Center for Health Value Innovation

KEEP UP TO DATE ON OUR PROGRESS!  It’s a spooktacular evening here in Florida, and it’s a great night to reflect on some of the amazing activities we’ve been involved in over the past 45 days.  The book launch, the visit to Michigan, the travels across the US, and the ever-watchful eye on Capitol Hill have kept me busy.  Your outreach to us and your comments on the website have been wonderful, so thank you.  Here’s an update on some of our events and productions:

• THE book launch (was there another?) of Leveraging Health was a smashing success.  With a Board Strategy session on the evening of September 29 in DC, we once again committed, as a group of renegades and action figures, to move the dial for improved health and community outcomes by driving the value of every health dollar invested.  Over 20 of our board directors and guests gathered to receive their copy of the book, Leveraging Health, and to celebrate the Center’s success in our first book launch. The next day we gathered early at the National Press Club to showcase the leadership of the Center, the authors of the book, and to answer any questions from the press.  Ray Zastrow MD (QuadMed/ Quad Graphics and VP of the Center) assumed the chairman’s role (Mike Taylor MD was across the country) and each of our vice presidents and officers spent time detailing their commitment to the Center and the communities in which they live.  Heartfelt thanks to all of you who traveled far and near to join us.  Watch for pictures of the event!  To date, over 1200 copies of the book are in the marketplace, and more orders are coming in.
• After a very successful meeting with colleagues from Integrated Benefits Institute and American College of Occupational and Environment Health, we developed a strategy for working together on driving health, productivity, and outcomes measures across our 3 organizations.  We are launching a 1/2 day HPM-VBD design seminar focused towards employers, consultants, and medical directors, and we welcome your inquiries on this new seminar. Many thanks to Mike Taylor MD (Chair) and Jack Mahoney MD (CMO) for joining me for a lively discussion with leaders from around the country.
• From South Dakota to Cinicnatti, from Michigan to DC to Florida, each day we are uncovering new innovations in value-based designs.  Folks may be beginning the journey, in which case they are considering the best options to drive and the behaviors to support.  Or, they may have multiple years of experience (we are learning more each day, categorizing all the levers, and beginning to quantify similar outcomes) and they are sharing their roadmaps, their successes and challenges, and their next innovation.  Watch for more details
• Dr. Mark Fendrick and I, unbeknownst to each other, presented to Michigan legislators last week, speaking passionately about our evidence across multiple sectors and sizes, and promoting the concepts to the various groups with whom we spoke.
• A great meeting of innovators in Battle Creek, delivering updates on the data-to-date and next steps to improve outcomes.  Hats off to Ruth Clark and Dr. Mary Ellen Benzik of IHP, Bill Greer of Kellogg, the folks at BCBSM and Priority Health, and the total Learning Collaborative for the work they are doing and the value-based designs that they are implementing.
• On the evidence and academic side, many of us have been presenting new stats on the impact of value-based design to overcome the cost/concern/ commitment barriers inherent in non-adherence.  Chris has been all over the globe, Mike and Peter are traversing the US, Ray and Kavita have been quantifying and spreading the word, and Bob Kritzler has represented the Center nobly and proficiently at Capitol events and behind closed doors.  Jack just returned from Boston, I just returned from Philadelphia and I’m off to Chicago and California.  The latest survey from Towers Perrin (Sep 2009) shows that 49.5% of employers now have a VBD in place for pharmaceutical coverage.  Our next mountain top:  behavior change support.
• And speaking of surveys, we need your help.  We entered into a shared survey with Buck Consultants and it launches on Nov 3.  We are asking employers of all sizes who have had a value-based design for more than 2 years to answer some quick questions for us, and we’ll report them publicly at the Health and Human Capital meeting in Feb in DC.
• Finally, mark your calendars for the annual board meeting at the Health and Human Capital event, Feb 2, starting at 12 noon in DC.  More info to follow.  This is an open board meeting, so, member or not, you are welcome to attend.

There’s so much more to share, so watch this space and the website often to learn more.  Let us know your thoughts on what’s next in policy change, what you need for evidence and measures for impact, and what new ideas you may have.

You can see that we’ve all been hustling to grow the Center and its influence.  We can’t do it without you.  Write, phone, or email when you can.  Yes, it’s a bit weary-ing, all this talk of reform, options, and costs.  Our goal is to create a dialogue with you that is open and informative, sharing innovations and concepts as they develop.  We’re hoping you will contribute to the knowledge base.  Right now, however, I have to go rescue my family from the spooky chocolates that have captured them…Happy Halloween and stay healthy!!

Cyndy