Happy Summer

It’s been said that you reap what you sow. Well, it’s been a busy first part of the year for PBGH as the organization plants the seeds to continue growing its mission for employers, employees and communities right here in southwestern Pennsylvania. As we work to help employers understand their role in the health care ecosystem, we are focused on improving the delivery of health care, enhancing cost transparency and driving innovation to improve outcomes.

Our year got a head of steam in February when we hosted the year’s first event, the Annual Trends Forum. Some highlights included Paul Mango, chief of staff and chief principal deputy administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, who walked attendees through the CMS strategy to improve health care and demonstrated how employers can leverage it. John Miller, executive director, Mid-Atlantic Business Group on Health, showed employers the latest trends and tools designed to navigate how to improve prescription benefit management programs, and Tammy Fennessy, senior manager of benefits at American Eagle Outfitters and Chad Cruze, vice president, Benefitfocus, discussed the challenges of engaging a millennial workforce.

Recently, we had the pleasure of hosting the National Alliance for Healthcare Purchaser Organization’s annual summit right here in our hometown. Needless to say, Pittsburgh impressed coalition leaders from states across the country and other health care leaders.

While all of this was happening, PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro was working both within the courts and alongside UPMC and Highmark to strike a new 10-year agreement between the health care giants to allow continued access to high-quality care for families across the region.

The PBGH membership should be proud of its consistent voice over the past five years to help influence the future of health care in our region. Thanks to all of you, PBGH helped safeguard a thriving health care future for thousands.

As a new health care day dawns, PBGH will continue working with insurers, hospitals and others to ensure our region is a world-class health care destination and a leading example to the rest of the country for well-being. Continue reading…