December 14, 2023
Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and a happy New Year! The National Alliance will be closed December 22-January 1 as we recharge for 2024.

Be sure to check out the 2023 Healthy Holiday Cookbook from the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health!
  • Pulse of the Purchaser Survey Results are in!
  • National Alliance Events: Health equity webinar
  • Hot Topics: PBMs being shown the door; Respiratory vaccine uptake still lagging
  • Resources Worth Sharing: National Alliance resources at-a-glance; using national health observances to improve health equity
  • In Case you Missed it: Recorded webinars
  • National Alliance in the News
2023 Pulse of the Purchaser Results Now In!
Lack of confidence in service providers, healthcare affordability top the list of concerns
The Pulse of the Purchaser survey gauges concerns and approaches of employers to a wide variety of issues.

Among key 2023 findings: As employer concerns about healthcare affordability are skyrocketing, less than half are confident in the integrity of services and fees charged by hospitals, pharmacy benefit managers, third-party administrators, and even brokers and consultants. 
Employer Strategies in Health Equity:
Building and Sustaining a Culture of Inclusion
December 19, 2023, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. (ET)
In this capstone to our 2023 Health Equity Town Hall series, participants will highlight some of the key insights of this year’s learnings and discuss the final pillar: Building and Sustaining a Culture of Inclusion.

Join us to hear from key thought leaders on how equity is influencing and reshaping benefits and wellbeing strategies for organizations across the country.
Christina Bell
(MODERATOR)
National Alliance of
Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions
Denise Giambalvo
Washington Health Alliance
Mario Harper
U.S. Business Action
to End HIV
David Hines
Metro Nashville Public Schools
Rosa Novo
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Ian Shea
I M Human
Michael Thompson
(MODERATOR)
National Alliance of
Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions
Foot Locker, Teamsters Show Drug-Benefit Managers the Door
Employers and unions say PBMs are favoring costlier drugs over less-expensive options and aren't open about their rebates
"Employers and unions are getting fed up with the firms they have used for years to help control their spending on prescription drugs—because their costs keep soaring.

"Footwear retailer Foot Locker dropped UnitedHealth Group’s OptumRx drug-benefit manager last year, while a Teamsters fund in Philadelphia recently reupped with its replacement for CVS Health’s Caremark.

"Among their frustrations: They are being told to cover costlier drugs even when less-expensive options are available."
"What's wrong with this market? Everything."
Michael Thompson
Addressing PBM Misalignment
High prescription drug costs continue to bankrupt families, put financial strain on businesses, and drag down the US economy. Pharmacy benefit management plays a significant behind-the-scenes role. To arm employers and other plan sponsors with a blueprint to understand and navigate PBM relationships the National Alliance has developed this playbook for purchasers.
Benefits of high vaccine uptake are multifaceted and far-reaching
Employers are urged to step up employee education efforts
This newly updated National Alliance resource includes proven workplace approaches to improve vaccination rates, responses to common questions, and how to heighten vaccine confidence.
This new publication from National Alliance Strategic Partner, AJMC, provides a closer look at successful innovative vaccination initiatives.

"By strategically placing vaccination services in potentially unconventional settings such as workplaces or community centers, they effectively remove logistical barriers that might deter individuals from seeking immunization."
Featured National Alliance 2023 Publications and Resources
The National Alliance library of assets on a wide variety of topics is continuously growing. To ensure you have access to the latest additions, click here for a summary of all 2023 publications.

NEW November and December Publications
(Click on the images to view)
This People-Centered Design Vendor Engagement Template (VET) is derivative of the Health Innovator’s Incubator Program (HIIP) conducted by the National Alliance during 2022 and 2023.
The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act includes hospital and PBM transparency provisions from multiple committees.
These four, one-page resources on PBM reform, ERISA preemption, hospital fair price, HSA flexibility, and integrating mental health into primary care, were presented during the National Alliance Hill visits in November 2023.
Resources to Support Employee Health Communications
The National Alliance Coalition Health Advisory Council provides regular communications to make it easier for plan sponsors to tie select national health and cultural observances to health and wellbeing strategies.

The January edition offers helpful news to supplement health improvement and health equity communications initiatives. The entire 2024 health observances library will be available early next year!

Related Resource: Excerpt of Employer Town Hall, "Accelerating Health Equity Using Workplace Policies and Benefits."
View all National Alliance Action Briefs and Resources HERE!
National Alliance Recorded Webinars Available
Hospital Fair Price
Getting to hospital fair price continues to be a hot topic. Click on the image to view the latest National Alliance resource. "Reducing Hospital Costs Without Hurting Patients" from Health Affairs is another recent and important report.
View all National Alliance news HERE!