Summer Newsletter

August 21, 2024

Message from the President

What a wonderful & busy summer it's been! Check out all that MBGH has been doing and our plans for the remainder of 2024 below. You will find MBGH news, upcoming events and summaries of the 2024 programs to date, including the 44th Annual Conference.


Feel free to contact me or another member of the MBGH team if you have questions, ideas or suggestions. We welcome the opportunity to learn how MBGH can best support you and your employees and we truly appreciate your feedback.

From the entire MBGH staff, we hope you enjoy the rest of your summer. Reach out to us at any time!

Cheryl Larson
President & CEO

ANNUAL CONFERENCE - PAST AND FUTURE

44th Annual Conference – May 2024

More than 430 people attended our 44th Annual Conference this spring where participants enjoyed networking and left the conference with innovative insights and ideas. Our post-event survey indicated 100% of attendees would recommend the conference to others and rated the networking opportunities very good to excellent.

Many of you shared with us it was “the best conference ever!" See what attendees had to say:

  • The best in the business -- very timely topics for benefits today!
  • This conference helped me prepare for discussions with my senior leadership about healthcare costs.
  • Great line-up of speakers!
  • I learned how to use data to identify solutions that align with core organizational values. Thank you! 
  • Love how the employers shared real stories. Very helpful!

It was fantastic to see many of you in person at the event. If you weren't able to attend, MBGH members may view summaries on the MBGH website.

2024 Conference
2024 Slideshow

45th Annual Conference - May 2025

Save the Date: Next year’s "must-not-miss" conference will be May 6-7 at the JW Marriott in Chicago. Pre-conference activities for HR benefits professionals (employers) attending the conference will take place May 5.

We are excited to announce that each employer member organization will receive one complimentary pass to next year's conference. Details will be shared when registration opens this fall.

Save the Date!

WELCOME NEW MBGH MEMBERS - 2024

MBGH’s success is driven by our members. We all benefit from our diverse membership base; sharing best practices and learning from one another is what makes MBGH so valuable. That’s the Power of MBGH!

Member List

New Employer Members

  • Alcon
  • CDW
  • Constellation Energy
  • KeHE Distributors
  • Mauser Packaging Solutions
  • Medical College of Wisconsin
  • National Kidney Foundation of Illinois
  • Sandoz
  • State Farm
  • UnitedHealthcare
  • Univar Solutions

New Partner Members

  • Akili Interactive
  • BeneRe
  • Costco Health Solutions
  • Enthea
  • Talkspace
  • TARA Mind

NEW BOARD MEMBER

MBGH is pleased to share that after a one-year hiatus, Amy Katzoff re-joined our dynamic board of industry experts and progressive employers who dedicate their time and expertise to serve the mission of MBGH.

Board of Directors

Amy Katzoff

Sr. Director, Benefits

HRIS and Mobility

Huron Consulting Group

UPCOMING EVENTS IN 2024

Educational Forum

The last full-day educational forum of the year will take place next month. This is a do-not-miss program for employers!

Learn More & Register

Keeping Up With the Ever-Changing Landscape of Obesity Management


Open to all


September 18, 2024

8:30 AM to 4:00 PM (CT)

University Club Chicago and virtual

Employers are increasingly being asked to consider pharmacological interventions along with traditional behavioral health programs to manage obesity in their employee population. The question for many employers is, "Can this be done in a cost-effective manner?" Join us to explore fresh perspectives on implementing a holistic, inclusive and cost-effective obesity management strategy within your organization.

Webinars

The following webinars will take place in the upcoming months.

Learn More

Employer Member Webinar

Reclaiming Your Power:

How to Access Your Claims Data &

Hold Carriers Accountable


Open to all employer members


September 12, 2024

12:00 PM to 1:30 PM (CT)

Learn More

Ketamine-Assisted Therapy for

Mental Health Conditions:

What Employers Need to Know


Open to all


September 25, 2024

10:00 AM to 11:30 AM (CT)

Learn More

Real Employer Strategies to

Influence Fair Hospital Prices


Open to all


November 14, 2024

12:00 PM to 1:30 PM (CT)

Employer Member Only Roundtables:

Today's Health Benefits Issues

Since January of 2023, MBGH has been hosting monthly virtual roundtables for employer members on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM (CT). Roundtables include lively, interactive discussions on leading topics led by health care benefits experts.

Learn More

Continuing the Conversation on

Obesity Management


Open to all employer members


October 10, 2024

12:00 PM to 1:15 PM (CT)

SPECIAL NOTE:

  • The September 12th and November 14th roundtables have been replaced with the webinars above. Registration is required.
  • No roundtable in December. We'll resume roundtables in the new year.

2024 PROGRAMS IN REVIEW

Past program slides and recordings may be viewed by MBGH members on the MBGH Past Programs webpage.

Past Programs

What did attendees have to say about our 2024 programs?

  • This was one of the most informative sessions I have ever attended.
  • Loved the real-world examples of what other organizations are doing, what worked and what didn't.
  • Incredibly thought provoking!
  • Excellent speakers with diverse ideas – I’m energized!
  • Good data points and information to help support benefit strategies.
  • I gained actionable items to take back to my organization. Thank you!

Employer-Only Forum

Well-Being Today: A Cure for the Common Company

January 17, 2024

Workforce Mental Health: New Times,

New Approaches,

New Treatments

February 21, 2024

Fertility and Family Building Benefit Strategies for Evaluating and

Enhancing Your Benefits

March 12, 2024

Supporting Women

in the Workplace:

Moving Towards Equity in Health Care & Benefits

March 20, 2024

Employer Member

Mental Health

First Aid Training

May 30 & June 25, 2024

(Slides and recording unavailable)

Employer Forum on Pharmacy Benefits, Specialty & Biopharma Therapies: What Employers Must Know and Do About Fiduciary Turmoil, Transparency & Legislation

June 26, 2024

Uncovering the True Costs and

Hidden Risks of Type 2 Diabetes:

What Employers Need to Know about CKD

August 21, 2024

Past Roundtables
  • January 11: Are You Ready for the Massive Shortage of Clinicians and Pharmacists? What to Know and What to Do
  • February 8: Beyond Hospital Transparency: The Urgency of Getting to Fair Price
  • March 14: Employer Fiduciary Lawsuits & Health Plan Contracting & Transparency
  • June 13: Beyond Hospital Transparency: What You Need to Know About State & Federal Legislation
  • July 11: Beyond Hospital Transparency: Getting the Facts Straight
  • August 8: AI Is Advancing and It Will Continue To Impact Your Health Plan
Past Roundtables

RECENT RESOURCES RELEASED

MBGH recently released new & updated resources. Click the images to view.

Community Initiatives

MBGH, through the leadership of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchasers Coalitions, identifies hospital industry inaccuracies around pricing to help support employers in demanding fair hospital prices.

MBGH, in partnership with the Florida Alliance for Healthcare Value, has developed resources to help employers navigate the constantly changing field of oncology.

Action Briefs

Employer Toolkits

ALL MBGH RESOURCES

MBGH IN THE NEWS - 2024

Mental Health Forum 2024:

How the Mental Health Parity Act Affects Employers and Providers

February 28, 2024

View Article

From Stigma to Solutions: MBGH Panel Explores Mental Health Paradigm Shift in the Workplace

March 8, 2024

View Article
View Article

Johnson & Johnson

Drug Benefits Suit

‘Absolutely’ a Wake-up Call for Employers, Exec Says

February 29, 2024

View Article

Employers Play

an Important Role

in Addressing Provider Shortages

April 30, 2024

View Article

Mental Health in the Workplace: Shifting from Stigma to

Solutions is Key for Employers

May 7, 2024

View Article

Inside the Breathtaking World of Therapeutic Psychedelics:

Great Promise and

Great Challenges

May 22, 2024

Why Healthcare Data

is Vital

for Employers

May 22, 2024

View Article

Stuck in the Middle:

Employers’ Challenges In Accessing Their Health Data

July 28, 2024

View Article

Collaborative Launches

Employer Guide for

Oncology Management

July 11, 2024

View Article

Employer Panel Stresses Specialty Drug Management, PBM Bidding

August 8, 2024

View Article

MBGH STAFF UPDATE

MBGH welcomes Paula Sheehan as MBGH's new Director of Member Engagement. Formerly held by our beloved and now retired Kathy Foulser, Paula has jumped in to this position with both feet. She comes to MBGH with a diverse background; over the years, Paula has held positions across hospital, intergovernmental, and corporate landscapes. Welcome, Paula!