Founded in 1974, the NBGH is the only national non-profit organization exclusively devoted to representing the perspective of large employers and providing practical solutions to its members’ most important health care problems.

Recognized as the leading voice of large employers, the Business Group represents over 265 members on their most important health issues. Business Group members are primarily Fortune 500 companies – including the nation’s most innovative health care purchasers – who provide health coverage for more than 50 million U.S. workers, retirees, and their families. The Business Group fosters the development of a quality health care delivery system and treatments based on scientific evidence of effectiveness.

Peter van Dyck, MD, MPH, Associate Administrator for Maternal and Child Health, Health Resources and Services Administration said, “Children and pregnant women need benefits tailored to their unique needs and designed to foster their health, growth, and development. The Maternal and Child Health Plan Benefit Model is an excellent prototype. Improving the health of children, adolescents, and pregnant women advances the health of the Nation and will lead to a healthier future workforce.”

The toolkit provides employers with the information and tools they need to design and implement comprehensive health benefits, effectively communicate benefit offerings to beneficiaries, education beneficiaries on the importance of health promotion and disease prevention, and link these activities to organizational success. The toolkit includes:

• The business case for investing in maternal and child health.
• The Maternal and Child Health Plan Benefit Model, which outlines 34 evidence-informed health, pharmacy, vision, and dental benefits recommended by the Business Group.
• Actuarially-driven cost-impact assessments for all recommended benefits.
• Tools for developing a maternal and child health strategy, and evaluating the relationships between health outcomes and business performance.
• A benchmarking crosswalk that links Maternal and Child Health Plan Benefit Model recommendations to current HEDISR measures.
• Guidance for employers on effective health communication, beneficiary education, and employee engagement.
• Employer case studies.

“The health of women and children is important to employers. Maternal and child healthcare services account for $1 out of every $5 large employers spend on health care. Additionally, a substantial proportion of employee’s lost work time can be attributed to children’s health problems. And pregnancy is a leading cause of short- and long-term disability and turnover for most companies,” said Helen Darling, President of the National Business Group on Health.