Recently the WSJ’s blog on health and the business of health generated some good blog when it questioned the notion that retiree health plans had been advanced as part of the deal logic. Sticker Not Shocking for Chrysler's Retiree Health-Care Costs. The original post was interesting, but the response even more so. Writes one blogger: “Universal Health Care - more specifically - the opposition to it - is … one by one.. going to drive U.S.-based industry into the ground… as their less-burdened competitors are able to be more agile and more focused when they need to be. I’m looking forward to the day when WSJ… comes out in favor of Universal Health Care. Heck.. it only took the rest of the world - to convince them….that their 100 year-old view of business was …. flawed. “

As part of our work, we frequently interact with local employers regarding healthcare quality and the role that organizations can play in addressing this issue. We recently spoke with a human resources director from an organization that has done truly groundbreaking work with regard to healthcare and healthcare quality improvement initiatives. Based on the success and longevity from her organization’s efforts, she was able to offer interesting insight.

“Too often, employees are suspicious of efforts promoted by their own employer,”she said. “When new initiatives are rolled out, the attitude they are met with is often ‘What are they taking away from me now?’ As employers increase expectations for employees to better manage health risks and share more of the costs of healthcare, they also need to be doing more to promote the quality and safety of the healthcare their employees receive.”

To address this issue, her organization – which is based in Maine – found an effective way to “actively influence the quality and safety of care” by participating in the Maine Health Management Coalition. The MHMC is an independent organization that works with providers, insurers, and employers in a collaborative effort to improve the quality of healthcare in Maine. Many states offer similar programs. For more information, visit the National Business Coalition on Health.