Storytelling
Specialty Drug Learning and Action Network: Member Highlights
Jon Born, SUPERVALU and Product Development and Karen Chapin, University of Minnesota
“Being a part of the Specialty Pharmacy Care Delivery Learning Network has shown us how out of control pharmacy pricing is in the U.S. Manufacturers are charging whatever the market will pay, regardless of manufacturing cost. It’s very clear that purchasers will need to collaborate to hold the market accountable for rational pricing practices.”
Read Specialty Drug Learning and Action Network: Member Highlights’s full story
Storytelling Feature: Fairview Health Services
Rene’ Coult-Calendine, Sr. Director, Marketing, Outreach and Product Development and Carolyn Jacobson, Chief Human Resources Officer
“We like to sit at the table with other employers to collaborate and innovate in the delivery of and payment for health care,” says Rene’ Coult-Calendine, senior director, marketing, outreach, and product development at Fairview Health Systems. “We recently became Action Group members because we were among the presenters they convened to discuss the ACO landscape in Minnesota and how we can all contribute to improving the health of our communities while lowering costs. I was really impressed by the quality of the discussion and the commitment to improvement by the attendees.”
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Storytelling: Choosing Wisely® Fits Into Health and Wellness Strategy at the City of Minneapolis
Amy Friedman, Human Resources Senior Consultant, City of Minneapolis
“We became aware of Choosing Wisely through The Action Group and our consultant from Ahmann-Martin,” says Amy Friedman, human resources senior consultant for the City of Minneapolis. “We decided to base one of our classes on Choosing Wisely to educate employees about common tests and procedures that are sometimes unnecessary, and how to ask questions about commonly over-prescribed treatments.”
Storytelling: Ken Horstman and Jon Schloemer
Ken Horstman, Emerson/Rosemount and Jon Schloemer, Mills Family of Companies
“Being a part of the Total Joint Replacement Care Delivery Learning Network gave me credibility with our employees. I am better able to help them understand what to ask when they are considering treatments and surgery, how to figure out what’s considered good care, and about what needs to happen in recovery. The Learning Network meetings were productive and enlightening.”
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Storytelling: Jeremy Zajicek
Hennepin County
As a relative newcomer to The Action Group, Jeremy Zajicek, Hennepin County Human Resources Manager, is looking forward to taking advantage of the resources and relationships available through the coalition.
Storytelling: Diane Pozdolski
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
“I have just recently become involved with The Action Group again, and it’s impressive to see how Minnesota organizations are cooperating with one another to improve health care here,” says Diane Pozdolski, Vice President of Compensation, Benefits and HRIS at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. “Many of us who have lived here and worked in this industry for as long as we have tend to forget how fortunate we are to have this resource in our own backyard.”
Storytelling: Paul Berrisford
Entira Family Clinics
“One of the biggest challenges for providers, employers and insurers is to find a way to make health care more cost effective and efficient,” says Paul Berrisford, CEO of Entira Family Clinics. “The Action Group opens up dialogue between employers and providers, so we can address the challenges together. There is no other forum for these conversations to take place.”
Storytelling: Jennifer Lundblad and Cathy Weik
Stratis Health
“Given the uncertainty of the health care marketplace, we’re always looking for new ideas about what we should be doing for our employees to help them understand how health care reform will affect them,” says Jennifer Lundblad, president and CEO of Stratis Health. “Through our new Action Group membership, we look forward to learning what’s been successful for other employers, having access to employee communication resources, and networking with peers.” Read the full story of Stratis Health’s Action Group experience here.
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Storytelling: Charlie Montreuil
Vice President, Enterprise Rewards and Corporate HR, Best Buy
“We are at a crossroads; on the verge of a potential revolution in health care such as we’ve never seen,” says Charlie Montreuil. “It’s time to renew the importance of the employer purchaser in determining what role we have; how we should move into future; and how we can get every, single Minnesotan to be at their maximum well-being. That’s a completely different concept than, ‘how do I minimize expenses by choosing different plans.’” Read the full story of Charlie’s Action Group experience here.
The High Value of Action Group Membership: Nathan Moracco
Director, Employee Benefits, State of MN
“We need people from public and private sectors, and from every industry and community in Minnesota to ‘get their hands dirty’ by helping shape the policies and programs that define Minnesota’s health care system as among the best in the nation,” says Nathan Morocco. Read Nathan’s story to learn what he finds most valuable about his Minnesota Health Action Group membership.
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