PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Employers/Businesses/School Districts/Municipalities
In 2021, the Consolidated Appropriations Act #CAA became law and your #fiduciaryduty became an organizational responsibility to that of your employee #healthplan.
The gloves are off. Time to fight and take back control. 🤛 🥊 🤜
Credit: Chris Deacon
"First, I want to thank the Texas Employers for Affordable Healthcare for having me this week - it was a great venue and event. Now I want to share a moment with you all that we had on our panel, that I hope was as impactful for the audience as it was for me.
One question really hit me, and I think my answer REALLY hit back hard. I paused and reflected before I gave my response thinking, “Chris, that seems a little harsh and you might alienate the audience if you go there?” Then, as I always do, I reminded myself that I am not in this business to be liked, but rather to say the uncomfortable thing that needs to be said.
Question from Employer: 'So, lets say I have all these great new tools with the CAA, new laws behind me, transparency information and I go to my carrier and they say ‘too bad’ we aren’t going to change the way we do business. You're not getting your data, what am I supposed to do about it? Who do I blame? How would I report this conduct?'
Answer: 'Respectfully, if that is the answer you are given from your carrier and you’re looking for someone to blame, you should get a mirror. Your two most powerful tools are underneath you. You have to walk away from that vendor.'
I went on to cushion the answer a bit, recognizing how difficult that move can be and the fact that many faces should really appear in that mirror – but the point was important enough to make with some shock and awe.
If your vendor is not going to change the way they do business to accommodate your fiduciary needs as a client, the answer is not to blame the vendor. The answer is to change your vendor."
Yesterday, Charles Miller, Chris Skisak, Chris Deacon and Ted Barrall led a session at a San Antonio Business Group on Health (SABGH) event titled, "How New Healthcare Legislation Will Empower Employers to Take Back Control." The session focused on employer responsibilities and opportunities created by the Consolidates Appropriations Act and HB711.
Thank you for having us!