Creating a New Healthcare Episode #218 Who is Looking Out for Us?: The Plight of the Employer in American Healthcare Game with Shawn Gremminger, President and CEO. National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions
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Mar 10, 2026 
Shawn Gremminger, President and CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, is a health policy leader who helps employers band together to influence the market. He talks about employers' rising cost pressures, the power of regional coalitions, strategies for direct and quasi-direct contracting, and why transparency and stronger purchaser voices are crucial for keeping employer-sponsored coverage viable.
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National Alliance Represents 90 Million Covered Lives
- The National Alliance represents 40+ regional employer coalitions covering about 90 million covered lives, giving employers a collective national voice.
- Coalitions include self-funded employers from Fortune 500s to 200–400 person companies and public purchasers, amplifying diverse purchaser perspectives.
Employers Feel Unrepresented And Worried About Cost Drivers
- Employers feel profound frustration and believe few stakeholders are looking out for their interests, especially brokers, carriers, and PBMs.
- Major employer concerns are prescription drug costs, hospital prices, and a tiny share of high-cost claimants driving most spending.
Equip Employers With Tools To Drive Market Change
- The National Alliance focuses on four strategies: advance health policy, drive market change, amplify purchaser voice, and strengthen coalitions.
- They equip employers with tools to write better contracts, run stronger RFPs, and act in concert to influence markets.