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National Business Group on Health Selects University of Michigan's Health Management Research Center for EMPAQ(R) Data
Three-Year Partnership Gives Business Group Members Free EMPAQ(R) Participation and Benchmarking
| Source: National Business Group on Health
WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - May 30, 2007) - The National Business Group on Health
announced today it has selected the University of Michigan's prestigious
Health Management Research Center (UM-HMRC) as the central repository for
its EMPAQ® data -- the universal set of standardized metrics that enables
employers to measure the performance and effectiveness of their health and
productivity programs.
Under the terms of the three-year partnership, UM-HMRC will also serve as
the Business Group's research partner to collect, analyze, and summarize
aggregate EMPAQ® data. Also, as a value-added member service, the
Business Group will offer its 268 members free EMPAQ® participation and
benchmarking.
"We are extremely pleased to provide our membership with access to such a
respected academic and research organization," said Helen Darling,
President of the Business Group. "This strategic partnership will help
realize the true capacity and value of the Business Group's EMPAQ®
standardized metrics. It will also enhance EMPAQ® participation and
benchmarking within the industry by extending standardized metric data
reporting permission to many different entities including; employers,
suppliers, state and federal government agencies, and researchers."
UM-HMRC, under the direction and guidance of Dee Edington, PhD., has been
in the business of health management evaluation since 1980. During this
time, the UM-HRMC has collected health and lifestyle behavior data on over
3 million different individuals and consulted with several large
organizations. It has grown to be recognized as one of the top academic
research centers in the world in studying health management within
organizations. UM-HRMC is comprised of a 38-person team, including ten
doctoral-level researchers, possessing a vast array of experience in
research, data system programming, data analytics and client services.
"We are very excited about our new partnership with the Business Group,"
said Dr. Edington. "We recognize how critical it is for employers and
other entities to be able to collect, analyze and benchmark health care and
disability data so that they can improve the overall performance of their
programs. We look forward to working with the Business Group and their
members."
Ron Finch, Vice-President at the Business Group reports, "Our partnership
with UM-HMRC will provide Business Group members and EMPAQ® participants
with focused, timely data and reports they need to effectively measure the
performance of their health and productivity programs."
The annual update of EMPAQ® training and certification programs is now
complete. Participation in EMPAQ® will begin June 1 and collection of
2006 EMPAQ® data will run through August 15. All EMPAQ® participants,
including suppliers who submit their client's EMPAQ® data, will receive
an individual set of EMPAQ® benchmarking reports. The Business Group will
also produce an annual health and productivity report based on the data,
which will be presented at the 2007 Joint Forum on Health Productivity and
Absence Management on October 23, in Washington, D.C.
Complete information about EMPAQ®, including details on how to
participate, will be available at www.empaq.org on June 1. To become a
licensed EMPAQ® data provider for your clients, and/or to join an
impressive group of industry leaders as a project sponsor, please contact
Jim Curcio at curcio@businessgrouphealth.org.
About The University of Michigan Health Management Research Center
UM-Health Management Research Center (UM-HMRC) is a world-wide leader in
studying how the worksite environment and individual health choices
influence total health and productivity, quality of life, vitality and
health care economics. For more information about the UM-HMRC, visit:
http://www.hmrc.umich.edu/
About the National Business Group on Health
The National Business Group on Health, representing 268 mostly large
employers, is the nation's only non-profit organization devoted exclusively
to finding innovative and forward-thinking solutions to large employers'
most important health care and related benefits issues. The Business Group
identifies and shares best practices in health benefits, disability, health
and productivity, related paid time off and work/life balance issues.
Business Group members provide health coverage for more than 50 million
U.S. workers, retirees and their families. For more information about the
Business Group, visit www.businessgrouphealth.org