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Memo from President Duane O'Neill

This week I am yielding my column to Niki Carr Lowery, Executive Director for ChamberPlus, Inc.  ChamberPlus is a wonderful and tangible part of what our chamber can offer for our members.  There are some very important national issues that ChamberPlus has become involved with and would like to take the time to share with you this week.

Niki Carr Lowery, Executive Director

             On June 8, 2005, ChamberPlus, Inc. was among many health care organizations selected throughout the state of Mississippi to participate in a hearing of the Citizens’ Health Care Working Group at the Jackson Medical Mall in Jackson, Mississippi.  The Citizens’ Health Care Working Group is a 15-member entity composed of the Secretary of Health and Human Services and 14 members appointed by the United States Comptroller General.  The Working Group is charged, by section 1014 of the Medicare Modernization Act, with the tasks of conducting hearings in multiple locations, preparing a report to be made publicly available that provides information on numerous topics, and conducts community meetings nationwide.

Bill Croswell, ChamberPlus, Inc. Board Member

            The Working Group was created by Congress to hold hearings and community meetings across the country on health care coverage and cost issues, and to issue a “Health Report to the American People.”  Within two years from these appointments, the committee will submit recommendations to Congress and the President.  Bill Croswell, ChamberPlus, Inc. representative, spoke to committee members along with Dr. Janice Bacon, G.A. Carmichael Health Center, and Primus Wheeler, Jackson Medical Mall.  Mr. Croswell was allowed to speak to committee members regarding the ChamberPlus program, its inception, and how the program is continuing to impact the state of Mississippi. 

The Citizens’ Health Care Working Group invited ChamberPlus to the conference in order to obtain different perspectives and new ideas on how certain organizations are providing health care.  This conference was an opportunity for the Working Group to gather information on the success of different health care providers and look for ways to expand their success nationwide.  Each panelist was provided the opportunity to discuss their program and provide information that will later be submitted to Congress and the President of the United States.  During the conference, the Working Group was very interested in the ChamberPlus program and asked many questions on how to set up similar programs in their own states.  This was truly an honor and a great opportunity for ChamberPlus to spread the word on its activities within the state of Mississippi and to hopefully reach out to other states regarding the great program.

            In March of 1996, the ChamberPlus program was developed by the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership in response to the needs of its small business members.  These members requested assistance in providing health benefits for their employees.  The Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership used the expertise of human resource managers from its larger business members and outside health benefit consultants to design health benefit plans for small businesses in the state.  The Chamber then used the purchasing leverage created by combining its small business members to negotiate attractive prices for those health benefit plans.  Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi was selected to administer the program.  ChamberPlus is a subsidiary of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership and offers affordable health benefits to small businesses with 1-50 employees.  These products are offered throughout Mississippi and include health insurance, dental and life insurance.

            In 1998, several chambers within the metro area expressed interest in affiliating with ChamberPlus in order to offer the discounted products to their members.  Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi also agreed to expand the program to other chambers.  In 2000, ChamberPlus invited all state chambers to affiliate with the program.  Currently, there are 54 Chambers of Commerce around the state affiliated with ChamberPlus.  These 54 affiliate chambers have the ability to help small businesses in their area by providing affordable health insurance.  Small businesses know that it is very important to offer quality benefits to their employees.  ChamberPlus and the chambers around the state have helped provide an answer for these small businesses seeking affordable health insurance.

            Currently, ChamberPlus is covering over 1,400 groups and insuring over 19,000 lives.  Without the help of ChamberPlus and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, 60% of these small businesses could not have provided health insurance to their employees.  “Finally, affordable benefits for small business” is not just the company slogan, it is what companies throughout Mississippi have been exclaiming after finding out about ChamberPlus.

            ChamberPlus takes great pride in providing the right tools for these small businesses, and will continue to help small businesses grow and prosper by providing affordable insurance options.  Knowing that makes ChamberPlus even more committed to succeed.  For more information, contact Niki Carr Lowery at (601) 948-7575.