topofpageJANUARY 11, 2018
newWelcome, New Action Group Members! 
 
We are looking forward to seeing some new faces at our member meetings! Our newest members include Amgen, Great River Energy, Otter Tail Corporation, RedBrick Health, Thrivent Financial, and University of Minnesota Physicians. The updated Member Directory is available by logging into the Member Center from the homepage. 
 
"As Board chair for The Action Group, it is a pleasure to see our coalition grow," says Ken Hostman, senior director of total compensation at the University of Minnesota. "With each new member, our voice is increased, and the perspectives, ideas and energy each member brings makes us stronger."  
membersMembers Review 2017 Action; Preview 2018 Plans

Action Group members took a breather during the final meeting of the year to review 2017 accomplishments; preview 2018 plans; and discuss the wrap up of the 2017 Mental Health Learning Network. A new executive summary includes highlights of the review and preview. The full meeting presentation may be found here .

"In 2017, members came together in impressive fashion, working together to make health care better for all Minnesotans," says Carolyn Pare, Action Group president and CEO. "I'm looking forward to continuing our work in the New Year, uniting employers around common issues, amplifying the voice of those who write the checks for health care, and improving patient experiences and outcomes."
If a friend or colleague is actively considering membership, please invite them to a member meeting to learn more!
saveSave the Dates to Network, Learn, Share! 
 
A member poll about meeting topics of interest is complete, and your input will shape 2018 content. Meeting dates can be found below, and topics will be announced soon. We hope you will set time aside to join these meetings, taking advantage of the opportunity to network, learn, and share best practices.  
   
Together, we will continue accomplishing more than any of us can alone! 
 
Member Meetings:
 
Members spoke. We listened! Meetings will begin later this year, with networking at 8 a.m., meetings beginning at 8:30 a.m., and concluding at 10 a.m. All will continue to be held at the Hilton Airport/MOA, 3800 American Boulevard East, Bloomington.
  • February 20, 2018: Surviving and Thriving: Making the Most of the RFP Process
  • April 24, 2018
  • June 21, 2018
  • August 14, 2018
  • September 18, 2018
  • December 11, 2018
Public Meetings and Events:  
surveyAnnual Employer Benefits Survey Coming Soon!

The Action Group will soon be conducting its online Employer Benefits Survey to provide comprehensive health benefit benchmarks from Minnesota employers. Now in its eighth year, this unique Survey offers invaluable strategic and tactical plan design details, along with insights into things like specialty drug trends, wellness programs, market innovations, and much more. The Survey is open to members and non-members. Click here to learn more, or here to view a summary of 2017 Survey results.  
 
Mark your calendar with these key dates:
 
February 5-23, 2018: Survey is open
March 29, 2018: Final report distributed at Survey results meeting (for participants only)
April: Final report mailed to those unable to attend the results meeting
workingwellJust for Members: "Working Well in Minnesota"

Members who attended the December meeting received copies of the new Action Group guide, "Working Well in Minnesota: Insights and Actions for Advancing Mental Health in the Workplace." It is also available online. Simply log into the Member Center from the homepage.
 
There will be opportunities for members to take action and 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!"
allianceNational Alliance Leadership Summits Coming in March!     

 
The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions will help attendees take a deep dive on healthy minds, obesity, caregiving and culture and community at its 2018 Leadership Summits in Dallas, TX, on March 14-15, 2018. 

Because The Action Group is a National Alliance member, our members may attend at a reduced rate of $295 until February 2 ($345 after the early bird rate closes). Click here to learn more or to register. 
 
Deb Krause, Action Group vice president, and members Liz Beckius, senior manager of work life programs at Best Buy, and Nance Lee Mosquera, employee benefits manager for the City of Saint Paul, will be co-presenting the first day on behalf of the Mental Health Learning Network.  


researchResearch Finds 8-Fold Price Swings Among MN Hospitals 
 
A number of Action Group employer members joined together with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to add some price transparency to the hidden world of health care costs, with results released today (click here to view the press release, and here to view the results report).

Among the most jarring examples in the report: Prices paid to Minnesota hospitals for knee replacement surgery range from $6,100 to $47,000; and C-section delivery costs range from $4,700 to $22,800.
 
"This is eye-opening information for health care purchasers, and I -- along with Stefan Gildemeister from MDH -- am grateful to our members who helped guide the development of the report," says Carolyn Pare, Action Group president and CEO. "Seeing the actual numbers gives all health care purchasers an opportunity to make more informed decisions."


 

Media Coverage About the New MN APCD Report:
specialtyrxSpecialty Rx on the 2018 Agenda 
 
The Action Group's Specialty Drug Guiding Coalition was developed 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.
 
Given the complexity of the topic, separate goals were defined for 2017 and 2018, as highlighted during the December member meeting. To learn more about plans for addressing the high cost of specialty drugs in 2018, please click here. 
 
 


mncmMNCM 2017 Cost and Utilization Report Now Available 

The total cost of medical care increased 3.4 percent from 2014 to 2015 for commercially insured patients, according to a recent 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."

Deb Krause, Action Group vice president, represents employers/purchasers on MNCM's Measurement and Reporting Committee, Measure Review Committee, and Cost Technical Advisory Committee.

resolveResolve to Help Stop Diabetes in its Tracks
   
Year after year, the top New Year's resolutions involve losing weight and making healthier lifestyle choices. And data suggest few of them stick.

But with diabetes the leading cause of death and disability in the U.S., and one in three American adults having prediabetes (90 percent of whom don't know it), The Action Group is working with the Minnesota Department of Health to encourage employers to educate employees about preventing and treating diabetes, and to offer the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) as a covered benefit.