National Business Group on Health Launches Health Innovations Forum for Health Care Startup Firms

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - Apr 28, 2015) - The National Business Group on Health (NBGH), a non-profit association of more than 400 large U.S. employers, today announced the launch of the Health Innovations Forum, a 'Shark Tank-like' initiative designed to help accelerate the adoption of effective health care technologies and solutions by large employers.

"Even with health care reform fully underway, there is a need for innovative and disruptive solutions to transform the delivery system and improve the health of employees," said Brian Marcotte, President and CEO of the National Business Group on Health. "We created the Health Innovations Forum to evaluate startup companies that have developed innovative solutions to improve employee health, or enhance the efficiency, delivery or consumer experience within the health care system."

Startup companies can apply to participate in the Health Innovations Forum through an online application process. After being assessed for their applicability and value proposition in the large employer market, startups with the most compelling value proposition will be selected to present their solution to the Forum's Health Innovations Board, a group of 13 human resource executives from NBGH member companies, including many of the world's largest employers. Based on the startup's presentation, and the Board's assessment of the solution, the startup may be given the opportunity to present to the Forum's larger Employer Council.

The Employer Council consists of nearly two dozen large employers that have agreed to conduct a comprehensive review of the startups' solution, serve as a mentor to the startup, and potentially conduct a pilot study of the programs that fit with their culture, employee value proposition and healthcare strategy. Successful startup companies will then have an opportunity to present their programs to a broad group of employers at appropriate NBGH venues including conferences, meetings and webinars.

"There has been significant growth in the number of innovative ideas to enhance employee health and improve the health care delivery system, and many of these ideas are coming from sources outside the health care industry. The Health Innovations Forum is as an excellent way to give startups exposure to employers and to have their solutions evaluated directly by individuals who are in a position to gauge how applicable the technology or solution will be to large companies and how beneficial they will be to their employees," said Marcotte.

For more information about the Health Innovations Forum, including how to submit an application, please visit www.businessgrouphealth.org/forum, or contact healthinnovations@businessgrouphealth.org

About the National Business Group on Health
The National Business Group on Health is the nation's only non-profit organization devoted exclusively to representing large employers' perspective on national health policy issues and providing practical solutions to its members' most important health care challenges. The Business Group helps drive today's health agenda while promoting ideas for controlling health care costs, improving patient safety and quality of care and sharing best practices in health benefits management with senior benefits, HR professionals, and medical directors from leading corporations. Business Group members, which include 68 Fortune 100 companies, provide health coverage for more than 50 million U.S. workers, retirees and their families. For more information, visit www.businessgrouphealth.org.