Message from Jerry Noyce

This edition of HERO on HEALTH features columns by Shelly Wolff of Towers Watson on health exchanges and Jennifer Flynn from Mayo Clinic, on understanding the importance of organizational support in creating a successful health management program. Thank you, Shelly and Jennifer for sharing your thoughts on these two important subjects.

At the recent annual HERO Research Meeting for members interested in health management research, attendees voiced their opinions on what topics were most important to them. The three most-often cited topics were: engagement, communications, and value on investment. These topics and others will be addressed during the 2013 HERO Forum.

It’s hard to believe that the HERO Forum is just around the corner. We hope you plan to join us at this year’s gathering, September 24-26, at the Disneyworld Hilton in Orlando. The packed, three-day agenda includes keynotes by Dr. Kevin Volpp from the University of Pennsylvania on behavioral economics and health, Dr. Donald Hensrud of Mayo Clinic on the latest research in treating obesity, and the duo of Jim Clifton, CEO of Gallup, and Ben Leedle, CEO of Healthways, on the latest in well-being.

We will also offer three panel discussions on making the business case for employee health, workforce health and well-being in 2020, and the latest in health management research. These sessions—along with workshops on a wide range of topics—promise to be highly engaging.

I am happy to report that the work of the HERO membership in collaboration with the Care Continuum Alliance (CCA) and roughly 40 other organizations that are all focused on identifying a core set of metrics for employee health management programs, is entering its final phase. A draft of a document outlining the work group’s recommendations is being reviewed by both subject matter experts in the field and other organizations supportive of this effort. Once their edits have been considered and incorporated into the draft, a period for public comment will be offered to capture others’ thoughts. A copy of that draft will be posted on both the HERO and CCA websites in September. You are encouraged to check for the posting and take advantage of this opportunity to comment. The final version of the report is tentatively scheduled to be released in late October.

I hope to see many of you this fall at the Forum,

Jerry