Inclusive Health Presents its John Friesen Awards

At the recent Quarterly Board Meeting, Inclusive Health presented its annual awards to the top three Producers and Agents. In honor of John Friesen's service to the risk pool board, Inclusive Health has renamed its annual awards for contributions to the risk pool, the John Friesen awards. These awards are given to recognize the contributions to the risk pool of agents, hospitals and advocates. Traditionally, the agent award has gone to the top three individuals in terms of successful applications in the prior calendar year.

The 2011 recipients and Top Producer's were:

• Steven Holtzer - Contemporary Benefits Designs
  # of policies referred in 2011: 153
• Michael Osborne - Osborne Insurance Services, Inc.
  # of policies referred in 2011: 101
• Al Crouse - Al Crouse and Associates
  # of policies referred in 2011: 97

		Steven Holtzer is from the Charlotte area and he also received a top producer last year for referring over 54 individuals in 2010. In 2011, Steven has almost tripled his referrals for Inclusive Health and has referred 104 State Option members and 49 Federal Option members. Steven has also participated in several enrollment events in his area.
		Michael Osborne was the Top Producer in 2010 with 61 individuals referred. From the Raleigh area, this year, Michael has referred 101 individuals to Inclusive Health which almost doubles his referrals in 2010. Michael's primary line of business is with Blue Cross and Blue Shield, but he knows that when someone is denied from BC/BS, that he can refer them to Inclusive Health.
		Al Crouse received the Top Producer Award for the first time this year, but he has referred several individuals since the beginning. He referred 97 individuals in 2011 which tripled his referrals from 2010. Al is from the Hickory area and is an avid member of the Western Piedmont Health Underwriters Association and has participated in several enrollment events in the area including the events which Inclusive Health partnered with HCTC to reach the individuals that are eligible for this program.
The John Friesen Awards are given out annually by Inclusive Health and recognizes organizations For Outstanding Contributions and Performance in the Service of North Carolinians Seeking Health Insurance Coverage. The 2012 recipients are:
		CMC-Union - John Moore, CFO The John Friesen award from the provider community was presented to John Moore, Chief Financial Officer, of Carolinas Medical Center - Union County. In the summer of 2011, John and his staff sponsored an enrollment event at CMC in Monroe. John recognized that there are a lot of individuals that need information about Inclusive Health that have pre-existing conditions and offered to send information about the event to all of the self pay patients and uninsured individuals in the community. Because of this mailing and effort, there were over 86 individuals that attended the event and either enrolled in Inclusive Health or got valuable information. In addition to the individuals that attended the event, providers, Financial Analysts from the hospital and managed care staff also attended the event. This event has been a springboard to other successful enrollment events in other areas.
		Duke Legal AIDS Project - Allison Rice The John Friesen Award for Health Advocates was given to recognize the work of an individual and an organization that came to Inclusive Health in late 2011 with a proposal for covering North Carolinians who are AIDS/HIV positive. Allison Rice is a Supervising Attorney & Senior Lecturing Fellow at Duke Law School and head of the Duke Legal AIDS Project. She and her student, Bethany Lilly developed a proposal on the "Feasibility & Cost Savings of ADAP Coordination with North Carolina Federal PCIP" in November 2011. Their report effectively showed that the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) enrollees could be more cost effectively managed in the federal PCIP where they could also receive comprehensive medical and pharmacy coverage. Their recommendations became part of a series of planning discussions between Inclusive Health and the Department of Public Health that may someday lead to this expanded and more cost effective coverage for this group of citizens. Please join Inclusive Health in congratulating all of this year's winners!!