Application is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.

Voltaire

Happy New Year from the National Labor Office! The NLO is pleased to welcome its newest strategic alliance, Vitals, to the NLO. Vitals allows members to research options, compare costs and choose the best health care for members and their families. Recently, Vitals and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts partnered on the SmartShopper program.

As we ring in the New Year, I also want to welcome Dick Quigley, Vice President of Sales at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL), as the NLO’s new chairman and Marty Lutzeier, Regional Vice President of Labor, Anthem Blue Cross, as the NLO’s new vice-chairman.

The New Year is a fresh start for many members and labor unions. At this time, we assess our health, fitness, personal and professional lives to craft new and exciting goals to achieve.  Consider how your BCBS Plan can help you achieve these new goals by reviewing the highlighted programs in this issue.

Earlier this month, I attended the 15th Annual Made in America Conference. This Taft-Hartley Benefits Summit brings together Taft-Hartley plan leaders for strategic discussions around health and welfare plans.  Once again, the NLO supported the conference by speaking to the BCBS System’s commitment to opioids solutions. Continue to read Labor Matters and visit www.bcbs.com/nlo to receive updates on opioids initiatives at BCBS Plans and throughout the BCBS System.

For additional information regarding BCBS Plan programs, please contact your local Plan directly. If you have any questions about the NLO or this newsletter, contact us at 202.626.4815.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is an association of 35 independent, locally operated Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield companies.