NBCH Honors Pittsburgh Business Group on Health with 2014 Membership Award

WASHINGTON and PITTSBURGH – November 12, 2014 – The Pittsburgh Business Group on Health (PBGH) was recognized with the 2014 Membership Award by the National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH) for their leadership and efforts to improve the quality and efficiency of the health care delivery system, control health care expenditures and improve health at the community level.

A member of NBCH, PBGH is an employer-led, non-profit coalition of organizations representing over 105 organizations in various business segments including private and public employers, government and education.

“We are extremely proud of the hard work our employer-members have been doing to recognize the importance of creating and sustaining successful health and benefits programs,” said Jessica Brooks, PBGH executive director. “And, we are particularly excited that more and more employer-members find value in our unique programs and use them to improve the lives of their employees.”

PBGH has demonstrated leadership through its Annual Symposium which garners more than 400 attendees each year; several key initiatives including prescription drug, health care, auditing services and flu vaccine programs, and Living My Life Diabetes management program. Additionally PBGH serves as a vocal advocate to support employers impacted by the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center contract dispute, working with the Governor, Department of Health and Department of Insurance.

Pictured L-R: Chuck Smithers (NBCH), Diane McClune (PBGH), Jessice Brooks (PBGH), and Cheryl DeMars (NBCH Board Chair)

A flagship program is PBGH’s Corporate Wellness Challenge, which started in 2010 as a way to engage employers and employees in a “friendly competition” that promotes wellness, engages, and connects PBGH members and the community.

The Challenge provides an environment for healthy competition and assists employers in motivating employees to be active, know the benefits of physical activity and take positive steps in managing their health. PBGH’s Corporate Wellness Challenge encourages both individuals and teams to get active and make progress, provides an easy to implement, turnkey program that includes a step-by-step implementation guide, educational resources including onsite support and metrics for measuring success and rewarding participation. Supported by the American Heart Association’s START! Program, and the PBGH’s Internship Program with the University of Pittsburgh this challenge helps PBGH members to engage employees, compete with other employers and recognize individual accomplishments and companywide achievements.

Since its inception more 32 employers have participate with more than 4,000 participants who traveled over 1.2 million miles or the equivalent of to the moon and back two and a half times.

”The Pittsburgh coalition exemplifies the new direction that coalitions are taking, with on-the-ground, results-oriented activities that are all about patient engagement and the delivery of higher health care value,” said Brian Klepper, NBCH CEO. “We’re proud to see them get this award, and set a bar for other coalitions to meet.”