On Tuesday, February 6, SHRM member Paula Harvey participated in a health care panel discussion titled "Public and Employer Attitudes on Employer-Provided Coverage," co-hosted by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC). Specifically, Harvey discussed the importance of employer-sponsored health care coverage, while highlighting the ways employers are using technology, employee engagement, data analytics and other tools to innovate beyond just processing benefit claims.
Harvey, MBA, SHRM-SCP, is vice president of human resources and safety for Schulte Building Systems in Hockley, Texas, and has been a SHRM member for 20 years. She is an engaged SHRM volunteer, currently serving on the board of the SHRM Foundation. She is also a member of the SHRM Talent Acquisition Special Expertise Panel, serves as a participant in SHRM's Health Care Working Group and is a member of the SHRM Advocacy Team (A-Team). Harvey also is a former member of the SHRM Membership Advisory Council (MAC) and a former director/president of the NCSHRM State Council.
Over 200 congressional staff and reporters attended the event. In her remarks, Harvey conveyed that employer-sponsored health insurance is the foundation of health care coverage in the United States, providing quality, affordable health benefits to more than 180 million Americans. Given that 61 percent of the workforce has health benefits through employers, she encouraged lawmakers to support legislative proposals that preserve and encourage employer-sponsored health insurance. Watch the archive video of the panel discussion.