Kaiser Permanente First Health Care Provider and Health Plan Named to Billion Dollar Roundtable

OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Billion Dollar Roundtable Inc. today announced Kaiser Permanente as one of two new members of its supplier diversity forum. Kaiser Permanente and Bank of America join 18 other U.S.-based corporations that spend $1 billion or more annually for a broad range of goods and services with certified diverse companies whose majority owners are minorities and women. The Billion Dollar Roundtable was created in 2001, and inducts new members bi-annually. Kaiser Permanente is the first health care provider and health plan to receive this distinction.

"Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to improving the health of the communities where we live, work and thrive, and our supplier diversity commitment helps us do that by creating a stronger, broader and more sustainable economy," said Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO Bernard J. Tyson. "We are proud to have reached the $1 billion milestone with our supplier diversity program, and honored to join this prestigious forum as Kaiser Permanente continues to advance this important work. We will not stop at $1 billion annually."

Kaiser Permanente is a recognized leader with a long history of commitment to diversity and inclusion, and through its supplier diversity program it collaborates with and purchases from diverse businesses to improve the economic environments in underserved communities and create jobs. This economically viable program — which spent $1.4 billion with certified minority- and women-owned businesses in 2013 — is having a positive impact on the economic vitality of communities, and in turn is also helping Kaiser Permanente deliver on its mission to provide high-quality and affordable health care for its members and customers. The organization focuses on community collaboration as a means to eliminate inequity and improve the economic environments our patients and members live in to achieve our vision for total health.

"Supplier diversity is a critical component of Kaiser Permanente's mission of improving the health of our members and the communities we serve," said Ronald L. Copeland, MD, FACS, senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer for Kaiser Permanente. "The majority of our diverse suppliers are small, local businesses. In the United States, small businesses make up more than 99 percent of all employers, so when dollars aimed at small businesses are appropriately inclusive of diverse owners, it fosters growth and a better economic environment within communities. Helping our communities thrive contributes to a competitive, dynamic supply chain and ultimately, better access to improved health and health care."

"Bank of America and Kaiser Permanente are two of the nation's most important and influential corporations. Like our 18 other corporate members, Bank of America and Kaiser Permanente are demonstrating their commitment each and every day to the principles of corporate supply-chain diversity and inclusion," said Sharon Patterson, BDR president and CEO.

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve approximately 9.5 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/share.

For More Information
Caitlin Cobb, (510) 271-5955, [email protected]
Ron Rogers, (510) 271-6030, [email protected]

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SOURCE Kaiser Permanente