June 6, 2018
Depression Rates Rise Sharply, New Report Says

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Diagnoses of major depression have risen a dramatic 33 percent since 2013, with Minnesota having nearly the highest rate in the U.S. The rate of depression is rising even faster among millennials (47 percent) and adolescents (47 percent for boys; 65 percent for girls), according to a new Blue Cross Blue Shield study, The Health of America.

"Addressing mental health in the workplace has long been a core commitment at The Action Group," says Carolyn Pare, Action Group president and CEO. "Our Mental Health Learning Network brings members together to learn how best to build healthier, happier workplaces, free from stigma."

Members may log into the Member Center from the homepage to access The Action Group's latest employer guide, Working Well in Minnesota: Insights and Actions to Help Minnesota Employers Advance Mental Health in the Workplace.
Renowned Health Care Policy Expert to Share Market Insights with Action Group Members

 
The Action Group's June member meeting, The Changing Landscape for Health Care in Minnesota: Data and Insights for Employers, offers an opportunity to hear market insights from Allan Baumgarten, an independent analyst and consultant whose work focuses on health care policy, finance and local market strategies.  
 
Registration is now open for this highly anticipated MEMBER-EXCLUSIVE meeting on June 21, 2018, from 8 a.m.-10 a.m., at the Hilton Airport/MOA. Click here for a full description.  

While this meeting is for members only, if you are actively considering membership and would like to attend, please contact Sue Jesseman ([email protected]) for a complimentary meeting pass. 
 
Special Summit Moments Captured in Photo Gallery

The Action Group's 2018 Employer Leadership Summit focused on the role of purpose in creating vibrant, high-performing and healthy organizations. With the help of expert speakers, panelists, innovators and sponsors, we applied a new lens to tackle the tough issues of our time.

To view the updated Summit photo gallery, presentations, materials, quick poll questions, and more, please click here. New articles related to Summit topics can be found below.
New Survey Summary Now Available!

Annual Employer Benefits Survey participants recently received the full results, but summaries of key findings are available to all. A new version, designed to complement Summit topics, has just been added to the library. 
 
Those who did not take the Survey but would like to receive a copy of the full results may do so by committing to participating next year. Please contact Deb Krause ([email protected]) to learn more.  
Professional Development Opportunities!

The Action Group helps benefits professionals continue to learn and grow in their careers. Member meetings feature topics selected by our members, and public meetings and events are open to all.  
   
Member Meetings:

Meetings begin with networking at 8 a.m., and conclude at 10 a.m. All are held at the Hilton Airport/MOA, 3800 American Boulevard East, Bloomington. If you missed the April member meeting on ACOs, or attended and would like to have the slides, please log into the Member Center from the homepage and select Member Meeting Presentations.  
Public Meetings and Events:     
 
news
Springtime at the Capitol 
Looking Ahead to November:
 
With the dust finally settling from the legislative session's conclusion, all eyes are turned toward the upcoming November election. The stakes this fall are higher than usual on the state and federal levels.
 
Minnesota's entire Congressional delegation (eight representatives and two senators) is up for election. Both U.S. Senate seats are up due to the resignation of Al Franken earlier this year, and at least three of the district races (1st, 3rd, 8th) are expected to be very close. In addition to the entire House of Representatives being up for election, Minnesotans will be choosing a new governor. Following last weekend's state conventions, the winning Republican candidate is Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson; Democrats are backing longtime State Representative Erin Murphy. But, in breaking news, Attorney General Lori Swanson jumped into the race for governor Monday, and former Attorney General Mike Hatch filed his candidacy for his old job Tuesday. This set off a chain reaction of politicians seeking new offices, with DFL candidates flooding the field for the top races.
 
Adding one last touch of intrigue to the November ballot is a special election for State Senate in District 13 in central Minnesota. Michelle Fischbach (R - Paynesville) resigned her long-held seat last week to officially become the state's Lt. Governor, replacing now U.S. Senator Tina Smith. Republicans currently hold a 34-33 majority, setting up a single election to decide control of the State Senate.
 
The outcome of all of these races, especially on the state level, will have  a significant impact on how topics like health care costs, transparency, and the provider tax are dealt with in 2019. For anyone who is still trying to recover from the 2016 election, these next few months promise to be just as unsettling.  

 "Consumers don't like doing fuzzy math with health benefits. And fuzzy math is deductibles and coinsurance, because you're making them figure out a price that the market is not willing to expose."
 
Tony Miller, CEO
Bind
(From Star Tribune article: A Health Plan With a la carte Coverage)