Co-op honored at synergy conference

Cooperative Health Choices of Western Wisconsin was honored with a Best Practices award at the annual Synergy Conference at UW-River Falls on Nov. 12.

A steering committee was organized last May to work toward the formation of a cooperative that would provide health care benefits to members of a regional cooperative. Steve Healy, a retired executive of a rural electric cooperative, chairs the committee. Work on the proposed cooperative continued into the summer and fall.

CHC was formed pursuant to Wisconsin state statutes. Prospective members of the cooperative include for-profit corporations like businesses, manufacturers, partnerships and the self-employed, plus nonprofit corporations and local units of government.

CHC will leverage group purchasing power by combining and pooling employer groups, resulting in stabilized rates and manageable rate increases. A major component of CHC’s business model is the promotion of wellness and healthy behaviors.

CHC’s proposed service territory is a 17-county region of western, west central and northwest Wisconsin.

In October, CHC formed an interim board of directors and adopted articles of incorporation.

CHC proposes a July 1, 2009, coverage date for members of the cooperative.

Tags: business, hudson, chc, health, co_op