Change Management for Health Benefits Transformation
GM spends more on health care than steel, just as Starbucks spends more on health care than coffee beans. For most companies, health care is the second-largest expense after payroll. All employers are effectively in the health care business. What their employees really want is better health benefits. Frequently – and unfortunately – there is a disconnect between an organization’s culture and its benefits offerings. Many forward-looking organizations prioritize convenience, transparency, safety and affordability in their products, services and overall culture – yet offer their own employees healthcare benefits that are inconvenient, opaque, unsafe and incredibly expensive. When organizations finally realize this disconnect exists, that’s usually when they embark on a benefits transformation. But once they accomplish that change, they must ensure that a disconnect between culture and benefits never happens again. This means cementing change into the culture and preventing the organization from backsliding to its old approach of blindly trusting that carriers, PBMs and health systems will act in their best interests. Accomplishing this feat will require different approaches from one organization to the next, but there are some strategies that consistently work well. Ashleigh and Dave will discuss creating, sustaining, and anchoring change into the culture.
Ashleigh is the Managing Partner of The Gunter Group, a management consulting firm focused on maximizing the potential for clients, consultants, and our communities. Ashleigh’s passion drives her to focus on the intersection between strategy and people which is where she believes that real change happens. With over 25 years of consulting experience, Ashleigh has deep expertise in advising in the education and healthcare industries in dramatically changing marketplaces. Her expertise in change management has led her to partner with the team at Health Rosetta to support organizations who are moving toward high performing health plans. Her key areas of focus are early involvement of front line personnel and avoiding what Ashleigh calls “Benefits Speak” when communicating about the change. Outside of work, Ashleigh enjoys spending time with her family, advocating for grieving children through her Board service at The Dougy Center, and working toward her Taekwondo 3rd Degree Black Belt test scheduled for next year.
