Integrated Benefits Institute Elects New Board Chair: Walmart's Chris McSwain

SAN FRANCISCO, March 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The non-profit Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI), a leading health and productivity research organization supported by more than 600 corporate sponsors, announced that it has elected Chris McSwain, vice president of benefits for Walmart U.S., as chairman of IBI's board.

"The work done by IBI has played a critical role in helping employers and their supplier partners work more effectively to manage workforce health and productivity," said McSwain. "U.S. employers face both challenges and opportunities as we navigate health reform, and I'm excited to be working with IBI at this critical time."

Walmart's focus on improving health and wellness goes beyond its own workforce. Earlier this year the nation's largest grocer unveiled a comprehensive effort to provide its customers with healthier and more affordable food choices to provide solutions that help Americans eat healthier and live a better life. In recent years the company also has been a force in lowering the costs of generic prescription medicines.

"We appreciate the dedication and efforts of our board and executive committee," said Thomas Parry, Ph.D., president of IBI. "Chris McSwain has played an important leadership role in the health benefits community, and we look forward to his continued leadership with IBI."

McSwain was recently featured in an IBI toolkit to help employers improve the health and productivity of their workforce. The information includes a DVD and downloadable resources, including checklists, templates and guides that were developed by McSwain through his pioneering work at SCANA Corporation and Whirlpool, and information on IBI modeling and measurement tools. Copies are available from IBI at no cost.

Dan Lyons, vice president and manager for Liberty Mutual, was elected vice chair, and Anita Weir, manager, Health Services for Safeway, was elected treasurer.

Additional officers elected today serving as vice presidents on the executive committee include:

• John Herrick, executive director, Employer/Payor Initiative, Novartis
• Kevin Mead, director, Reimbursement, Allergan
• Cheryl Pasa, director, IDM, USAA
• Jim Pope, executive vice president and chief science officer, Healthways
• Mary Tavarozzi, principal, Towers Watson

Officers half-way through their two-year terms, serving as vice presidents include:

• Paul Handel, senior vice president & chief medical officer, Health Care Service Corporation
• Bruce Sherman, director, Health & Productivity Initiatives, Employers Health Purchasing Corporation of Ohio

In addition to the above companies, other board member companies elected at last week's 15th Annual Meeting of the Members are: Aetna, Alere, Anthem Life, Avery Dennison, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Caterpillar, Eastman Chemical Company, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems/HealthMedia, Kaiser Permanente, Lafarge, Medco Health Solutions, Pfizer, Pinnacol Assurance, PPG Industries, Prudential Financial, Reliance Standard/Matrix Absence Management, The Hartford, The Home Depot, Union Pacific, Vanderbilt University and Medical Center, and Yum! Brands.

About the Integrated Benefits Institute

The Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI) provides employers and their supplier partners with resources for demonstrating the business value of health. As a pioneer, leader and nonprofit supplier of health and productivity research, measurement and benchmarking, IBI is a trusted source for benefits performance analysis, research-based approaches, and forums for information and education. IBI's programs, resources and expert member networks advance understanding about the link between – and the impact of – health-related productivity on corporate America's bottom line. For additional information visit: ibiweb.org.

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Dr. Thomas Parry

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SOURCE Integrated Benefits Institute