AETNA SELECTED AS PREFERRED HEALTH PLAN VENDOR
(CANTON, OH) — Employers Health is pleased to announce that Aetna has been selected as the preferred vendor for health benefit plan coverage for its member organizations. Employer members have access to the new arrangement with Aetna starting January 1, 2012. This announcement follows an intensive six month process which included a formal Request for Proposal (RFP), bid evaluation, vendor interviews, finalist meetings, and savings analyses. A steering committee of Employers Health members participated in the selection process, which was facilitated by Towers Watson.
Aetna was selected from a total of seven vendors who submitted a proposal based upon its strong network discounts, competitive ASO fees, national presence, customer service, account management, consumer engagement tools, and clinical programs. “The Aetna relationship will benefit many self-insured employers who cover at least 500 employees on their medical plans,” said Christopher V. Goff, Employers Health CEO & General Counsel. “We responded to the call from our members to provide an option for a medical plan vendor, in addition to the other group purchasing relationships that we currently manage.” Goff added.
“We recognize a primary goal of Employers Health is to help employers deliver reduced cost for benefits while promoting healthy living in and out of the workplace,” said Brian Marsella, Vice President Sales and Service at Aetna. “Likewise, Aetna’s primary goal is to help our customers and members achieve optimal health and cost control through informed health care decisions. We strive to help employees become engaged in their own well-being. When that happens, employee wellness improves, which results in cost savings and increased productivity.”
Aetna’s integrated approach combines products, services and data, linking systems with coordinated care, to provide a more complete picture of each member’s overall health status. Through this integration, Aetna is in a unique position to help identify and share disease patterns that may otherwise go unnoticed. Integrated programs help identify opportunities that may actually prevent a health event, or shorted duration once it occurs. Simply put, health benefits work better when they work together. This includes Aetna’s ability to integrate information from a number of external sources, in an efficient and effective manner.
Through value-based group purchasing efforts, employers save money on high-quality health services and products. Working with Employers Health eliminates time spent finding, comparing and sourcing potential vendors. Through this new relationship with Aetna, Employers Health members may experience significant savings on medical coverage for employees.
About Employers Health
Founded in 1983 by a group of companies in Ohio, Employers Health Coalition of Ohio, Inc. (EHCO) is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that helps plan sponsors control the cost of healthcare. In 1999, Employers Health Purchasing Corporation of Ohio (EHPCO) was incorporated as a subsidiary of the coalition to manage group purchasing programs and government advocacy. Today, these two organizations, collectively known as Employers Health, represent more than 260 member organizations and three million lives. Employers Health is a national coalition of employers working together to improve the cost, quality and accessibility of high-value healthcare services through value-based group purchasing, data analysis and benefits-design consultation, educational programming, community quality initiatives and legislative monitoring and advocacy. For more information see www.ehpco.com
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 33.8 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.
EMPLOYERS HEALTH SUPPORTS HEALTH ACCESS PROJECTS
(CANTON, OH) — Employers Health recently granted fifty thousand dollars to three organizations to support the overall improvement in the quality of healthcare services and the creation of appropriate access for everyone. The organization believes it beneficial to invest in programs that work with the physician community to drive change, better promote access for the uninsured and underinsured, and convene a variety of stakeholders for quality health improvement projects.
During Employers Health 12th Annual Employer Symposium, held May 18, 2012, in Canton, OH, Access HealthColumbus and Access Health Stark County were each provided a grant in the amount of twenty thousand dollars. The Stark Prescription Assistance Network received ten thousand dollars. The Executive Directors from each organization were on hand to receive the monetary awards.
Additionally, Employers Health invests staff time into the three organizations. Mike Stull, regional vice president, serves on the board of directors and as treasurer of Access HealthColumbus. Marcas Miles, director, programs and communications is chairman of the board of Access Health Stark County. And Steve Burger, controller is on the Prescription Assistance Network board of directors.
ANNUAL WILLIAM K. WILSON SERVICE AWARD WINNER ANNOUNCED
(CANTON, OH) — Employers Health recently announced the recipient of its William K. Wilson service award, presented annually during the organizations employer symposium. Gary Thurnauer, of Pfizer, received the award that has been doled out consecutively for twenty four years.
The William K. Wilson Service Award was established in 1988 and was named in memory of Bill Wilson, a retired vice president of marketing for Diebold, Inc. and executive secretary for the Stark County Foundation from 1979 until his death on February 11, 1988. Mr. Wilson also served on the Employers Health Board of Directors from 1983 through 1985.
Mr. Wilson played a pivotal role in the founding of Employers Health Coalition of Ohio through his leadership of the Stark County Foundation, which provided the organization’s initial funding. Mr. Wilson was dedicated to business, civic and philanthropic ventures.
The Award has been presented to an individual or individuals annually since 1988. Recipients are determined by recommendation of the CEO and ultimately selected by the Board of Directors. It recognizes effort and service rendered to the Employers Health which furthers its founding principles of high quality, cost-effective healthcare.
Gary Thurnauer is a long-time advocate of Employers Health. His commitment to the Patient-Centered Medical Home movement is evidenced in his willingness to play a key role in connecting thought leaders, financial resources and experts from Pfizer to Employers Health, and to other organizations that lead PCMH activities in the state of Ohio. Not only is Gary an advocate for Employers Health within the Pfizer organization, he promotes Employers Health’s work to other employer and community groups throughout the state.
PREFERRED PARTNER FOR RETIREE COVERAGE SELECTED
(CANTON, OH) — Employers Health has partnered with Extend Health to offer Medicare navigation services to its employer members and their Medicare-eligible retirees. Extend Health traditionally has worked with Fortune 500 companies such as Eastman Chemical, Ford, GM, and Union Pacific - and now this same service is available to members of Employers Health.
Extend Health makes it possible for employers to continue to offer health care benefits to retirees in a financially sustainable way. With the Extend Health program, corporations, unions and public sector organizations can save between 20% and 40% or more on retiree health care costs. The company operates the nation's largest private Medicare exchange, and has helped hundreds of thousands retirees choose the individual Medicare plan that best meets their medical needs and budget.
Employers Health and Extend Health will offer opportunities to learn more about how members can reduce benefits costs, and give retirees more health care choices.
EMPLOYERS HEALTH PARTNERS WITH HMS EMPLOYER SOLUTIONS
(CANTON, OH) — Employers Health is pleased to announce a new partnership with HMS Employer Solutions, a leading healthcare cost containment firm. The goal of this partnership is to help our member organizations reduce the costs of healthcare benefits for their employees through dependent eligibility verification services.
This partnership will allow member organizations access to dependent eligibility verification services provided by one of the premier firms within the cost containment industry. The partnership will also allow member organizations the ability to lessen their procurement costs associated with procuring these services separately. HMS has verified the eligibility of more than 2 million dependents for organizations of all sizes, including a number of Employers Health members.
Throughout its history, Employers Health has proven to be innovative in how it serves its members by providing the best resources available. Dependent eligibility verification will provide your organization with significant healthcare savings. HMS clients typically identify between 4% and 8% of enrolled dependents as ineligible for coverage. These ineligible dependents are increasing the healthcare costs to your organization and your plan’s members.
Learn more about HMS Employer Solutions and dependent eligibility at: www.dependentcheck.com/about/employers-health-partnership.
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