A message from Mark Ganz, retired CEO of Cambia Health Solutions. At the time of this blog Mark was our CEO.
In times like this, it can be easy to put one’s head down, to get mired in the grind, and to feel hopeless. This past weekend, I stopped to reflect on the work we are doing and the partners we have in doing it. I not only found hope, I found gratitude.
I am grateful for our employees and the servant leadership I am seeing from every corner of the company. Working together we are focused on one goal – to serve people and their families. Knowing we need to keep ourselves healthy, in order to help others, the decision was made for our employees to work remotely. We have invested in additional technology over the years and recently tested our bandwidth to ensure service to our members is not interrupted. We are also working with the vendors that provide on-site services to our employees so that their hourly workers continue to be paid.
I am grateful for our customers, who are facing enormous challenges. We know it is an honor to play a role in their health care journey. It is when that path curves unexpectedly, when we can do the most good. We are fully covering the cost of testing and associated office visits for COVID-19, supporting early refills so members have enough of their needed medications, ensuring care related to the virus is not restricted by preauthorization requirements, and are providing telehealth options, so people can safely receive care in their homes.
We are happy and grateful others are taking similar actions. Unfortunately, the human condition is that some will use this as an opportunity for profiteering. We intend to be vigilant about preventing such activities. Our hope is service providers seriously consider providing their goods to Americans at cost, with little or no profit margin built in. Now more than ever, it is important companies live by their stated values; we certainly intend to.
Our Cause - to serve as a catalyst to transform health care, creating a person-focused and economically sustainable health care system – was built from a deep hope we could change health care for the better. It has also prepared us for the type of crisis we are in now. Our 100-year-old roots stabilize us as a company, along with the financial strength we have built over the years. This stewardship has created a surplus reserve for each of our members in all our health plan companies. We made this commitment to planning, so we could weather the storm and ensure our members receive the care they need – when they need it most.
Finally, it is the governance of a company that can help best respond to a crisis. Our board is fully knowledgeable and involved in how we are responding internally and externally during this pandemic, helping us think through the difficult challenges we, our employees and our customers face. It is times like this when we appreciate a highly diverse and engaged board, and we are very grateful to them for their dedication and commitment to Cambia as we rise to meet this great challenge.
This is the moment for us to find good during a dark time. I invite you to stand with me in gratitude and hope. Together, we have the opportunity to show what is possible when we convene toward the common goal of keeping each other, our neighbors, and the people and families we serve, safe and healthy.
