Health Care Cost: How It Affects The Bottom Line For Companies and Employees

Tuesday - June 3, 2008
This will be a joint meeting with the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council.

The topic of health care is now the most important domestic issue facing the U.S. population.  Major purchasers of health insurance, mainly businesses, and insurance benefactors, the employees who receive employer-sponsored health insurance, are now questioning the full range of health care costs.  Insurance premiums have risen steadily each year since 2000, peaking at 13.9% in 2003.  Yet, these premium rises have not necessarily resulted in more money being spent on health care services, improved access, or a reduction in the numbers of uninsured Americans. 

In addition, consumers are spending considerably more on out-of-pocket costs without any enhancement in coverage - a full 115% more since 2000.  From an operational viewpoint, it is a challenge in today's business environment to offer employees health insurance benefits that strike a balance between reasonable costs for all parties and adequate coverage for commonly sought health services, as well as catastrophic health care needs.  Research suggests that health insurance expenses are the fastest growing cost component for employers, and unless changes are made, these costs will overtake profits by 2008.  Our speaker, Kevin Dahill, president and CEO of the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council, will offer attendees an overview of health care on Long Island and describe how businesses are major stakeholders in not only benefit design, but delivery of health services too.

Speaker: Kevin W. Dahill

About the Speaker

Kevin W. Dahill

Kevin W. Dahill has served as President and CEO of Nassau-Suffolk (NSHC) since July 2002. He concurrently holds the position of Executive Vice President of the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), which has management responsibility for NSHC.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Dahill spent 6 and ½ years as President and CEO of the New York United Hospital Medical Center in Port Chester, New York. Previously he had various responsibilities that spanned twenty-five years at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City before departing in 1994 as Senior Vice President and General Manager.

In his current capacity at NSHC, Mr. Dahill has overall responsibility for leading the organization in its advocacy on behalf of the twenty four not for profit and public hospitals that comprise its membership. The Council represents the interest of its members before lawmakers, regulatory agencies, the media, as well as the general public.

Mr. Dahill holds a B.S. degree in Healthcare Management from St. Peter’s College (Jersey City), and an MBA in Management from Fordham University (New York). He is a member in the American College of Healthcare Administrators and the American Association of Association Executives. He also is an adjunct professor of management at St. Peter’s College in New Jersey and he also teaches at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue.

The National Conference of Metropolitan Hospital Associations (CMHA) selected Mr. Dahill Chairman-Elect for the term beginning January 2006.

Mr. Dahill resides on Long Island with his wife, Eileen and their son.