Value Purchasing Initiative

The Greater Detroit Area Health Council helps organizations purchase competitively priced health care benefits for its employees. 

The Value Purchasing Initiative (VPI)

The Value Purchasing Initiative consists of a value-based purchasing affiliate comprised of more than 250,000 covered lives for the purpose of enhancing purchasing power when buying healthcare benefits for employees.  The affiliate is the AFL-CIO Employers Purchasing Coalition (APEC).  APEC is a not-for-profit corporation that assists organized labor in the group purchasing of health care services.   

By participating, you receive access to high quality dental, pharmacy and vision programs at the best cost.  You will receive a competitive discount that will save you money!

If your organization is self-funded with more than 300 employees, you are eligible to participate in the program.  To participate, in the vision program you do not need to be self-funded.

Pharmacy Services

The pharmacy program is driven off pooled purchasing power of over 250,000 covered lives and $350 million in annual pharmacy spend.  Two pharmacy options are offered to employers who self-fund benefit coverage.  The pharmacy program is driven on:

• Strong discounts and favorable pricing
• Ongoing market analysis to ensure best pricing
• Independent Third Party retained to monitor and audit PBM performance
• Value added programs that support generic use, evidence based plan design, consumer counseling at retail to improve adherence, and other programs.

The coverage is provided by CVS/Caremark.

Dental Services

Group purchasing for dental services is offered through Delta Dental of Michigan.  Services available to employers include:

• Largest national network of participating dentisits
• Access to two networks
• Maximum in-network savings with member balance billing protection
• Discounted administrative service fees

Vision Services

Vision benefits are provided by Davis Vision, a 100 percent US owned, based and operated company with a national network of over 30,000 participating providers.  It offers the lowest member out-of-pocket costs and the most competitive rates in the industry.  Davis Vision also offers an Eye Health & Wellness program and Disease Management programs.  The company's 1,200 union-represented employees currently serve over 55 million lives across the United States.

Contact Sue Hashisaka for a FREE ANALYSIS at hashisaka@cs.com.