An effective brand is essential for business success. Whether your company sells widgets over the Internet or you sell a service to a niche market, your odds of success increase incrementally if your brand is clear, relevant and memorable.
For nearly 25 years, the Buyers Health Care Action Group (BHCAG) has served as a unifying force for large employers in Minnesota, and we’ve done so under the BHCAG umbrella. But, times in health care are changing – and so is BHCAG.
After many months of market research and creative development, we’re proud to unveil a new name, a new logo, and a new membership structure to the marketplace:
What’s in a name?
The new brand better reflects our experience that the most significant savings in health care expense is achieved through the redesign of care delivery and the implementation of payment systems that reward high-quality care. This work can only be accomplished at the local level. Many innovations lauded by national experts started here, through the collective effort of our members and other key community stakeholders. Incorporating “Minnesota” in our name clearly demonstrates our commitment to, and focus on, the important work we do statewide.
The words “Health Action Group” reflect our continued focus on convening all health care stakeholders to find common solutions that will change the marketplace and make Minnesota the best place to live and work.
Supporting the evolution of our organization
The new brand reflects the evolution of BHCAG as we respond to and anticipate the needs of employers and health care consumers. It also reflects an expansion of our membership to a broader base of Minnesota employers, while staying true to our founding principles and legacy members.
As Minnesota Health Action Group, we will remain committed to reshaping the health care landscape by:
- Introducing innovative programs and solutions that address cost, quality, outcomes and access;
- Convening leaders from private and public-sector businesses, health care suppliers, and government to find solutions to health care challenges and to build healthy Minnesota communities (and ultimately, a healthy workforce); and
- Identifying ways to engage health care consumers so they better manage their health and begin to purchase health care services based on cost and quality data.
Expanding our reach to more Minnesota companies
You’ll see many changes in the coming months, starting with our membership focus. As BHCAG, our membership mostly consisted of large, national employers headquartered in Minnesota. While our legacy members are still critically important to the organization, it has become increasingly clear that small and mid-sized employers can benefit from the collective experience of BHCAG members and from the assets that we, together with others in the state, have developed. As a result, the Minnesota Health Action Group will proactively recruit employers of all shapes and sizes as members. Whether small, mid-sized, for-profit, non-profit or government entity, any organization that employs people in Minnesota is welcome.
The expansion of our member base is important because, as health care reform marches forward, we increasingly hear from small- and mid-sized employers that they feel they do not have a voice in health care reform. The Minnesota Health Action Group will be that voice for all Minnesota employers.
Differentiating between types of members
In addition to welcoming all size of employers as members, we will differentiate between categories of members to be more inclusive of all interested stakeholders. New membership levels for theMinnesota Health Action Group will include:
- Principal Members - Small, mid- and large-sized organizations directly involved in purchasing health care for employees in Minnesota.
- Associate Members - Organizations that have a stake in improving the health care system in Minnesota. Unlike Principal Members, Associate Members are not required to be purchasers of health care for employees in Minnesota.
Making it easier to get involved
We understand that as the size of our member organizations vary, so does the ability of individuals within those organizations to get involved with the Minnesota Health Action Group. With that in mind, we will be introducing three member-led committees that will each be responsible for developing and implementing programs or initiatives.
- Innovation Committee - Focusing on innovation in the health care delivery system, including provider payment reform, which is critical to creating an efficient health care system.
- Collaboration Committee - Focusing on peer-to-peer information sharing among members and industry stakeholders, driving topics for member interaction.
- Engagement Committee - Focusing on health care consumers and improving transparency.
Our core belief – that transparency can be a driving force in payment reform and quality improvement – remains intact. We will use our member-led committees to create broader engagement in this effort and to support health policy that will benefit all employers and individual health care consumers throughout the state.
Watch for more information about how to get involved, as well as tools and information to engage employees in health care, from the Minnesota Health Action Group as we move through 2012 and into the coming year.
We welcome your questions and feedback about our new brand and our go-forward strategy for continuing to meet the needs of health care purchasers throughout the state.
If you have questions or are ready to become a member of the Minnesota Health Action Group, contact us at 952-896-5186. You can also contact Carolyn Pare, president and CEO, directly at cpare@bhcag.com.