WAKEFIELD, RI – The Rhode Island Business Group on Health (RIBGH) has been awarded $300,000 in support of its healthcare transparency and payment reform initiative by Arnold Ventures LLC, a philanthropy dedicated to tackling some of the most pressing problems in the United States including high healthcare costs.

“Our board is extremely pleased that Arnold Ventures has recognized the importance and potential impact of supporting RIBGH’s campaign to educate business and community leaders on the need for healthcare payment reform in the state of Rhode Island,” said Al Charbonneau, Executive Director for RIBGH.

The grant supports efforts to inform and engage major stakeholders representing business, community, labor, legislative, and healthcare including hospital trustees and consumer groups in collaboration with the Rhode Island Cost Trend Steering Committee to reform the payment systems for hospitals and other providers across the state.

The grant enables the campaign by underwriting three components of RIBGH’s work:

• Conduct analysis using the RIBGH database which is built on information from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, the Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner, and the Medicare Cost Report. This work also involves collaboration with the Business Analytics & Artificial Intelligence Department of the College of Business at the University of Rhode Island.
• Develop a series of issue briefs and other media using data to make the case for payment reform to be distributed throughout the state and at the national level via the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions.
• Engage business and community leader champions to create pressure to align payment with affordability within the state of Rhode Island.

“Payment reform for health systems is long overdue,” said Michael Thompson, FSA, MAAA, National Alliance president and CEO. “The current system rewards inflated prices, misuse of resources and focuses too much on more healthcare – not more health. With this grant, the employer community can help Rhode Island to get out in front and lead the country in implementing constructive reforms.”

About Arnold Ventures

Arnold Ventures is a philanthropy dedicated to tackling some of the most pressing problems in the United States. They invest in sustainable change, building it from the ground up based on research, deep thinking, and a strong foundation of evidence. They drive public conversation, craft policy, and inspire action through education and advocacy. More information can be found at arnoldventures.org.

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About Rhode Island Business Group on Health:

The Rhode Island Business Group on Health (RIBGH) is a voluntary non-profit organization with over 90 member companies, consisting of large and small businesses, payers, brokers, physician groups, and hospital systems.   The mission of RIBGH is to promote better care delivery, transparency and healthier outcomes at affordable, predictable costs.   The scope of RIBGH, through its affiliate the Worksite Wellness Council of Rhode Island (WWCRI), also includes educating members and sharing best practices on building and sustaining healthy productive workforces.   For more information, visit www.ribgh.org.