement Health Benefits

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Participate in the Annual Purchasing Power Survey

Modern Healthcare has opened its annual Healthcare Purchasing Power survey for participation. This survey examines how much major employers spend on providing health care benefits and services to their employees; essentially, who pays for health care and how much it costs.  Co-sponsored by NBCH and the Leapfrog Group, this survey recognizes the growing power employers have to dictate how health care services are delivered. Participating companies are ranked by their health... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Benefit Design Health Insurance Employee Engagement Health Benefits

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Costs of Many Preventive Services Vary Widely: What Employers Can Do

Kelly Kennedy's April 6, 2012 article in USA Today sheds light on the significant variance in the costs of preventive services, now required to be covered by insurance at 100%, not subject to co-pays or deductibles. "Over the past year, health plans and self-insured employers began paying for wellness exams — diabetes screening, mammographies, Pap smears and colonoscopies — as required by the law, without charging consumers a deductible or co-payment. But in looking at 15,000 consumers, a... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Commentary Benefit Design Health Reform Health Insurance Healthcare Cost Cost Employee Engagement Preventive Services Health Benefits

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Disturbing Anti-Smoking Ads Convince Thousands to Quit

"(RNN) - Calls to a national stop-smoking line doubled and traffic to the government's anti-smoking website tripled after a hard-hitting TV advertising campaign seems to have convinced many Americans to quit the deadly habit. The Tips from Former Smokers ad campaign was launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Office on Smoking and Health on March 19. The commercials profile former smokers and others who have been affected by second-hand smoking. The... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Saturday, April 7, 2012
Commentary Benefit Design Health Insurance Healthcare Cost Cost Worksite Wellness Value-Based Benefits Employee Engagement Preventive Services Health Benefits

Friday, April 6, 2012

Physician Groups Identify Tests and Procedures That are Often Not Necessary

Nine physician organizations have each identified five tests or procedures that may be overused or unnecessary as part of the Choosing Wisely campaign led by the ABIM Foundation, with Consumer Reports, in an effort to improve health care quality and patient safety. Patient advocates are calling the move a significant step toward improving the quality and safety of health care. As the nation increasingly focuses on ways to provide safer, higher-quality care to patients, the overuse... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Friday, April 6, 2012
Quality Commentary Health Insurance Healthcare Cost Health Plans Getting Quality Care Campaign Employee Engagement Health Benefits

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Will CFOs Play or Pay Under Healthcare Reform?

Click here for copy. Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Thursday, April 5, 2012
Commentary Health Reform Health Policy Employee Engagement Health Benefits

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

A Must Watch: Easy Way to Explain "Bundled Payments" or "Flat Fees"

Yet another great video from BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, this one explains "bundled payments" or "flat fees" in a way that anyone can understand.   Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Quality Commentary Health Insurance Cost-Quality Connection Healthcare Cost Cost BlueCross BlueShield Getting Quality Care Campaign MBGH Annual Conference Employee Engagement

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Are You Meeting Your Obligations to Nursing Mothers?

One of the highlights of MBGH's "Believe in a Healthy Memphis: the 2011 Let's CHANGE Summit" held last July in collaboration with the Healthy Memphis Common Table, the Shelby County Health Department, and Shelby County Mayor Luttrell's office, was the decision to encourage breastfeeding friendly practices in all area birth hospitals. The Shelby County Breastfeeding Coalition is taking the lead on this important initiative. Clearly the hospital and its staff play a significant role in... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Commentary Health Reform Cost Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement Womens Health Health Benefits

Monday, January 30, 2012

ADP Survey: 40% of Employees Don't Understand Their Benefits

According to a recent article by Lisa Gillespie in Employee Benefit News... A new ADP survey shows a wide gap between the goals and reality of how employees understand their benefit plans. Eighty percent of human resources decision-makers believe it's important for employees to fully understand their benefit options, yet they estimate only about 60% of their own employees do – a finding with serious implications for how companies communicate one of the most important parts of... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Monday, January 30, 2012
Benefit Design Health Insurance Health Plans Employee Engagement Health Benefits

Monday, January 16, 2012

Shelby County Selected for CDC's National Healthy Worksite Initiative

On Friday, January 13, 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that Shelby County was one of 7 sites nationally selected for their National Healthy Worksite Initiative. Viridian Health Management, based in Phoenix, AZ, is implementing this initiative in all 7 sites . MBGH is working with CDC and Viridian to identify interested employers in Shelby County and we hope that several of our members will apply! As a selected site, 15 employers from Shelby County will... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Monday, January 16, 2012
Worksite Wellness Employee Engagement Preventive Services

Monday, December 12, 2011

TN Plans Encouraged to Give "Good Driver Discounts"

Proposed recommendations for the Tennessee Health Insurance Exchange encourage health plans and employers to establish expectations about personal responsibility and engagement through benefit designs in the Exchange.   The wellness program could provide some sort of "good driver discount" in the form of a lower premium or other incentives to those enrollees who satisfy these standards. Having the exchange plans offer these incentives will make it easier for larger employers too!... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Monday, December 12, 2011
Benefit Design Health Reform Health Insurance Healthcare Cost Health Policy Health Plans Worksite Wellness Health Insurance Exchanges Value-Based Benefits Employee Engagement Preventive Services Health Benefits

Monday, October 31, 2011

Take Steps to Offer Healthy Options in the Workplace

In July of this year, MBGH sponsored the “Believe in a Healthy Memphis: 2011 Let’s CHANGE Summit” in collaboration with the Shelby County Health Department and Healthy Memphis Common Table. Ham Smythe, President of Yellow Cab and Checker Cab, was an active participant in the  “Where We Work” group, which detailed the options employers could explore to stimulate healthy lifestyles in employees. This was not the first time Smythe had explored the options he had to encourage healthy... Read More
Posted by Cristie Travis at Monday, October 31, 2011
Worksite Wellness Value-Based Benefits MBGH Member Benefits Employee Engagement

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Cristie Upshaw Travis
Chief Executive Officer, MBGH
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