topofpageFEBRUARY 14, 2018
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
TIPS, TOOLS & RESOURCES
annualAnnual Employer Benefits Survey Now Open!

Your opportunity to keep your finger on the pulse of health care benefits is here!

The Action Group opened its online Annual Employer Benefits Survey last week to continue collecting comprehensive health benefit benchmarks from Minnesota employers. Visit actiongroupsurvey.com to participate. It's by employers for employers!

"Last year, members indicated the Survey is one of the most highly valued ways to engage with The Action Group," says Jon Schloemer from Mills Fleet Farm in his new blog. "This is truly an independent source of information and insights to help benefits leaders keep their finger on the pulse of health care benefits."   
 
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 participants unable to attend the results meeting
pareCarolyn Pare Comments on Health Care Headlines 
 
Disruptive health care solutions have dominated the headlines in February, and Carolyn Pare, Action Group president and CEO has been called upon by the Star Tribune to comment on the employer perspective: 

   

Minnesota Effort has Health Care Revamp Lessons for Amazon and its Partners

 

Workplace Clinics Could be Making a Comeback


specialtyrxSpecialty Rx Guiding Coalition to Reconvene in March 
 
The Action Group's Specialty Drug Guiding Coalition will reconvene in March to continue providing 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. To learn more about plans for addressing the high cost of specialty drugs in 2018, please click here. This topic was also addressed during the December member meeting, with materials available through the Member Center on the homepage. 


survivingFeb. Member Meeting: Making the Most of the RFP Process

Depending on your perspective, Requests for Proposal (RFPs) can be a solid business discipline or a time-consuming burden. Either way, they are a reality for benefits professionals today.

At The Action Group's Feb. 20, 2018, member meeting, Surviving and Thriving: Making the Most of the RFP Process, we will convene a panel of experts to share their perspectives, lessons learned, and best practices to help benefits professionals survive and thrive during the upcoming RFP season. 
 
To learn more, click here. Members may click on the button below to register.

Meet our expert panel! 
 

 
If a friend or colleague is actively considering membership, reach out to Deb Krause ([email protected]) for a guest pass for them to attend a member meeting!
summitRegister Today! May 11 Employer Leadership Summit!

Are you ready to tap into courageous thinking, compassionate leadership, and curiosity to bring your best work to life? Join us at this year's Annual Employer Leadership Summit: "A New Lens: Purpose-Driven Solutions for Optimal Health" to be inspired! We will:
  • Explore the role of purpose in creating vibrant, high-performing, and HEALTHY organizations.
  • Tackle the tough issues of our time, including the alarming rate of obesity and the opioid epidemic.
  • Focus on breakthrough innovations and demonstrated results.
  • Feature fun and informative interactive polling.
  • Ensure robust networking opportunities to promote a sense of optimism, collaboration and action.
  • Offer all-day access to engaging sponsors who can answer your pressing health care questions.
Click  here  to learn more, or click on the button below to register. This event typically sells out, so we encourage you to register today! Early bird rates are in effect until March 30 and enable you to save $100. The Summit is open to all employers (not just members). Feel free to share the information and invite a peer.

"You did a wonderful job on a very interesting and valuable Summit! Kudos on putting together a really stimulating and thought-provoking day, full of opportunities to network and to learn from each other. The conference materials were informative and inspiring. As always, it was a top-notch Summit!" (2017 attendee)

DallasNational 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.  
 
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.  
saveExpand Your Network and Knowledge! 
 
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.  
   
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.
Public Meetings and Events:  
careerCareer Opportunity: HR & Benefits Director
   
Thrifty White Pharmacy is looking for an HR & Benefits Director to join its team. They are looking for someone with 10-15+ years of HR Generalist and Benefits Management experience to help us grow our company. The corporate office is located in Plymouth.
 
Thrifty White is a chain of 97 retail pharmacies located in rural communities in the Upper Midwest. We were named the 2016 National Pharmacy Innovator of the Year by Drug Store News. We were also recognized as one of the "Best Places to Work" by the Minnesota Retailers Association. Thrifty White is an ESOP company that is 100% owned by its 1,700 employees.
 
Please apply online at www.thriftywhite.com
 
DID YOU KNOW?
Action Group members may post job openings in the fyi and Express newsletters at no charge? Please contact Sue Jesseman to post a position!
toolsTap Into the Member Center for Exclusive Tools and Resources

The Action Group offers members many opportunities to innovate alongside leading employers and industry experts through member meetings, special events, learning networks, and guiding coalitions. In addition, a host of member-exclusive presentations and materials are available through the Member Center from the homepage. For example:
  • "Working Well in Minnesota: Insights and Actions for Advancing Mental Health in the Workplace" (click here to view a recent blog by Deb Krause, Action Group vice president, "Mental Health Parity: It's Time to Fulfill the Promise!")
  • Comprehensive Member Directory
  • Member meeting presentations and materials on a wide variety of topics, from optimizing health care data, to addressing well-being in the workplace, to transparency, to care coordination...
  • Sharing Best Practices: How Schwan's Deals with the Deluge of Wellness Vendors
  • Specialty Pharmacy Purchaser's Guides (Phase I and Phase II)
"Many of us who have lived here and worked in the industry for as long as we have tend to forget how fortunate we are to have the Minnesota Health Action Group and its resources in our own backyard." Diane Pozdolski, (retired) Vice President of Compensation, Benefits and HRIS, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
 

 
employersEmployers Can Play a Key Role in Diabetes Prevention
   
One in three of your employees has prediabetes. Ninety percent of them don't know it. In just the last five years, the number of Americans with diabetes has increased by a steep 27 percent. 
 
That's why The Action Group is working with the Minnesota Department of Health to raise awareness about the alarming rate of prediabetes, encourage employers to educate employees about preventing and treating diabetes, and offer the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) as a covered benefit.

Early returns on the DPP show it's working, especially for those with high participation rates. Findings show the program reduced the progression to diabetes by 58 percent, and by 71 percent for those 65 and older. 

Use the free employee education tools below, and talk to your health plan about making diabetes prevention a priority at your organization!