The Alliance | History and Accomplishments


Learn More Home History and Accomplishments Board of Directors Staff Our Members Our Network About Self-Funding Case Studies	Home :: Learn More The Alliance History, 1990 – 2011 History and Accomplishments Twenty years ago, seven Madison-area employers gathered around a table to find a better way. They were looking for a solution that gave them more control over escalating health benefit costs. The Alliance was created from that first meeting in 1990. Since then, we have been committed to the following three objectives: Making purchasing decisions based on quality and cost Promoting consumerism in health care choices Creating and sustaining value-added partnership between employers and providers 1990 – 1991 Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperative is established with 7 members First Annual Meeting held Healthy Answers established 1991 – 1992 First Provider Directory published Quality Forum is formed and develops the Community Quality Initiative and Quality Composite System Began receiving claims electronically 1992 – 1993 Added mental health and chiropractic networks Introduced BabyLove Introduced Healthy People at Work First member survey Began sending member newsletter 1993 – 1994 Preferred pricing relationships developed for HRAs, flu shots, and Wellness Council membership Board of Directors Governance Committee established Introduced Return on Investment (ROI) report Worksite wellness calendar developed 1994 – 1995 Alliance-Chamber Health Insurance Program (A-CHIP) developed Home Health providers added to the network Take Care of Yourself book and worksite seminar offered 1995 – 1996 Longevity credit introduced for members in the cooperative four years or more Quality Forum focuses on tobacco cessation Seminars provided to members on HIPAA 1996 – 1997 Improvements to employer reports, claims system First patient satisfaction survey Preferred pricing relationship approved for prescription benefit management 1997 – 1998 FOCUS reports introduced Alliance website launched Balanced Scorecard introduced to evaluate operational efficiency 1998 – 1999 Preferred pricing relationships developed for dental coverage Online Provider Directory launched Quality Forum focuses on diabetes management and antibiotic overuse Electronic claims processing system enhanced 1999 – 2000 Preferred relationships developed for travel/wrap network QualityCounts^® Medical Group Report released on 24 hospitals and five areas of care, working with Employers Health Cooperative in Janesville QualityCounts^® for Employees and QualityCounts^® website launched for consumers Awarded National Health Care Purchaser Award by the National Health Care Purchasing Institute for work in educating consumers about choosing value in health care 2000 – 2001 Preferred pricing relationships for consumer literature and blood pressure screenings Established Alliance Provider Quality Investment Fund to reward providers for quality improvement Joined The Leapfrog Group Introduced the Consumer Toolkit Enhanced electronic claims transmission to reduce operating costs and improve operational efficiency 2001 – 2002 Expanded primary service area to 13 counties, including providers in Dubuque, Iowa Awarded the Ellwood Award from the Foundation for Accountability for our work with QualityCounts^® Became a Regional Roll-Out Leader for Leapfrog Co-sponsored meeting which would lead to development of the Wisconsin Purchasers for Quality (WHPQ) Began working with Fond du Lac Area Businesses on Health to reprice claims 2002 – 2003 Created the How to Be a Wise Health Care Consumer and the Patient Safety Toolkit One of three groups to found WisconsinRx not-for-profit prescription drug purchasing coalition 2003 – 2004 Created the Diabetes Toolbox Introduce a Performance-Based Reimbursement pilot 2004 – 2005 Introduced skilled nursing facilities and ambulance services Co-sponsored the national Quality Based Health Care Purchasing Conference with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Judith Hibbard article Does Publicizing Hospital Performance Stimulate Quality Improvement Efforts? about the QualityCounts^® report appears in Health Affairs 2005 – 2006 Began a project to revamp existing Provider Directory Preferred pricing relationship developed for a broader national wrap network Joined with other Wisconsin health care leaders to create The Wisconsin Health Information Organization 2006 – 2007 Recognized as a Community Leader for Value-Driven Health Care by the US Department of Health and Human Services Began providing customer service assistance for Spanish speakers Launched Employer Resource Center Redesigned Online Provider Directory Began Project 360 to solicit feedback from members, business partners, and providers and shape the future of The Alliance 2007 – 2008 Presented with Annual Quality Award by Florida Health Care Coalition Introduced Customer Relationship Management system to help manage our stakeholder data Nominated an evidence-based practice center topic to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality titled Consumer-Oriented Strategies for Improving health Benefit Design Launched new brand identity and tagline Employers Moving Health Care Forward 2008 – 2009 Hosted more than 400 members and guests at our new Alliance Learning Circles networking and learning events Enhanced our health policy strategy and started member health policy committee Investigated new options for wellness vendor through member-led group purchasing committee Added 351 retail clinic locations to the provider network Introduced the first-ever QualityCounts^® Outpatient Procedures and Tests report on the cost of non-emergency care 2009 – 2010 Preferred relationships introduced with Quantum Health and Health Solutions, Ltd.^® Celebrated 20 years as a Cooperative of Employers Moving Health Care Forward by Controlling Costs, Improving Quality, and Engaging Individuals in Their Health 2010 – 2011 Began expanding primary network by contracting with providers in 8 Illinois counties. 2011 – 2012 Six employers participated in a Value-Based Benefit Design Pilot with the goal of encouraging individuals to make better health care decisions. Health policy advocacy: Simplified the withholding requirements related to imputed income.	Read the Annual Report