Bipartisan Policy Center and Business and Health Leaders Launch CEO Council on Health and Innovation

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Bipartisan Policy Center

Jul 10, 2013, 08:05 ET

Large U.S. Employers to Highlight Innovative Strategies for Improving Health and Wellness, and the Quality and Cost-Effectiveness of Care

WASHINGTON, July 10, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), together with business and health leaders, launched a new CEO Council on Health and Innovation comprised of chief executives of some of the nation's largest employers who have a significant stake in the health and health care of their workforces. The Council held its first meeting yesterday in New York.

Over the coming months, CEO Council members will share and discuss innovative strategies and best practices to improve the health and wellness of their employees and achieve higher quality and more cost-effective care. Their goal is to highlight and encourage adoption of such practices by other large and medium-sized employers to improve employee health and the delivery of health care. These strategies and best practices will be released publicly in early 2014.

Members of the CEO Council include the following:

The CEO Council is co-chaired by Patrick Soon-Shiong of the Institute for Advanced Health, Muhtar Kent of The Coca-Cola Company, and Lowell McAdam of Verizon Communications. Former U.S. Senate Majority Leaders and Co-Leaders of BPC's Health Project, Tom Daschle and Bill Frist, are advising the Council, and Janet Marchibroda, BPC's director of health innovation, is serving as its executive director.

A Health Care Advisory Board, made up of chief executives of organizations representing clinicians, consumers, health plans, and hospitals will provide expert guidance in this collaborative effort. Advisory Board members include Errol Alden, MD, Executive Director and CEO, American Academy of Pediatrics; Patricia Babjak, CEO, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; Nancy Brown, CEO, American Heart Association; Ray Chambers, Special Envoy for Malaria for the United Nations; Richard D. Cordova, President and CEO, Children's Hospital Los Angeles; Delos M. (Toby) Cosgrove, MD, President and CEO, Cleveland Clinic; Lloyd H. Dean, President and CEO, Dignity Health; Larry Hausner, CEO, American Diabetes Association; Douglas Henley, MD, Executive Vice President and CEO, American Academy of Family Physicians; Rod F. Hochman, MD, President and CEO, Providence Health and Services; Shalom Jacobovitz, CEO, American College of Cardiology; Michael Riordan, President and CEO, Greenville Health System; John R. Seffrin, Ph.D. CEO, American Cancer Society; Scott P. Serota, President and CEO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association; Michael C. Tarwater, Chief Executive Officer, Carolinas HealthCare System; and Marla J. Weston, PhD, RN, CEO, American Nurses Association.

The Council's three-pronged approach, which includes engagement of national employers; expert guidance from executive leaders and organizations representing consumers, clinicians, health plans, health professionals, and hospitals; and leadership and facilitation by BPC, is designed to advance workable strategies that have the greatest opportunity for widespread adoption and impact.

"Simply put, our goal is quality health care in this country that is more accessible and affordable," said Patrick Soon-Shiong, Chairman and CEO, Institute for Advanced Health. "The mission of this council is not merely to talk about the problem, but to work in close collaboration to deliver meaningful and measurable results."

"The Coca-Cola Company is committed to making a positive and tangible impact on the health and well-being of our nation and the world.  When we work together, real progress can happen," said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company. "Collaborating with the members of this Council, with guidance from the Health Care Advisory Board, is a galvanizing step towards identifying innovative, sustainable solutions to address people's health and wellness needs."

"Leveraging innovation and technology for powerful answers to improve the health of our employees, our customers, and the communities we serve is at the very core of who we are as a company," said Lowell McAdam, Chairman and CEO of Verizon Communications. "We look forward to working with other large employers through the CEO Council to drive improvements in health and health care in the U.S."

"At nearly 18 percent of gross domestic product, health care spending represents a significant portion of the U.S. economy," said Senator Daschle. "The private sector has a large stake in both the quality and cost of care, given that private insurance funds about one-third of the nation's total health care expenses."

"Health care is undergoing a significant transformation in response to continued concerns about rising costs and uneven quality," said Senator Frist. "Engaging the innovative insights of our nation's business leaders will promote needed improvements in the health care system."

"The CEO Council brings a critically important voice to health and health care," said BPC president Jason Grumet. "We are proud to be convening the CEOs of some of the nation's largest employers, along with nationally recognized health leaders to highlight and advance innovative, common-sense strategies that will drive meaningful national results."

About the Bipartisan Policy Center

Founded in 2007 by former U.S. Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole, and George Mitchell, Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a non-profit organization that drives principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotiation and respectful dialogue.  With projects in multiple issue areas, BPC combines politically balanced policymaking with strong, proactive advocacy and outreach. http://www.bipartisanpolicy.org/

SOURCE Bipartisan Policy Center

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