 |
Benefits of Membership
If you haven't joined RIBGH yet, con-sider the
many benefits:
• Informative, interesting, influential quarterly
meetings (see events
archive for past speakers/topics)
• Active, informed Legislative
Affairs Committee
to represent the busi-
ness viewpoint to the RI Legislature
on healthcare
issues in coopera-
tion with the various Chambers of Commerce and
the Human Re-
source Management Society
of RI
• Adopt a Company Wellness Pro-
gram to help member companies
establish
an effective worksite
wellness program
• Comprehensive website full of
current information on national and
local business healthcare
issues
• Regular networking opportunities
with fellow business executives and
influential
leaders of the provider,
insurer and regulatory communities
• Free benchmark health insurance
survey information from
leading
industry consultants
• Through active committee mem-
bership, ability to become deeply
involved
in plotting the future of
healthcare in Rhode Island
• Only business organization in
RI
dedicated to creating a proactive
dialogue between
the business
community and State Government
on matters of healthcare
policy
All of the above and much
more for less than
$1 per employee per year!
Become a member now!
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Officers
Mr. J. Michael Vittoria, President
Mr. Don Nokes, Vice President
Ms. Sandy Ross, Treasurer
Ms. Kate Kennedy, Secretary
Board of Directors
Ms. Joanne Bilotta, H.I.A.
Chief Officer, Client Solutions
The Health & Wellness Institute
Mr. Mark Converse, CEBS, CWWPD
Regional Health & Wellness Consultant
USI New England
Mr. Howard Dulude, MBA, FHFMA
Director
Lifespan Health & Benefits
Ms. Linn Freedman, Esq.,
Partner
Nixon Peabody LLP
Mr. Steve Gardner
Mercer
Mr. Herb Gray
Vice President of Human Resources
Cranston
Print Works
Ms. Kate Kennedy
Ms. Caitlin Nangle
Manager of Employee Benefits, City of Providence
Mr. Donald Nokes
President
Netcenergy
Mr. Leo Perrone
Director, Employee Benefits
GTECH Corporation
Mr. John Pothin
Senior Vice President, Human Resources and
Head of HR North America Region
Hasbro
Ms. Sandy Ross
CPA
Kahn Litwin
Mr. Jeff Swallow
Chief Human Resource Officer
General Dynamics Electric Boat
Mr. J. Michael Vittoria
Vice President, Human Resources
Sperian Protection
 Contact the Board
|
|
| |
 |
| What's New! |
RIBGH is proud to announce that we have joined forces with the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce to ensure that RI business voice is forcefully understood on issues surrounding the implementation of the new federal health care Act.
 RIBGH and the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce will collaborate to develop legislative "position papers" during the 2011 session of the Rhode Island General Assembly and beyond. More. |
| History |
RIBGH existed in the 1980's in
Rhode Island and was "reborn" on April 8, 2005,
at a meeting where Chris Koller, RI Health Insurance Commissioner,
spoke to 70 RI Business executives at a forum at
the Marriott.
Herb Gray of Cranston Print Works
and Bob Carniaux of Hasbro,
original members of RIBGH during the 1980's, suggested that
the group be re-formed to study how employers in Rhode Island
can make a difference.
The first official meeting
of the re-formed Rhode Island Business Group on Health was
held in May 2005. Since then, over 50 Rhode Island companies
and top executives have met regularly to participate in RIBGH.
For details on past meetings, click
here.
|
| Goals & Objectives |
| Some highlights of the expressed
goals and objectives of the RI Business Group on
Health:
|
 |
Create a shared RI business community vision of health
care through hands-on involvement in the initiative from
CEO's, CFO's and HR Executives of member firms.
|
|
Create a proactive dialog between the business community
and state government (elected officials and administrative
agency leadership) on matters of healthcare policy, regulation
and legislation based upon the exercise of sound fiscal
judgment and quality standards. |
|
Promote economic development by recom-
mending
solutions that lead to a financially responsible healthcare
cost structure so that existing businesses seek to expand
and new businesses choose locating in Rhode Island. |
|
Create a business community voice in the
state
promoting a "best return on healthcare investment" mindset,
through a statutory and regulatory framework designed to
create efficiency, cut waste, and improve/maintain quality
in our healthcare delivery system. |
|
Improve data analysis and distribution within
our healthcare delivery system, i.e., hospital
and doctor quality and
performance, patient satisfaction and underlying cost structure
and underwriting structure used by health
insurance providers. |
|
Promote health and wellness education with
the goal of helping employees become better consumers of healthcare services. |
|
Represent special and unique needs of employers
in the state, from small to large. |
|
Promote the elimination of unreasonable
regu-
latory hurdles, which serve as entry
barriers
to competition in the healthcare insurance market. |
|
Create a model of success for other states
to replicate. |
Volunteers Needed for Committees
Members who are interested in volunteering for the committees described below
are asked to please contact us.
|
RIBGH Committees
- Learn more about committee participation!
Health Care Delivery System and Finance Committee
This group focuses on health care costs including the different components and waste in the system. In addition, this group addresses standards of benefits and the finance and delivery of such benefits. Chaired by Howard Dulude, Director Lifespan Health & Benefits.
Health Information Technology and Innovation Committee
This committee reviews and participates in initiatives of the Rhode Island Quality Institute regarding health information technology. Chaired by Judy Wright of the Rhode Island Quality Institute.
.
Wellness and Consumer Engagement Committee
This committee explores the activities of the Worksite Wellness Council and determines how to increase its membership. Committee members considers such questions as: how can businesses expand the message to include employees AND their families? How can businesses increase the wellness of our future generations of employees? This group also explores the impact of wellness initiatives for employers. Chaired by Joanne Bilotta, Chief Officer, Client Solutions, The Health & Wellness Institute..
Membership, Marketing and Communications Committee
This committee determines the best ways to expand the membership of the Rhode Island Business Group on Health. Chaired by Herb Gray, Vice President of Human Resources, Cranston Print Works.
Legislative Affairs and Public Policy Committee
The purpose of this group will be to propose, support, and monitor legislative, regulatory, and legal actions that promote a high quality, affordable health care delivery system; to provide RIBGH members with information on legislative and regulatory issues affecting healthcare; and to create a proactive dialog with local, state, and congressional representatives to further the objectives of RIBGH. Chaired by Chief Human Resource Officer, General Dynamics Electric Boat.
Broker and Consultant Advisory Council
This group was formed to provide assistance to Rhode Island employers trying to navigate through the sea of choices for a Health Insurance Broker. The committee's first effort produced the "How to Choose a Broker/Consultant, A Guide for Employers". This 32-page document contains a wealth of information regarding what services you should expect from a broker, a helpful glossary of terms and a sample RFP to assist in selecting your broker. The guide is available to all members of the RIBGH. The next project from this committee produced a guide for employers to assist their employees with the to register for Currentcare, the Health Insurance Exchange system for Rhode Island. Chaired by Don Nokes, President of NetCenergy.
|
|
|
