Institute for Strategic Social and Workforce
Programs (S2W)

Building a Movement

Our mission transcends the provision of healthcare services; we aim to cultivate a movement that empowers individuals and communities to achieve optimal health. We achieve this through a multifaceted approach focusing on awareness and access:

I. Empowering through Knowledge and Understanding

Our commitment to empowerment begins with education. We believe that informed individuals are better equipped to navigate the healthcare system and make informed decisions about their well-being. This translates into:

• Empowerment Through Education: We develop and deliver health education materials tailored to different audiences — individuals, healthcare providers, and community leaders. We strive to create personalized learning experiences that address specific needs and knowledge gaps. This includes digital resources, workshops, and community outreach programs.
• Streamlined Communication: We recognize that effective communication is crucial to improve access to care. We actively work to simplify language and utilize interpretation services (written and verbal) to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their language proficiency or literacy level, can understand vital health information. We leverage multi-lingual staff and technology to facilitate seamless communication.

II. Facilitating Access

Expanding access to quality healthcare is paramount. We actively address barriers through targeted initiatives:

• Investing in the Future: We prioritize addressing critical health issues, starting with initiatives designed to drastically reduce infant mortality rates and improve maternal health outcomes. This involves collaborations with local organizations, community health workers, and other stakeholders to implement comprehensive programs focused on prenatal care, postpartum support, and early childhood development.
• Proactive Health: We believe in the power of preventative care. We actively bring essential health screenings directly to our communities. These screenings include biometric screenings (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar), cancer screenings (mammograms, colonoscopies, pap smears, based on age and risk factors), and echocardiograms. Early detection and intervention are vital in preventing serious health issues and improving long-term outcomes. We utilize mobile clinics and community partnerships to reach underserved populations.
• Freedom of Choice: We empower individuals to make informed choices about their healthcare by providing support and resources to navigate the complexities of the insurance marketplace. We advocate for accessible and affordable healthcare options for everyone, ensuring individuals understand their rights and can select a plan that best fits their needs and budget.
• Personalized Care: We are firmly committed to providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS). Our approach values and respects the unique backgrounds of each individual. We train our staff to be nimble, ensuring that communication styles, healthcare practices, and treatment plans are tailored to meet individual needs and preferences. We provide accommodation for individuals with disabilities.
• Building Trust: We believe in fostering strong, trusting relationships between patients and clinicians. We cultivate a patient-centered approach that values shared decision-making and prioritizes patient autonomy. Building trust is critical to ensuring that all individuals receive the high-quality care they deserve. This includes dedicated team members who provide ongoing support.

By focusing on both awareness and access, we aim to build a sustainable movement that promotes health and improves the well-being of entire communities. We strive to empower individuals to take control of their health and build a healthier future for all.

III. Committing to Excellence

Our dedication to health for everyone is underpinned by a commitment to the highest standards of excellence. We hold ourselves accountable to meet the rigorous accreditation and regulatory requirements. of:

• National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
• NCQA standards are a roadmap for improvement—organizations use them to perform gap analysis and align improvement activities with areas that are most important to States and employers, such as network adequacy and consumer protection. Health Plan Accreditation builds upon more than 30 years of experience to provide a current, rigorous and comprehensive framework for essential quality improvement and measurement. It is the only program in the industry that bases results on clinical performance and consumer experience (HEDIS^® and CAHPS^®).

• The CLAS Standards
• CLAS stands for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services. They are a set of 15 nationally recognized standards established by the US Department of Health and Human Services. These standards help Highmark Health advance overall quality of care outcomes. They act as a blueprint to meet our members, patients, employees and the community where they are by considering cultural health beliefs, preferred languages, health literacy levels, and communication needs.
• In 2021, we began our journey of exploration throughout the organization to understand what our implementation needs were. As a result of our findings, we created a strategy that focused on initiatives in the following five categories: Accountability, Community, Marketing & Communication, Technology, and Training. Our success relies on the adoption of the standards by the entire organization and collaboration across teams to improve the quality of service for our members, patients, employees, and the community.

• The Joint Commission – The Joint Commission is the only accreditor that develops state-of–the-art standards essential to providing safe, high-quality care serving as the basis of an objective evaluation process that can help organizations measure, assess, and improve performance. Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission’s mission is to enable and affirm the highest standards of healthcare, quality and safety for all. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 23,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare. To earn and maintain The Gold Seal of Approval® from The Joint Commission an organization must undergo an on-site survey by a Joint Commission survey team at least every three years.

• Education - We invest in the continuous professional development of our team members, promoting annual certifications for all levels of staff. Furthermore, we are developing robust methodologies to analyze health outcomes, considering various factors.

Fostering a Culture of Excellence

At Highmark Health, we recognize that a connected workforce is not merely a desirable outcome, but the very bedrock of our success. We are deeply committed to fostering an environment where every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique talents and perspectives. This isn't a passive aspiration; it's an active, multifaceted pursuit we call "Connection," and it's woven into the fabric of our organization.

Our commitment to Connection is realized through a strategic and comprehensive approach, encompassing several key areas:

I. Cultivating Understanding and Awareness

We invest heavily in ongoing learning and development initiatives to foster understanding. This includes:

• Comprehensive Training Programs: We offer mandatory and elective training programs. These programs are designed to raise awareness, challenge assumptions, and equip employees with the knowledge and skills to create a more connected workplace.
• Engaging Learning Challenges: We utilize interactive learning challenges and simulations to provide team members with practical experiences and opportunities to apply what they learn. This active learning approach strengthens understanding and promotes behavior change.
• Leadership Development Certifications: We prioritize leadership development programs, and our leaders demonstrate a commitment to our core behaviors.

II. Fostering a Culture of Connection

Creating a truly connected workforce requires more than just training; it demands a conscious cultivation of a culture where everyone feels they are valued and belong. We achieve this through:

• Vibrant Business Resource Groups (BRGs): Our BRGs serve as vital platforms for employees to connect, share experiences, and provide valuable input on their experiences. These employee-led groups represent various identities, providing a voice for their members and fostering a stronger sense of community within Highmark Health. All BRGs and related events are open to everyone in the company.
• Robust Employee Development and Retention Programs: We are committed to supporting employee growth and retention. This includes mentorship programs, career development opportunities, and initiatives designed to create pathways for advancement.
• ConnectUp Fairs:We regularly host events and connection fairs to encourage networking, collaboration, and the building of relationships across different departments and team members. These events promote informal interactions and build a stronger sense of community.
• Officers: We have designated team members, throughout the organization, who are responsible for driving initiatives within their respective departments and teams. They provide guidance, support, and accountability in fostering a culture of connection.

III. Building Strong External Relationships

Our commitment extends beyond our internal environment. We actively engage with the broader community:

• Community Engagement: We participate in and support community initiatives, including partnerships with local organizations, sponsorships of events, and volunteer efforts.
• Market Partnerships: We forge strategic partnerships with organizations that share our values. This expands our reach and allows for collaborative efforts.
• Recruitment: We proactively recruit from many talent pools to build a workforce from our communities. We attend job fairs and partner with a wide-range of organizations.
• Alignment with Highmark Health Initiatives: Our Connection initiatives are aligned with the broader strategic goals of Highmark Health, ensuring that our commitment is integrated into all aspects of our business.

IV. Data-Driven Decision Making:

We believe in the power of data to guide our efforts and ensure continuous improvement. We seek to:

• Inform Strategic Decisions: We use data-driven insights to inform our strategies, prioritize initiatives, and allocate resources effectively.
• Monitor Progress and Evaluate Outcomes: We regularly evaluate the effectiveness of our initiatives and adjust as needed to ensure we are continuously improving our efforts.

At Highmark Health, Connection isn't just a program; it's a fundamental aspect of our culture and our strategy. Through this multifaceted approach, we strive to create a workplace where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Our Leadership: We are committed to providing strong leadership and support throughout this journey. This includes:

• Systems Transformation Team - Convenes leadership, team members, from various disciplines to identify practical and novel ways to understand, explain, and solve problems that challenge our communities. We are fostering research, research-based policy, innovation, data driven education, advocacy campaigns, and narrative-change initiatives.
• Connection Committee - These members represent every business unit, institute, and department within Highmark Health. They serve as educators and creators of initiatives to advance our culture of Connection for their distinct business lines.
• The National Advisory Council (NAC) - The NAC - provides insights and guidance of best practices across the country.
• The Internal Advisory Council - Internal members, VPs and above, from across the organization provide accountability and advice to advance our priorities.
• CEO Roundtable - A mix of employees from all levels and various business units come together with our CEO to share insights, ideas, and concerns.

Awards & Recognition

Highmark Health earns top scores on Disability Equality Index
The Disability Index^® is a leading national benchmark established jointly by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Disability:IN^®. In 2024, for the tenth consecutive year, Highmark Health earned a top score of 100 points.

Highmark Health named Military Friendly Employer for seventh consecutive year
This elite designation is achieved by exceeding Military Friendly standards in hiring and onboarding, opportunity and advancement, culture and commitment, support and retention, policies and compliance, and recruiting and sourcing. For 2025, Highmark Health received a gold rating.

Highmark Health earns Center for Disability Inclusion Seal of Accomplishment
This unique annual Seal of Accomplishment recognizes business and organization partners across the US who are leaders and influencers in advancing disability inclusion. Recipient companies have committed to, and worked through, the proprietary Disability Inclusion Process, designed by the Center for Disability Inclusion.

Highmark Health listed among Top 50 Employers by Careers & the disABLED Magazine
Readers of Careers & the disABLED magazine were asked to name the employers, both private and public sector, for whom they would most like to work or that they believe would provide a progressive environment for people with disabilities. Highmark Health was listed among the Top 50.

Highmark Health earns recognition as a Certified Age Friendly Employer
The Age-Friendly Institute’s non-profit-generating Certified Age Friendly Employer (CAFE) program is the world’s leading certification program that identifies organizations committed to being the best places to work for employees aged 50+.

Highmark Inc. earns top score in 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index Survey is the national benchmarking tool on corporate policies, practices and benefits pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees. The 2023 survey was more in depth than any other year, challenging organizations to raise the bar regarding their corporate offerings to employees. Highmark Inc., Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware Inc., and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia Inc. all achieved the Top 100 Award for Leader Workplace Inclusion for 2023-2024.

Corporate Warrior Leadership Award (2018)
Highmark Health was the 2018 recipient of the Fort Pitt Chapter's Corporate Warrior Leader Award for our leadership in the Pittsburgh Military Community, our commitment to supporting and empowering our veteran employees, and our support and service to the local military community.

Tony Coelho Award (2018)
Bender Consulting awarded Highmark Health president and CEO, David Holmberg, with the Tony Coelho Award. Named after the Honorable Tony Coelho, author of the Americans with Disabilities Act, this award is presented to a CEO, president, or government leader who has demonstrated a significant commitment to employ people with disabilities in competitive positions and worked to influence other businesses or government leaders.

Vibrant Pittsburgh's Regional Economic Inclusion Summit Marketplace ERG/BRG Award (2017)
In 2017, our SALUD BRG was awarded Vibrant Pittsburgh's ERG/BRG Marketplace Award for its efforts in helping our organization cultivate marketplace opportunities for the organization through culturally competent sales and customer service, and for creating innovative, marketplace-focused business solutions in the Hispanic and Latino community.

Pennsylvania Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Above and Beyond Award (2017)
Highmark Health is one of three Pennsylvania businesses to be recognized by the Pennsylvania Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, with the Above and Beyond Award for extraordinary support of its employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve. The ESGR Above and Beyond Award was created to publicly recognize American employers who provide extraordinary patriotic support and cooperation to their employees.