National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions

Michael Thompson, president and CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, gave insight into the themes of the upcoming National Alliance Leadership Summits.

Michael Thompson, president and CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions (National Alliance), discussed findings of the survey that was presented at the National Alliance 2022 Annual Forum and what concerns employers and business coalitions had regarding the current state of health care cost, delivery, and coverage.

A panel held at the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions Leadership Summits focused on mental health, immunizations, and sleep when speaking about the barriers to prevention and high-value care in these areas of medical coverage.

Kimberly Westrich, MA, vice president of health services research at the National Pharmaceutical Council, discusses value-based benefit design strategies for high-deductible health plans.

Kimberly Westrich, MA, vice president of health services research at the National Pharmaceutical Council, speaks on common misconceptions when designing value-based benefits.

Kimberly Westrich, MA, vice president of health services research at the National Pharmaceutical Council, discusses the shift to a value-based system from a fee-for-service one and how the health care system can incentivize high-value care.

Daniel Wolfson, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the ABIM Foundation, speaks on factors influencing mistrust of the health care system and efforts to improve quality care.

Michael E. Chernew, PhD, co-editor-in-chief of The American Journal of Managed Care®, discussed cost and sustainability issues specific to commercial insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid at the National Alliance 2021 Annual Forum held in a hybrid format in Washington, DC.

Michael Thompson, president and CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, discussed findings of his organization’s Pulse of the Purchaser survey that signaled a return to a stabilized business environment.

Through direct roundtable discussions between health care purchasers and physician practices, efforts have been made to align care provided in the community with the wants and needs of employees and patients.

A major upcoming challenge in healthcare will be determining how to pay for specialty drugs and medical advancements like cellular therapies, said Bret Jackson, president of the Economic Alliance for Michigan.

The unique market dynamics in Michigan have contributed to lower hospital prices, but it remains to be seen if recent policy changes will reveal these prices to be artificially depressed, according to Bret Jackson, president of the Economic Alliance for Michigan.

A RAND study comparing hospital prices across states provided insights into the drivers of high healthcare spending in Michigan, explained Bret Jackson, president of the Economic Alliance for Michigan.

Congressional efforts to end surprise medical billing have a real possibility of succeeding, but recent discussions around transparency have a lot more challenges, said Lauren Vela, senior director of the Pacific Business Group on Health (PBGH).

Attempts to curb surprise medical may still result in patients getting costs elsewhere, said Bret Jackson, president of the Economic Alliance for Michigan.

Bringing together different stakeholders in healthcare to share the challenges they see and their own understanding of how to fix the problem can help make impossible things happen and bring change to the healthcare system, said Elizabeth Mitchell, president and chief executive officer, Pacific Business Group on Health.

Treating illnesses is important, but it would be a mistake to think that is the full extent of health. Panelists during the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions’ 2019 Leadership Summits, held June 24-26 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, discussed the impact of social determinants and past trauma on health and how employers can ensure they are addressing these issues to improve health and outcomes.