WPS Health Solutions wins BBB International Torch Award for Ethics

MADISON, Wis.—Aug. 21, 2017—WPS Health Solutions is one of the winners of the 2017 BBB International Torch Award for Ethics from the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust.

Presented annually since 1996, the International Torch Awards are given to businesses that demonstrate superior commitment to exceptional ethics practices that benefit their customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders, and surrounding communities.

“Being recognized for this award is an honor and a reflection of our company’s commitment to acting with integrity,” said WPS President and CEO Mike Hamerlik. “We are proud of our employees for consistently upholding our values and standards.”

WPS won in the category of companies with more than 500 employees. The award ceremony is Sept. 19 in Atlanta.

“WPS Health Solutions exemplifies what adhering to a fair and principled marketplace means,” said Jim Temmer, CEO and President of BBB Serving Wisconsin. “The Better Business Bureau congratulates this long-standing Wisconsin company, which showcases that ethical standards are key to business success and the trademark of a deep-rooted, successful company.”

The BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust is the educational foundation of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. The Council of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for over 100 local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. WPS became eligible for an international award after winning the local Torch Award competition from the BBB Serving Wisconsin in May 2016.

This is the fourth time a Wisconsin company has won an international award since its inception in 1996. Rockwell Automation won the award in 2012, Briggs & Stratton Corporation won in 2015, and Harley-Davidson won in 2016.

Finalists were selected by an independent panel of business ethics experts. Companies are evaluated against criteria including commitment to and demonstration of ethical practices in the marketplace; high standard of behavior toward customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders, and communities; truthfulness and accuracy of advertising and sales practices; ethical reputation among industry peers and communities in which they do business; and training and communications programs to assist employees in carrying out established ethics policies.

About WPS Health Solutions

WPS Health Solutions is a nationally regarded government contractor and a leading Wisconsin not-for-profit health insurer. The WPS Health Insurance division offers affordable health plans and benefits administration. The WPS Government Health Administrators division administers Part A and B Medicare benefits for millions of seniors in multiple states, and the WPS Military and Veterans Health division serves millions more members who are active in the U.S. military, veterans and their families. In 2017, the international Ethisphere® Institute named WPS one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® for the eighth straight year. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

Betty Harris Custer receives Circle of Excellence award

Betty Harris Custer, Founding Managing Partner of Custer Plumb Financial Services, will receive the Women in Insurance & Financial Services’ (WIFS) annual “Circle of Excellence” honor for 2017 in October. The “Circle of Excellence” distinction is conferred upon a select number of women in the industry based upon their extraordinary achievements and given out at the WIFS national conference.

Starion Bank receives highest rating from BauerFinancial

Starion Bank has received a five star “superior” rating from BauerFinancial, the nation’s leading independent bank and credit union rating firm.

BauerFinancial has been reporting on and analyzing the performance of U.S. banks and credit unions since 1983. Star ratings are assigned on a scale of zero-to-five stars, with five being the strongest, and are based on the overall financial picture of the financial institution. The ratings are independent, meaning no institution is able to pay to be rated or excluded.

“We are proud to repeatedly receive Bauer’s top rating,” says Craig Larson, CEO at Starion Bank. “This recognition is possible thanks to the commitment Starion employees make to providing exceptional service to each and every customer. That dedication makes Starion a great place to bank and to work.”

NGL receives Business Supporter Award from Operation Fresh Start

National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) was honored to receive the Business Supporter Award presented by Operation Fresh Start (OFS). NGL accepted the award during the Fresh Start Awards Luncheon on May 12.

OFS is a nonprofit that provides and promotes employment training, mentoring and education opportunities to Dane County youth ages 16 to 24. Founded in 1970, OFS has offered its services to more than 8,000 youth and adults who were looking to better their lives. NGL has supported OFS programming for five years.

“We understand the value and the need to support an organization like Operation Fresh Start. It’s a beneficial community resource that provides an opportunity for youth to learn not only job training, but leadership skills, education and a solid work ethic. For youth it’s a fresh start down the path to become a productive member of society. It’s an organization that truly makes a life changing impact on a person’s life,” said Mark Solverud, NGL President & CEO.

Solverud continued, “NGL is proud to be recognized for its support of OFS. We want to share that recognition with the corporations and individuals who donate to OFS. In addition, we want to acknowledge and thank all of the employees, the Board, the officers, the volunteers and anyone connected to the organization.”

About Operation Fresh Start

A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization, Operation Fresh Start has provided comprehensive employment and training services to over 8,000 youth and adults in Dane County, Wisconsin since 1970. For more information, visit www.operationfreshstart.org.

About NGL

Since 1910, National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL), a mutual insurance company, has been located in Madison, Wis. Licensed to do business in 49 states and the District of Columbia, NGL markets preneed and individual life and annuities, as well as group markets products including specialty and student insurance. Additional information about NGL can be found at www.nglic.com; Facebook: Facebook.com/NGLIC and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-guardian-life-insurance-company

National Guardian Life Insurance Company is not affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America a/k/a The Guardian or Guardian Life.

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Five Recipients Win The Alliance Health Transformation Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Teri Van Tassel, Vice President, Marketing & Member Services

608.210.6633

E-mail: tvantassel@the-alliance.org

www.the-alliance.org/press

FIVE RECIPIENTS WIN THE ALLIANCE HEALTH TRANSFORMATION AWARD

MADISON, Wis. (May 17, 2017) ─ Five awards were given to individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to transforming health care in their community when The Alliance held its Annual Seminar on May 16.

This year’s award recipients are:

• Gundersen Health System, La Crosse, Wis.

Gundersen Health System has changed how traditional health care services have been sold and delivered in northwestern Wisconsin. Gundersen provides quality care; works to be a collaborative partner with employers and the community; makes cost-conscious decisions; and has won national attention for its environmental practices.

Gundersen Health System is being recognized for exploring new approaches to delivering and paying for care. They are improving the quality of care using a systematic, process-oriented approach that can be adapted and implemented by other organizations. And they are collaborating with other organizations to develop solutions to significant health care problems as well as advancing their own understanding of how to engage consumers.

• John Nygren, Wisconsin State Representative, Marinette, Wis.

Representative John Nygren represents northeastern Wisconsin’s 89^th Assembly district and pushed the state of Wisconsin to recognize the opioid addiction problem before it became a national headline. Rep. Nygren learned about the high cost of opioid addiction when his daughter nearly died of a heroin overdose. Her struggles with addiction started with the opioid medication OxyContin and eventually led to heroin.

Rep. Nygren started the Heroin, Opiate Prevention and Education (HOPE) Agenda, which has led to significant legislative awareness and policy changes that aim to strengthen Wisconsin efforts to counter the epidemic of opioid abuse. As part of the HOPE Agenda, Rep. Nygren has successfully introduced 17 bills since 2013 to help combat the opioid addition problem.

Rep. Nygren is being honored for improving the quality of care using a systematic and process oriented approach that can be adapted and implemented by other organizations.

• OpenNotes, Catherine DesRoches, Brookline, Mass.

OpenNotes is a growing national movement that invites patients, families and clinicians to come together and improve communication through shared clinician notes and fully transparent medical records.

Today, more than 11 million U.S. patients have access to their notes. One early study showed that OpenNotes has the potential to decrease costs, with patients who read their notes doing a better job of managing their medical regimen and taking medication as prescribed.

OpenNotes is being recognized for exploring new approaches to delivering care as well as paying for care; and for improving the quality of care using a systematic, process-oriented approach that can be adapted and implemented by other organizations. It also allows other organizations to develop solutions and advance our understanding of how to engage consumers in making better health care decisions.

• Miniature Precision Components, Walworth, Wis.

Miniature Precision Components (MPC) is a manufacturing company that produces automotive parts. Based in Walworth, Wis. with nine other locations they consistently create opportunities to engage consumers in decisions about better health and better health care.

Over the years, MPC has:

• Created a robust wellness program;
• Proven its ability to help employees adopt healthy behaviors;
• Modeled good employee communications; and
• Offered incentives to capture greater savings through the QualityPath program. More than 12 MPC employees have used QualityPath for joint replacements, which is the highest participation achieved by any QualityPath employer.

MPC is being recognized for both advancing our understanding of how to engage consumers in making better decisions about their care and for providing extraordinary leadership among employers related to health benefits.

• Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (WCHQ), Madison, Wis.

The Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (WCHQ) is pushing the envelope to measure, publicly report and improve the quality of care for the people of Wisconsin. WCHQ has made it a priority to meet the needs of purchasers and consumers by making changes to measures in their portfolio to accommodate the interests of purchasers. They also have committed to adopting measures prioritized by a group of purchasers and payers. To broaden their efforts they are now exploring the possibility of including delivery systems in other states.

WCHQ is being honored for meeting two award criteria: improving the quality of care using a systematic, process-oriented approach that can be adapted and implemented by other organizations, and collaborating with other organizations to develop innovative solutions to significant health care problems.

The Alliance moves health care forward by controlling costs, improving quality, and engaging individuals in their health. Members include more than 240 self-funded employers and insurance trusts covering more than 85,000 individuals in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. The Alliance uses the purchasing power of cooperative members to negotiate with and provide access to an extensive network of doctors and hospitals paid to improve quality by performing better not doing more.

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*Please contact us if you would like photos of the award recipients.

*We can connect journalists with award winners and The Alliance Board of Directors upon request.