National Business Group on Health Accepting Applications From Health Care Startups for Next Round of Health Innovations Forum

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - Sep 8, 2015) - The National Business Group on Health, a non-profit association of 425 large U.S. employers, today announced it is accepting applications through September 30, 2015 from startup companies to participate in the next round of Health Innovations Forum. The Health Innovations Forum is a 'Shark Tank-like' initiative designed to help accelerate the adoption of effective health care technologies and solutions by large employers.

A total of 18 startups applied to the Health Innovations Forum's inaugural "season" with the ultimate goal of having a large employer serve as a mentor to a startup or conduct a pilot study of a startup's program. Of those 18 startups, six startups secured a spot in the final round, pitching their business plan to the Forum's Employer Council of executives from two dozen large employers. As a result of those presentations, each of the presenting startups were matched with two to four large employers interested in learning more about the solution and potentially testing their programs with employees.

The startups that participated in the Health Innovations Forum's first round include those that have solutions that address a variety of employer health care needs and challenges including wellness, chronic condition management, second opinion services and prescription drug benefits.

"The quality of the programs and solutions that were presented to the Health Innovations Forum far exceeded our initial expectations," said Brian Marcotte, President and CEO of the National Business Group on Health. "The fact that a few large employers are now in discussion to test these programs with their own employees speaks volumes to the innovation that is being developed to enhance employee health and improve our health care delivery system."

Startup companies can apply to participate in the Health Innovations Forum's next round through an online application process here. After being assessed for their applicability and value proposition in the large employer market, startups with the most compelling value proposition will be selected to present their solution to the Forum's Health Innovations Board, a group of 14 human resource executives from NBGH member companies, including many of the world's largest employers. Based on the startup's presentation, and the Board's assessment of the solution, the startup may be given the opportunity to present to the Forum's larger Employer Council.

The Employer Council consists of nearly two dozen large employers that have agreed to conduct a comprehensive review of the startups' solution, serve as a mentor to the startup, and potentially conduct a pilot study of the programs that fit with their culture, employee value proposition and healthcare strategy. Successful startup companies will then have an opportunity to present their programs to a broad group of employers at appropriate NBGH venues including conferences, meetings and webinars.

"The Health Innovations Forum is as an excellent way to give startups exposure to employers and to have their solutions evaluated directly by individuals who are in a position to gauge how applicable the technology or solution will be to large companies and how beneficial they will be to their employees," said Marcotte.

For more information about the Health Innovations Forum, including how to submit an application, please visit http://www.businessgrouphealth.org/forum/, or contact healthinnovations@businessgrouphealth.org

About the National Business Group on Health
The National Business Group on Health is the nation's only non-profit organization devoted exclusively to representing large employers' perspective on national health policy issues and providing practical solutions to its members' most important health care challenges. The Business Group helps drive today's health agenda while promoting ideas for controlling health care costs, improving patient safety and quality of care and sharing best practices in health benefits management with senior benefits, HR professionals, and medical directors from leading corporations. Business Group members, which include 67 Fortune 100 companies, provide health coverage for more than 50 million U.S. workers, retirees and their families. For more information, visit www.businessgrouphealth.org.