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ACTION GROUP @ WORK...
TIPS, TOOLS & RESOURCES
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 Hot Breakfast, Hot News, Hot-off-the-Press Define Friday's Member Meeting
In addition to a hot breakfast and lively discussion about The Action Group's robust agenda for this year and next, we are pleased to announce that Friday's meeting attendees will be the first to receive the hot-off-the-press employer guide for advancing mental health in the workplace, "Working Well in Minnesota" (see below).
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WHEN:
December 15, 2017
8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. (Networking begins at 7:30 a.m.)
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WHERE:
Hilton Airport/MOA Hotel
3800 American Boulevard East
Bloomington, MN
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If a friend or colleague is actively considering membership, please invite them to attend to learn more, and to network with members!
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Network, Learn, Share!
Update on Member Meetings and Events:
We are in the process of gathering information from our members about which meeting topics are of highest interest. Once this is complete, we will send out a notice that includes all topics and dates for 2018. We hope you will save these dates, setting aside time to break away from your daily routine to network, innovate, and share best practices with your colleagues. We look forward to a New Year filled with great opportunities to learn and grow together, as we strive to change the way health care works so people get the care they need, at the right time, at the right price, with the best possible outcomes.Together, we will continue to accomplish more than any of us can alone!
Public Meetings and Events:
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NEW! Member-Exclusive "Working Well in Minnesota"
In the brand-new Action Group guide, "Working Well in Minnesota," employers will gain insights and actions for advancing mental health in the workplace. Beginning the afternoon of Dec. 15, 2017, members may access the guide by logging into the Member Center from the
homepage.
Mental Health Learning Network participants were surprised and dismayed to learn how far away we are from having true parity in mental health. This new guide offers insights and actions to help Minnesota employers advance mental health in the workplace.
"Participation in this Learning Network has given me optimism that we can accelerate the drive toward ensuring mental health parity for our employees and their family members," says Deidre Serum, senior director of benefits for Best Buy.
Action Group members will have an opportunity to move beyond the benefit design aspect of parity in 2018. Together, we will begin fulfilling the promise of real parity, including finding ways to contribute to reducing stigma, improving access, addressing reimbursement schedules, and rewarding for outcomes. For more information, click
here to view a recent blog by Deb Krause, Action Group vice president, "Mental Health Parity: It's Time to Fulfill the Promise!"
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Carolyn Pare Named to National Quality Forum Board
The National Quality Forum's (NQF) Board of Directors has named Carolyn Pare as an at-large member, representing consumers and purchasers. She recently served NQF as co-chair of the
Consensus Standards Approval Committee. Click
here to view the press release.
"It is an honor to serve on the NQF Board on behalf of Action Group members," says Carolyn Pare. "NQF measures and standards serve as a critically important foundation for initiatives to enhance health care value, make patient care safer, and achieve better outcomes."
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Taking Action on Specialty Rx: 2018 Plans Forge Ahead
The work of The Action Group's Specialty Drug Guiding Coalition will be featured at December's member meeting.
The purpose of the Guiding Coalition is to provide multi-stakeholder input, insight and guidance to employers to ensure their success in achieving specific goals that address challenges related to the rising cost of specialty drugs.
The more than 40 members from over 20 organizations developed the content found in our
Innovation Update, that includes details about 2017 and 2018 goals.
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MNCM Releases 2017 Cost and Utilization Report
The total cost of medical care increased 3.4 percent from 2014 to 2015 for commercially insured patients, according to a
new report from MN Community Measurement (MNCM).
"Better understanding of how much variation we have in our medical care system and what factors contribute to the variation is a starting point for strategies to make health care more affordable," says Julie Sonier, MNCM president. "The measures in this report provide unique insight for comparing and taking actions to manage and reduce health care costs."
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Human resources, benefits and wellness professionals attended an American Diabetes Association (ADA) Wellness Lives Here luncheon on Dec. 12, 2017, learning about reducing the cost and incidence of diabetes.
With nearly 30 million adults and children in the U.S. having diabetes, and another 86 million at high risk of developing the disease, the impact on U.S. businesses is staggering. In fact, out of 1,000 employees, 120 have diabetes and 34 of them don't know it.
The ADA offers a rich array of free employee education resources for employers through its comprehensive
Wellness Lives Here website. This powerful initiative is designed to inspire and fuel our nation's healthful habits at work and beyond.
The Action Group is working with the Minnesota Department of Health to advance diabetes prevention statewide by encouraging employers to communicate with their employees about this important topic, and to offer access to the
National Diabetes Prevention Program.
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Express Roundup: Top Stories from The Action Group's Newsletter
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