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Atlanta Associations of Health Underwriters

3227 South Cherokee Lane

Suite 1320

Woodstock, GA 30188

P: 770-516-4746
F: 770-516-0236

admin@atlantaahu.org

The Mission of the Atlanta Association of Health Underwriters is to provide in-depth education, advocacy and professional development to its members so that they may better serve the public and decision makers in securing and maintaining health and related insurance coverage.

AAHU's Federal Legislative Update 2012-03-16

Atlanta Association of Health Underwriters Annual Summary - April 5, 2012

Dear Valued AAHU Members:

Your 2011/2012 AAHU Board remains steadfast in our commitment to bring value to our members and the community we serve. Following the recent Oral Arguments heard by the Supreme Court anticipation for the future or PPACA couldn’t be higher. With that said, our standing goal is to find the most effective ways to educate our members, deliver timely legislative updates, and share ideas to help you deliver solutions for your clients and prospects. We will continue to provide legislative updates at our monthly programs and share information as expeditiously as possible.

Through our strong relationship with NAHU, we stand prepared to take action and have your voice heard on strengthening our industry, the small business owner and our health care delivery system. We know that now is the time employers need your guidance navigating legislative changes more than ever before. With that in mind we will strive to make your membership in AAHU invaluable.

Prior to recapping the highlights from the past 9 months, we want to thank each and every one of you who participated in one or more of our events; recruited a new member, contributed financially to the AAHU PAC or GAHU PAC; donated to the Atlanta Mission; served on a committee; helped promote the value of our organization, and most importantly - for being a member – your $34 per month membership goes a long way and is invaluable.

Please allow me to share some of the many accomplishments by our committees.

PROGRAMS: Chair Grant Campbell and Co-chairs, Lisa Wetherton & Brent Shelly - Our program committee works tremendously hard to find relevant and engaging speakers. To date, our programs provided our members with more than 16 hours of continuing education. The focus remains to provide ideas for our members to diversify and plan for the future. Our most recent program on Social Media by Sean Nelson was rich with ideas to set your website apart and motivate visitors to take action. The prior month’s program was our marquee event and the speakers from Benefit Forum were outstanding. Hopefully you were able to attend and see Troy Cook - NAHU’s Federal Leg Chair, Michael Carmen who spoke on effective marketing, Cambria Smith who spoke on navigating Medicare, Jackie Warren who spoke on Wellness and a superb Broker Panel with our own Jodie Braner, Kevin Smith, & Scott Hankins. In January we had a carrier/employer panel withCoventry and Comverge. November we learned ways to capitalize on the potential for LTC from Tom Hebrank and in October Tiffany Downs from Ford & Harrison spoke to us about Benefit Plan Compliance. In September we offered a double-header with Phil Midden who spoke to us about International Medical Travel and Brenda Rickborn who spoke about being a Group Health Plan Fiduciary. Our board year opened with a revenue generating presentation by Donald Schamay on Business Planning with Disability Insurance. We owe a great deal of appreciation to our long-standing and devoted programs committee.

MEDIA: Chair Jodie Braner prepared numerous press releases which lead to more media coverage for our events and requests for interviews from our members than ever before. Our AAHU members have been contributors or featured in HIU, local newspapers, the Atlanta Business Chronicle and both the Dunwoody & Sandy Springs neighborhood newspapers to name a few.

COMMUNICATIONS: John Strange produced two newsletters with insightful content provided by our members, GAHU and NAHU. Together with our board he has worked hard to keep the AAHU website updated with copies of our speaker presentations, future events and legislative updates.

ETHIC/ BY LAWS: Chair Julie Teplis and Co-chair Anita Hoerskamp – The Ethics Committee monitors local and national news for unethical behavior in an effort to keep membership informed on the latest compliance issues and best practices for ethical behavior.

State Legislation: Chair Mychal Walker – The State Legislative committee tracks all bills impacting our state insurance industry along with the state health care industry. His committee monitors premium, access, underwriting, taxation, mandates and more. This committee is instrumental in planning our GAHU Day at the Hill event where state legislators meet with our members.

EDUCATION: Chair Daniel Boaz and Co-Chair Nick Vansant – The Education Committee works with NAHU to find practical and timely certification programs that can be offered to our members on topics like Wellness and Consumer Driven Health Care. In April we have partnered with NAHU to promote the IHC Forum at Cobb Galleria. Additionally, this committee leads the evaluation process of candidates from theUniversity ofGeorgia andGeorgiaState for receipt of our William Duffy Scholarship awards.

Membership: Chairs Jackie Hubert & Pat O’Rourke – The Membership Committee drives our recruiting and retention efforts by planning social events like our December Holiday Social at Double Zero, upcoming Golf Tournament at Alpharetta Athletic Club in May, and ongoing partner events with SHRM and NAIFA. Pat also coordinates our calling campaigns targeting lapsed members which are instrumental in helping us maintain our chapter size.

PUBLIC SERVIC: Chair Elizabeth Hughes – The Public Service Committee conducts an annual member survey to identify potential charities for AAHU to support. Our public service activity has picked up drastically as we now support the Atlanta Mission, Open Hand, Must Ministries, Toys for Tots, Embraced, the Atlanta Women and Children’s Shelter. Whether it is a winter coat drive, holiday toy collection, financial contribution or delivery of meals to seniors with hardships, our member involvement has increased dramatically through all the unique ways to get involved.

FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE: Chair Emma Stacey Leigh and Co-Chair Elena Merino – The Federal Legislative Committee is second to none and monitors all of the changes proposed and implemented by congress. This has been a daunting task, but one made easier with all of their talent and commitment to AAHU. We benefit from a true team effort through support from GAHU lobbyist Don Bolia, AAHU members Rick Bailey and Rush Childers and NAHU – all of which identify key legislation and action plans for forming our position as an organization and ways to take action through Operation Shout.

AWARDS: Chair Mike Breitung – The Awards Committee records all chapter activity by working closely with each of the above referenced committees. Together with the board they decide which awards to pursue. Additionally they prepare all award submissions for NAHU that will be awarded at National Convention in June.

Our board year runs from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012. At the culmination of our year we host an awards banquet where we recognize our board and outstanding members. We look forward to seeing all of you there in June to help celebrate the accomplishments of our organization.