If you are a Wisconsin employer, we implore you to join our fight for better, more affordable health care for employees, their families and consumers in general.
“We as employers have a responsibility to stand up for our employees, and together we deserve to have an organization like Advancing Free Market Healthcare watching out for our interests. Let’s come together to make our voices heard.”
Will Walker, CEO, Walker Forge, Inc.
Please complete the membership application
No dues are required at this time, but we do ask you to commit to doing one thing to move our mission forward.
Wisconsin has the fifth highest hospital prices in the nation according to RAND, and we pay the highest prices for physician care within hospital systems. Healthcare expenditures are consuming an ever-greater percentage of take-home wages. Organizations that benefit from higher prices are continually pursuing legislation that will inflate prices even further, reduce competition, and undermine the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Joining AFMH helps us stop legislation that would increase the cost of health benefits and promote ideas that are good for the free market. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to be part of a network of employers, many of whom have been successful in benefits innovations and cost control measures.
Who makes the decisions in the organization?
Employers make all decisions in AFMH. We have a leadership council made up of employers from around the state that discusses policy matters brought forward by policy experts that monitor the day-to-day at the Capitol. As we grow, we might adjust our governance model, but we will always be 100% controlled by employers and represent only their interests when it comes to the health benefits they are funding.
Are other organizations involved?
Business organizations like WMC and The Alliance support AFMH in its mission to amplify the voice of employers in health policy discussions, but it is Wisconsin employers that are leading the effort. Our philosophy is that we will work collaboratively with any organization that is aligned with our policy positions and operates with integrity.
What are you asking me to do, and how much time will I need to commit to this?
We recognize that different employers have different capacities for helping. Some employers want to be out front meeting with lawmakers. Others are more comfortable behind the scenes. All we ask is that you do at least one thing to make employers’ voices heard. For example:
Allow your logo to appear on position papers that you can review before we send. This is hugely impactful.
Involve the person in your company that feels empowered to demand change when it comes to protecting workers, which may be the CEO, CFO, or HR Director. That person will be asked to communicate with their local officials via email or phone on high impact issues.
Attend meetings with lawmakers in your region when they are scheduled.
Volunteer to join our Day on the Hill to fight for healthcare price transparency and other important policy issues.
Make a contribution to support operations (Note: a contribution is not required for membership, see below.)
Does it cost me anything to join?
Dues are not required to join at this point in our startup, but some employers may wish to contribute to support our efforts. We are working to secure a grant to supplement any funds we raise which will enable us to hire a lobbyist. At some point in our future, it may be necessary to pay dues to support our advocacy efforts but nothing is required now.
