With so much healthcare disruption in 2020 and early 2021, benefit leaders are looking for guidance on the best path forward post COVID. While there is much we still don’t know about the long term downstream cost impact of the pandemic, we do know that as hospitals and health systems look to overcome huge financials losses from delayed non-emergent procedures, consumers are making hasty high-cost healthcare decisions based on escalating critical need. In this webinar, Bill Kampine, healthcare economist and Healthcare Bluebook co-founder, and one of Bluebook's employer clients will take a deep dive into rising healthcare costs and the importance of healthcare navigation, specific employer challenges, and macro-trends powering the need for healthcare transparency — plus what to anticipate in terms of cost and utilization for the remainder of 2021 and beyond. With this information, employers will be equipped with actionable steps and tools for how to meet the post- COVID cost surge head on. Outlook invitations to be distributed to GPBCH member shortly.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Were you aware that:

• Stroke is the fifth leading cause of mortality in the U.S.
• 80% of strokes are preventable through lifestyle change and medical management
• Strokes occur at all ages; nearly one-quarter of all strokes occur in the population under age 65
• Direct cost of stroke on a per-person basis is twice as high for the working-age population as for older Americans

Join us for a webinar where we will discuss the epidemiology and economics of stroke, and how employers can help prevent and manage stroke. Our guest speakers are Pascal Jabbour, MD, Angela and Richard T. Clark Distinguished Professor of Neurological Surgery, Division Chief of Neurovascular Surgery And Endovascular Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and Diana Tzeng, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Neurology, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Jefferson Health. Outlook invitations have been sent.

SAVE THE DATE! Our 2021 Annual Conference is booked for December 9th, 2021 and we are hopeful for in-person and virtual attendance. More information coming soon, including this year's sponsorship opportunities! Contact Eric Croft (Ecroft@gpbch.org) with questions.