2012 FORUM East General Sessions

The opening session of the Institute for HealthCare Consumerism’s FORUM East conference, “The Journey to HealthCare Consumerism,” will provide a roadmap for companies navigating the new health and benefits landscape. Led by industry experts Ron Bachman, Dr. John Reynolds and Dr. Wendy Lynch, the session begins at 9:15 a.m. on April 12 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.

The IHC FORUM’s opening general session promises to provide direction to businesses embarking on health care consumerism plans for the first time, as well as those more experienced with consumer-driven solutions.

Dr. Lynch, co-director for the Center for Consumer Choice in Health Care at the Altarum Institute, researches health and benefit arrangements that encourage high employee performance, and result in mutual gain for corporations and their workforce. She will co-lead the session with Mr. Bachman, a senior fellow at the Center for Health Transformation, president of Healthcare Visions and The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism Advisory Board Chairman, and Dr. John Reynolds, president, FIS Healthcare Solutions; the three will share valuable insights into the current state of health care consumerism, cost-effective plan design and implementation tips, and strategies to engage and educate employee consumers.

“When employees become better consumers,” says Dr. Lynch, “they not only save money for the company, but also for themselves,” she adds. In addition to coaching attendees on setting up win-win, incentive-rich scenarios for their employees, Dr. Lynch will advise companies on the importance of being transparent with workers regarding health care expenses. When employees realize that cost-efficient, consumer-driven plans can result in higher take-home pay, they are much more likely to be amenable to changes in their health and benefits programs.

Speakers: Ron Bachman, FSA, MAAA, Sr. Fellow Center for Health Transformation, President of Healthcare Visions & Chairman of CDHC Solutions Editorial Advisory Board, Dr. Wendy Lynch, Co-director, Altarum Center for Consumer Choice in Health Care, and Dr. John Reynolds, President, FIS Healthcare Solutions.

Our interactive Health Plan Provider Panel is one of our five information-rich general sessions designed to help companies like yours navigate the new health and benefits landscape. The panel features three top executives from major health plan providers sharing leading practices on cost-effective plan design and implementation. Moderated by John Young, senior vice president of Consumerism at Cigna Healthcare, this Q&A-style panel discussion also includes up-to-the-minute insights on complying with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Don’t miss this critical opportunity to get answers to your most pressing health care consumerism questions.

Moderator: John Young, Senior Vice President, Consumerism, Cigna Healthcare.

Speakers: Craig Hankins, Consumerism Lead, Product & Innovation, UnitedHealthcare, Sarah Ahmad-Wilson, Commercial Product Development, Humana, and Dan Styf, Vice President, Regional and Marketing Strategy Kaiser Permanente.

A critical part on the journey to HealthCare Consumerism is implementing a successful wellness program for your employee population. During this general session you will take away vital information from a panel of experts who will represent national employers, most of all, provide the know-how to crack the health care cost by developing a well-worthy wellness program that offers results. The panel includes: D.W. Edington, Ph.D., Professor Division of Kinesiology and Director of Health Management Research Center University of Michigan; Jennifer Sargent, Vice President of myHealthCheck; and Wolf Kirsten, Founder and President of International Health Consulting, who are all considered rock stars in the field of wellness. Moderated by Donald Weber, take this valuable opportunity and enhance your education of wellness so you can effectively boost your team’s behavior.

Moderator: Donald P. Weber, Managing Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Human Resource Services Group.

Speakers: D.W. Edington, Ph.D., Professor, Division of Kinesiology, Director, Health Management Research Center University of Michigan, Jennifer Sargent, Vice President, myHealthCheck, and Wolf Kirsten, Founder and President of International Health Consulting.

“Health Care Reform: A Potential Pothole on the Journey to HealthCare Consumerism,” is another one of our five general sessions offered by The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism’s FORUM East conference. This session will address the financial implications of health care reform, its possible effect on consumer-directed health plans and strategies companies can use to save money amidst the volatility. Led by industry experts Roy Ramthun and John Hickman the session will be held at 9:00 a.m. on April 13 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mr. Ramthun is a Washington insider and recognized thought leader on HSAs and consumer-directed health care issues. A former policy advisor to President George W. Bush, Mr. Ramthun will leverage his diverse public policy, government and private sector experience to help FORUM attendees navigate health care reform, manage expenses and prepare for the potential shift in health care legislation. He will co-lead the session with Mr. Hickman, head of the Health Benefits Practice at Alston + Bird, LLP and a pioneer in the consumer-driven health care arena. Mr. Hickman has worked closely with financial institutions and employers as well as the IRS, and Departments of Treasury and Labor to develop HSAs and HRAs. The session will be moderated by Center for Health Transformation fellow and Healthcare Visions president, Ron Bachman.

Moderator: Ron Bachman, FSA, MAAA, Sr. Fellow Center for Health Transformation, President of Healthcare Visions & Chairman of CDHC Solutions Editorial Advisory Board.

Speakers: John Hickman, Partner, Alston + Bird LLP and Roy Ramthun, President, HSA Consulting Services, LLC; Former Senior Health Policy Advisor to President George W. Bush.

Health care spend is one of the most pressing issues U.S. businesses face today. While most companies are unwilling to eliminate employer-sponsored health plans altogether, they struggle to find ways to effectively manage skyrocketing premiums without sacrificing the quality of care their workers receive. The “What Health Care Consumerism Means to You” general session explores the benefits of implementing cost-saving, consumer-driven health plans, regardless of the economic climate. As a mega trend that is changing the way how health programs are put in place, it is vitally necessary to lower health care spend, improve productivity and engage employees. The session will be held on April 13 at the 12:30 p.m. at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, GA.

The panel, comprised of several of the health care consumerism movement’s leading voices, will offer insights on how business of all sizes can reduce costs immediately, boost employee morale and productivity, and engage workers in making well-informed health care decisions for themselves and their families. The session will focus on forward thinking, consumer-driven solutions such as corporate wellness programs, cost savings initiatives, health savings accounts, health reimbursement accounts and supplemental health plans.

Moderator: Jon Comola, CEO and Chairman, Wye River Group and Founder of Foundation for American Healthcare Leadership.

Speakers: Trudie Nacin, Division Chief, State Health Benefit Plan Georgia Department of Community Health and Kristine Hackbarth-Horn, Chief Operating Officer of People, Goodwill of North Central Wisconsin, David Ganick, Benefits Director for Vail Resorts, and Kelly Keith, Senior Manager, Health and Welfare Plans at Coca Cola Refreshments.