The Washington-based National Business Coalition on Health is changing its name to reflect the group's focus on collaboration among employers to improve health care, and to eliminate confusion with another like-minded organization.
The not-for-profit organization of employer-based health coalitions founded in 1992 will now be known as the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, it announced on Tuesday.
The National Alliance includes 50 employer coalitions nationwide representing more than 12,000 public, private and not-for-profit employers and unions providing health coverage to more than 41 million people. Members range from small and midsize companies to large employers with more than 5,000 employees.
It brings together employers to influence change in healthcare and to engage with key industry stakeholders, including insurers, providers, pharmaceutical companies and vendors. The organization also develops initiatives around key healthcare issues, like primary care, mental health, cancer, specialty drugs and mental well-being.
“The new name connotes what we want to be about: An alliance of coalitions across the country, which is focused on driving innovation in health and value,” National Alliance President and CEO Mike Thompson said.
The group is changing its name in part to differentiate itself from the National Business Group on Health, a not-for-profit membership organization that represents very large employers' perspective on health care issues. Most of its members are Fortune 500 companies, such as the Boeing Co. and General Motors Co.
