AT FORUM SPONSORED BY MVP HEALTH CARE AND NHBR, BUSINESS LEADERS TOLD: DON’T WAIT FOR WASHINGTON TO REFORM HEALTH CARE
Health Advocates and Benefits Experts from Stonyfield Farm, Fidelity, and Hannaford Brothers Give Advice for Cutting Costs and Improving Employee Health
10.26.2009 – More than 225 business leaders from around the region gathered in Bedford earlier this week to learn about practical workplace initiatives that will improve employees’ health and cut health care costs, regardless of how national health care reform is resolved. Gary Hirshberg, President and “CE-YO” of organic yogurt producer Stonyfield Farm, Tom Oksanen, Senior VP of Employee Benefits at Fidelity Investments, and Peter Hayes, Director of Associate Health and Wellness at Hannaford Brothers outlined the “prescription”, “policy”, and “practice” of health care reform for CEOs, CFOs, and Human Resources professionals at a forum sponsored by NH Business Review and MVP Health Care. (Slides and audio files of the presentations can be found under Resource Links at the right)
Keynote speaker, Hirshberg, said America’s industrialized food system is hurting our health. He urged consumers, business professionals, health practitioners and insurers to come together to revolutionize our food system.
"Many books and films, including the recent Food, Inc., show that the food system is broken. We truly are what we eat and much of what we eat is making us sicker,” said Gary Hirshberg. “At Stonyfield Farm, we believe that food should not just be less bad for you, it should actually make you healthier."
Hirshberg added he will soon unveil a new, powerful program called The Full Yield that will help change the system. “The food and health care industries are forming an unprecedented alliance to finally place food at the heart of health care in America. Not only is this approach effective and profitable, but it gives consumers what they want and need – better health.”
MVP Health Care Executive VP/Chief Marketing Officer, Dave Henderson, said, “As a not-for-profit health plan, and a nationally recognized leader in wellness innovation, MVP is focused on the future of health care. We are keenly aware that the individual consumer is at the center of their own care and their overall well being. Our unique position between patient, physician and employer creates an opportunity for us to influence a culture of health. We understand that keeping people healthy in the first place is the absolute best investment.”
Guest speaker Tom Oksanen added, “I truly believe we have the best jobs in our companies. Our ability to be relevant and make positive change in the life of employees and their families is extraordinary. Conversely, our responsibility for making thoughtful decisions is significant and should not be taken lightly. Through Health Reform, both the federal government and certain state governments are acting as ‘benefits managers,’ and mostly not measuring up to the challenge as effectively as most large employers.”
“It is about economic vitality, but also it is about making sure we deliver quality care,” said Hannford Brothers’ Peter Hayes. “We have more preventable deaths in the US as compared to all other industrialized countries - so it is about right care, right place, and right price.”
The forum was moderated by The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Health. The Institute’s Melanie Mastanduno, Director of Population Health Measurement, said, "This prescription for culture change in the workplace is essential! Raising awareness and engaging individuals in positive lifestyle change will contribute to employees' health and well-being beyond the scope of their benefits coverage. "
NH Business Review President and Publisher, Sharron McCarthy, said the forum was an important first step, and she was thrilled to see so many of New Hampshire’s business leaders participate.
“As politicians in Washington and Concord continue to debate health care policy reforms, business leaders are looking for practical steps they can take today that will reduce rising health care costs,” McCarthy said. “A quality health care plan is a benefit that leading companies must provide in order to remain competitive, but it can also be one of their leading costs. We felt it was important to provide a forum that would offer real solutions, today, for improving wellness and controlling costs, regardless of what happens with federal and state legislation.”
For additional information on the forum, please contact Scott Tranchemontagne at Montagne Communications, 603-644-3200 or Scott@MontagneCommunications.com.
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- More than 225 business leaders from around the region gathered in Bedford earlier this week to learn about practical workplace initiatives that will improve employees’ health and cut health care costs.
- Gary Hirshberg, President and “CE-YO” of organic yogurt producer Stonyfield Farm, Tom Oksanen, Senior VP of Employee Benefits at Fidelity Investments, and Peter Hayes, Director of Associate Health and Wellness at Hannaford Brothers were the presenters.
- Keynote speaker, Hirshberg, said America’s industrialized food system is hurting our health. He urged consumers, business professionals, health practitioners and insurers to come together to revolutionize our food system.
- Hirshberg added he will soon unveil a new, powerful program called The Full Yield that will help change the system.
- The forum was sponsored by NH Business Review and MVP Health Care.
- Resource Links
- Audio files of the presentations
- Gary Hirshberg's Presentation entitled "We Are What We Eat"
- MVP Health Care
- New Hampshire Business Review article
- Tom Oksanen's Presentation on Managing Health Care
- Union Leader article
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- MVP Health Care, MVP, New Hampshire Business Review, health care, health insurance, Gary Hirshberg, Tom Oksanen, Peter Hayes
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NHBR Health Care Forum (Slides and audio files of the presentations can be found under Resource Links at the right)
Panelist Tom Oksanen of Fidelity Investments (center) answers a question as Peter Hayes of Hannaford Bros. Co. and Gary Hirshberg of Stonyfield Farms look on. Moderator Melanie Mastanduno, Director of Population Health Measurement at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Measurement (left) listens.
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