Newly Elected Board Members
Midsota Mfg., a manufacturer of specialty utility trailers, has been an NATM member since 2001. Bauer has been in the trailer industry for 18 years, 14 of those serving as owner and company president of Midsota. In 2017 Joel received the NATM Young Professional Award. Joel has been a regular attendee of the NATM Annual Convention. Bauer has experience serving as a board member, including 3 years on the board of his church serving as treasurer for 3 of those years, as well as serving 1.5 years on the city planning commission. When asked about his qualifications, Bauer said, "I believe my history owning and growing Midsota Manufacturing Inc. over 14 years with 3 different business partners will bode well for my input to the NATM in both the trailer manufacturing industry and working closely with others that may have a different view point to obtain common goals for the association."
MGS Incorporated - Fort Collins (formerly Maxey Mfg.), a manufacturer of specialty utility trailers, has been a member of NATM since 1994. Maxey's previous board experience includes the NATM Board of Directors (2001 - 2008), Colorado Motor Carriers Association, and Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce. Over the course of his experience in the trailer manufacturing industry Maxey has served as operations manager, general manager, Vice President and Colorado Operations General Manager. A regular attendee of the NATM Convention and Regulatory Roundup, Carl has also served on the Executive and Government Affairs committee as well as NATM President. In 2009 Maxey was awarded the NATM Outstanding Member Award. When asked to elaborate on his qualifications, Maxey noted "I am very experienced with the multiple levels of challenges trailer manufacturers confront daily, the many issues that the industry will face in the year ahead (skilled labor shortage, supply chain disruption), and I have the passion to serve the industry." Re-Elected Board Members
Felling Trailers, a manufacturer of dump, equipment, utility and landscape trailers amongst others, has been a member of NATM since 1995. Jennissen, Felling's VP of Sales/Marketing, has served on numerous board, including an elementary school board and the NATM Board of Directors from 2013-2018. Jennissen received the NATM Young Entrepreneur award in 2013, and has chaired the Marketing and Finance committees as well as serving on the Government Affairs, Government Affairs Outreach, and Nominations committees. Jennissen has served as the Treasurer, Vice President, and President on the NATM Board of Directors. He is a regular attendee of the NATM Convention and annual Regulatory Roundup. When asked about his qualifications to serve, Jennissen says "my experience within my organization, NATM as well as other organizations and the construction equipment industry has given me a balanced and broad perspective to the issues and the opportunities that face NATM going into the future."
Big Tex, a manufacturer of utility, horse, livestock, and cargo trailers, has been a member of NATM since 1993. Johnson serves as VP of Manufacturing Support for Big Tex and was elected to his first term on the NATM Board in 2016. Prior to his work ta Big Tex, Johnson worked at Priefert Mfg., an associate member of the Association and a steel supplier to the trailer manufacturing industry. Along with board participation, Josh has served on the Technical, Guidelines, Nominations, Convention, and Technology committees. He has also played an integral role in garnering involvement of other Big Tex employees with NATM committees and programming. When asked about his qualifications Johnson said, "I feel that because of my experiences in all levels of Big Tex's operations and past involvement with NATM I will be a valued members of the NATM Board of Directors for the good of the entire trailer industry."
The Carlstar Group, a supplier of tires and wheels, has been a member of NATM since 2001. The Carlstar Group, formerly Carlisle, has been a long-time exhibitor of the NATM Convention and Trade Show as well as longtime sponsor of the event. Coffey's history in the industry includes roles as Sales and Warehouse Manager at both Dico Tire and Titan Tire, as well as ST Product Manager at Carlisle Tire, Aftermarket Sales Manager, and North American OEM Sales Manager. Rick was originally elected to the Board of Directors in 2005. After going off the Board, Rick was re-appointed in 2012 to fill the term of a resigning Associate Member. He was elected again in 2016. During his tenure with NATM, Coffey has served on the Executive, Convention, Membership, and Nominations committee as well as chair of the Marketing Committee. He is a regular attendee at the Regulatory Roundup and Hill Visits as well as Annual Convention. When asked about his qualifications for the role, Coffey sites his knowledge and experience in the industry as well as his commitment to serve in the best interest of NATM members.
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Finance Josh Johnson, Big Tex Trailers* Jim Berry, Dexter Axle Patrick Jennissen, Felling Trailers Charles Lange, Legend Mfg. Richard Lavanture, LaVanture Products Marty Lorick, Triple Crown Trailers Carl Maxey, MGS Incorporated Owen Shelton, Boatmate Trailers MEMBER SERVICES Convention Jim Berry, Dexter Axle* Robert Roden, H.E. Parmer Co.* Brent Freel, KampCo Steel Products Pat Jennissen, Felling Trailers Josh Johnson, Big Tex Trailers Brian Jones, Champion Hoist & Equip. Marty Lorick, Triple Crown Trailers Stacey Miller, Dexter Axle Joe Ostrowski, Kenda/Americana Dustin Smith, Optronics Greg Snyder, CAR MATE Trailers Ron Yarnell, PPG Education Buck Hataway, Axalta* Joel Bauer, Midsota Mfg. Brent Bystrom, 3M Shaun Douglass, Optronics Michael Etheridge, Wylie Mfg. Stephen Houston, Vitracoat Eric Kazmierzak, Laclede Chain Justin Kurth, Tracker Marine Gary Sale, Diamond Vogel Greg Snyder, CAR MATE Trailers Brian Wise, BWise Mfg. Government Affairs Leo Akins, Forest River* Chris Connington, Hopkins Mfg./TAG Charles Daugherty, Red Fern Dynamics Les Eaves, Delta Trailers Andy Gehman, MGS Incorporated Pat Jennissen, Felling Trailers Brett Johnson, Oprtonics John Kerr, Marsh and McLennan Lucas Landis, ATC Trailers Mike Lemrick, Gem State Mfg. Dustin Miller, Cross Trailers Jake Morrison, H&H Trailers Ty Scott, Hydrastar Joe Steinberger, BWise Mfg. Don Taylor, Brakequip Jacob Woodard, Manus Products Marketing Stacey Miller, Dexter Axle* Johnathan Bradley, Big Tex Trailers Rebecca Gerads, Felling Trailers Ryan Griesemer, Ridewell Suspensions Jeff Jones, Statistical Surveys John Kerr, Marsh and McLennan Tary Krahenbuhl, Austin Hardware Cary Kronebusch, Peerless Industrial Group Amanda Seabaugh, Ryerson Catherine Shaw, North West Rubber Ltd. Membership Marcus Hester, Optronics* Cary Loeser, Automotive International* Joel Bauer, Midsota Mfg. Rick Coffey, Carlstar Group Andrew Douglass, Rumber Materials Mike Lloyd, Aluma Chris Pokornowski, Towmaster, Inc. Ami Stombaugh, Taskmaster Components Michael Swedak, WC Manufacturing & Specialty Co., Inc. Robert Tsas, AkzoNobel Coatings, Inc. TECHNICAL Technical David Mihalick, Bison Coach LLC* Lyle Berning, Novae Corp. Jon Devitt, Midwest Industries Fred Dosmann, Dec-O-Art, Inc. Nick Dorfer, BrakeQuip Nick Gamby, TexTrail Trailer Parts Randy Gressley, Big Tex Trailer Mfg. Taylor Jones, B&W Trailer Hitches Tom Kaufman, Hillsboro Industries Tim Lammers, Demco Bryce McIntyre, American Eagle Accessories Group Randy McMann, Dexter Axle Shannon Papa, U-Haul Owen Shelton, BoatMate Trailers Brandon Starkey, EZ Loader Custom Boat Trailers Luis Vendrell, U-Haul Guidelines Lyle Berning, Novae Corp.* Willie Bauer, CAR MATE Trailers Paul Feight, MGS Incorporated Rick Huddleston, Ranger Boats Erik Ohlsson, Optronics Paul Murphy, MVSCS Dan Presley, Big Tex Trailer Mfg. Nathan Uphus, Felling Trailers Technology Marco Garcia, U-Haul* Ellis Breskman, Z Tech Elton Cordell, Lippert Components Jonathan Gravell, Truck System Technologies Jeff Gray, ASA Electronics Kirk Hawkins, 3M Daniel Luby, BoatMate Trailers Rod Ludwig, Midwest Industries Dave McKee, BWise Mfg. Todd Brinkman, GM Mark Leonard, EFI Global Stephen Robertson, Toyota Ray Smith, RS Supply LLC Nathan Uphus, Felling Trailers Jamie Wenger, Royal Adhesives & Sealants *Indicates Committee Chair  Membership & Education Director Kelli Maydew NATM continuously aims to provide exceptional membership services and benefits. One way the Association attempts to do this, is by conducting a phone survey to both Regular and Associate members, in hopes to better understand the current climate of the supplier and manufacturing industries.
There are several common themes that have surfaced when asked about challenges or barriers that members are experiencing:
Armed with this knowledge, NATM will strive to provide educational opportunities and resources in the coming year to assist members in tackling the hurdles that they may be facing or expect in 2019. The 2019-2021 strategic plan aligns well with the feedback received. The Board, committees, and staff are already at work to address these barriers and add more value for your investment. NATM will provide updates on these actions in upcoming issues of Tracks and the NATM Insider eNewsletter as well as Government Affairs updates via email. If there are additional topics or hot button industry issues that you would like to discuss further, please do not hesitate to contact Kelli Maydew, NATM Membership & Education Director.  Membership renewals for 2019 have been mailed, and the main contact for your company has received an email notice as well. If you would like to confirm who your main contact is, please contact NATM Membership & Education Director Kelli Maydew or call NATM at (785) 272-4433. You can also log into the Members Only portal of www.NATM.com and select the “Update Your Contact Information” link to make edits instantly to this information.
In addition to paying your membership dues by check or over the phone by credit card, you are also able to pay online using the Members Only portal at www.NATM.com. Once you are logged in using your company’s login credentials, select “Pay My Bills.” If you need your credentials, or have any questions during this process, please contact NATM Membership & Education Director Kelli Maydew. For trade show exhibitors, it is important to note that NATM DUES MUST BE PAID BY DEC. 31, 2018 to maintain the member rate for your booth at the February 2019 trade show in Lake Buena Vista, FL. NATM is committed to improving the compliance program, delivering safety education and information, increasing consumer awareness about the importance of buying compliant trailers, providing opportunities for member input, and continuing to develop relationships with key decision makers on Capitol Hill and in federal agencies to advocate for industry needs. NATM, the Board of Directors, committees, and staff are working diligently to provide more value to members, and we look forward to working with you in 2019. We sincerely hope that you will allow us to continue to serve your needs and provide value to your organization. Please contact NATM Membership & Education Director Kelli Maydew if you have any questions at (785) 272-4433 or email Kelli.Maydew@natm.com  Educational Workshops The 2019 Convention agenda has been finalized! Attendees with full registrations may attend all events at the convention, including the educational workshop sessions and networking events, with the exception of the golf tournament. Booth workers or those with a trade show only registration may want to consider upgrading to a full registration if they wish to attend the educational sessions and all of the networking events. The educational workshops for 2019 were carefully selected for both trailer manufacturers and suppliers alike. This year the convention will offer four different educational workshops February 19-20. The workshops are as follows*: Workshop One (Tues. Feb. 19, 9:30-11:00 a.m.) Strengthen Your Business by Integrating Quality into the Process Grace L. Duffy, ASQ Quality Management Division Quality is something we do every day. The business runs better when we use the elements of quality for planning, managing and improving products and services. We don’t just make products better, we improve the way our business increases profits and reduces expenses. This session shares how to start an integrated quality management system from scratch. It focuses on small- to medium-sized businesses. Workshop Two (Tues. Feb. 19, 1:30-3:00 p.m.) Government Affairs Update Darrell Conner, K&L Gates NATM Government Affair Representative Darrell Conner will provide an update on NATM’s work in Washington D.C., congressional activities and federal agency efforts. Plus, a recap of past activities and a look ahead at what to expect in 2019. Workshop Three (Wed. Feb. 20, 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.) Practical Recruiting & Retention Strategies Tracey Goold, Marsh & McLennan Agency Let’s get real about recruiting and retention! We can all do research on benchmark data that improves recruiting and retention but how does that actually fit in to your specific company, culture, and business plan? We know that compensation and benefits are important but not everything. Also, increasing compensation and/or benefits is not always practical. Join us for an engaging discussion about practical tips that will make a difference in how you recruit and retain your star players, including two to five action items you can implement as soon as you return from the convention. Workshop Three (Wed. Feb. 20, 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.) Health Insurance: Cost Control & Association Health Plan Strategy Lisa Clark and John Kerr, Marsh & McLennan Agency It’s no secret that health care costs are rising. Pharmaceutical costs and use, new, expensive medical technology, chronic care and provider consolidation are factors contributing to increasing costs. As costs increase, frustration grows for health insurance buyers and the consumers of health care in our nation. Advances in medical technology and expanded pharmaceutical dependency will only grow and continue to drive your health care costs higher. So what is a business owner to do? How can consumers of health insurance better manage the costs of the benefit they are providing? Association Health Plans (AHPs) will allow businesses to join together through an Association (NATM) to form a larger, more influential buying pool for the purchase of health insurance. This leverage should allow the AHP to negotiate more aggressive insurance pricing as well as the cost of administering those plans. Join Lisa Clark and John Kerr with Marsh & McLennan Agency to learn more about NATM’s forthcoming AHP. *Workshop times and content are subject to change. Technical Forums Looking for technically-oriented education opportunities? Plan on attending the Technical Forum at the 2019 Convention & Trade Show! The Technical Forum sessions are as follows*: Technical Forum One (Tues. Feb. 19, 9:30-11:00 a.m.) Trailer Brakes and Suspensions for Light- and Medium-Duty Trailers Bill Snider, Dexter Axle Company Join Dexter Product Training Manager Bill Snider as he discusses electric, electric over hydraulic, surge hydraulic, and air brakes in both drum and disk applications. The forum will cover advantages, design, manufacturing differences, and recommendations for operation and maintenance of the different brake options. Snider will also explore trailer axle suspension applications that utilize leaf spring or torsion elements including the effects of suspension travel, loading, alignment and tire wear, as well as operational and maintenance considerations. Technical Forum Two (Tues. Feb. 19, 1:30-3:00 p.m.) A New Generation of Trailer Brakes Todd Brinkman, General Motors What would it take to stop a truck and trailer in the same distance as a truck alone? Join Todd Brinkman from General Motors to find out! Technical Forum Three (Wed. Feb. 20, 8:00-11:00 a.m.) Successful Application of Arc Welding Robotics Brian Doyle, Miller Welding Automation & Mike Mueller, B&W Trailer Hitches This presentation is intended to help those new to automation and the seasoned user apply arc welding robotics successfully, and use the technology to improve their quality, throughput, and costs. Real world examples will be used to illustrate the concepts presented. Emerging Trends in Trailering Colin Holthaus, NATM Join NATM Technical Director Colin Holthaus as he provides an update on towing trends, including both tow vehicle and trailer technology advancements such as the “smart trailer,” advanced towing features, and more. Your Tire Recordkeeping Obligations – Practical Guidance for Compliance Panel The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has indicated an increased interest in compliance with tire recordkeeping regulations. Regulations can be confusing and the roles of tire suppliers, trailer manufacturers, and dealers in the process is complex. A panel of industry experts including a former FMCSA Administrator, tire suppliers, trailer manufacturers, and industry EWR and Recall consultant along with the NATM Technical Director will describe the regulations, possible compliance practices, and answer questions from industry attendees. All workshops and forums are subject to change.Kelli Maydew - Membership & Education Director  NATM is pleased to announce that Kelli Maydew joined the NATM staff as Membership & Education Director in November. Kelli is a graduate of Winthrop University. Her experience in membership retention and recruitment is applicable to her new role with NATM as she has worked with association members and database management for nearly ten years. Kelli and her husband Eric have one son, Easton. In her free time, she enjoys walking her golden retriever, chasing after her high-energy toddler, and cheering on the University of Kansas Jayhawks. As the Membership & Education Director, Kelli will be the main point of contact for NATM members and prospective members and will help develop educational programs that recruit and retain members in the Association. Kelli looks forward to promoting trailer safety by keeping NATM’s members informed about compliance with regulations, industry standards and best practices, and by connecting members with valuable education and resources. “I am excited for this opportunity and look forward to providing timely and ongoing support to our members,” said Kelli. Kelli is eager to learn more about the needs of the light- and medium-duty trailer industry and to meet more NATM members when she attends the upcoming 2019 NATM Convention & Trade Show in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Welcome Kelli Maydew to the Association by phone at (785) 272-4433 or by email, Kelli.Maydew@natm.com. Sean Sloan - Compliance Consultant NATM is pleased to announce that Sean Sloan joined the NATM staff as a compliance consultant in October. With the expansion in NATM’s membership and its Compliance Verification Program, NATM found it necessary to hire an additional compliance consultant to assist with compliance consultations across the United States and Canada.
Sean Sloan is a graduate of Baker University with a major in Business Administration. Sean’s experience in corporate and government purchasing meant regular communication with manufacturers and suppliers which has lent itself well to his new role. Sean and his wife Jeni have five children. In his free time, he enjoys tennis, fishing, and watching KU basketball. As a compliance consultant, he will be conducting compliance consultations for trailer manufacturers. He also assists members in correcting any compliance deficiencies. “I have learned a lot in the short time I’ve been here and am excited to continue to help trailer manufacturers with their compliance with federal regulations,” said Sloan. Sean is excited to learn more about the needs of the light- and medium-duty trailer industry and continue to meet more NATM members as he travels to trailer manufacturing facilities with Colin Holthaus, NATM Technical Director, Terry Jones, NATM Compliance Consultant, and Scott Crimmins, NATM Compliance Consultant. Welcome Sean to the Association by phone at (785) 272-4433 or by email, Sean.Sloan@natm.com. It’s no secret that health care costs are rising. A number of factors contribute to these increasing costs—some of the biggest contributors include:
Increasing Pharmaceutical Costs and Use: Health care costs are growing in part due to the increased use of prescription drugs, and an increase in the number of newer, more expensive drugs prescribed. Though prescription drug manufacturers have revolutionized modern medicine, these advances come at a cost. As pharmaceutical companies develop new drugs to treat serious medical conditions, the market for those drugs expands accordingly. The trend in the pharmaceutical industry is to maximize profits by developing drugs to treat conditions for which there were previously no drug treatments. These new “lifestyle” drugs treat or control conditions like nail fungus, impotence, obesity or hair loss. Manufacturers then use direct-to-consumer advertisements that encourage customers to ask their doctors for prescriptions for these medications. The increased use of lifestyle medications and direct-to-consumer advertising have raised serious questions about where America’s health care dollars are being spent and if consumers are getting the best value for their money. New, Expensive Medical Technology: New medical devices, diagnostic tests and medical imaging tools are enabling doctors to deliver care that would have been impossible in years past. Medical technology, just like pharmaceuticals, has revolutionized medicine and improved the lives of many people—but those advances have also come with hefty price tags. As the number of older Americans increases, these new devices and treatments are being used even more and with escalating price tags. Chronic Care: The health care system is primarily geared toward providing acute care and curing diseases. However, many people need care for chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. Chronic conditions are the major cause of illness, disability and death in the United States, and they account for a significant portion of health care spending.
Provider Consolidation: Before managed care revolutionized the American health care system, individual medical providers determined the fees for their services. However, with the domination of managed care plans, most providers have been forced to negotiate their prices lower or risk losing patient volume from managed care plans willing to exclude non-compliant providers from their networks. In order to maintain or regain some negotiating power, providers in many communities have consolidated their medical practices, effectively monopolizing procedures within specific service areas. These large provider groups have a much greater ability to negotiate with managed care plans that wish to provide convenient care options for their members. Health care costs and, consequently, employee health benefits costs have been increasing at a very high rate for nearly a decade. Unfortunately, cost increases are still outpacing the rate of inflation, making health care a growing cost burden for consumers. As costs increase, frustration grows for health insurance buyers and the consumers of health care in our nation. Advances in medical technology and expanded pharmaceutical dependency will only grow and continue to drive your health care higher. So, what is a business owner to do? How can consumers of health insurance better manage the costs of the benefit they are providing? Association Health Plans (AHPs) will allow businesses to join together through an Association such as NATM to form a larger, more influential buying pool for the purchase of health insurance. This leverage should allow the AHP to negotiate more aggressive insurance pricing as well as the cost of administering those plans. NATM Members from more than 20 states have already provided information for NATM’s Association Health Plan (AHP) evaluation. To learn more about how to leverage NATM Membership to better manage healthcare cost: Plan to join Marsh and McLennan Agency for the workshop session scheduled at the 2019 NATM Convention & Trade Show on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 8:00 am. Schedule a one-on-one meeting with Marsh and McLennan Agency consultants during the 2019 NATM Convention & Trade Show to discuss your specific employee benefit challenges, strategy and NATM’s Association Health Plan initiative. Contact Lane McNeil at Lane.McNeil@natm.com to sign up. Complete a Data Collection form for your company and if you want to be included in NATM’s AHP evaluation, please submit the completed form to Lisa Clark at Lisa.Clark@marshmma.com. Contact Lisa Clark if you have specific questions regarding your employee benefit plan or NATM’s Association Health Plan progress prior to the 2019 Convention at Lisa.Clark@marshmma.com. For more information about Marsh & McLennan Agency, visit www.marshmma.com.  Membership renewals have already been sent to members, which makes the end of the year a perfect time for the Association to reflect on how membership dues are critical in supporting the actions, services and educational programs that NATM provides for its members and the light- and medium-duty trailer industry. In 2018, NATM membership dues allowed NATM to:
In addition to paying your membership dues by check or over the phone by credit card, you are also able to pay online using the Members Only portal at www.NATM.com. Once you are logged in using your company’s login credentials, select “Pay My Bills.” If you need your credentials, or have any questions during this process, please contact NATM Membership & Education Director Kelli Maydew Membership dues will again go unchanged in 2019. Rates are $795 for Associate (Supplier) members, $135 for Associate (Supplier) Branch members, $925 for Regular and International Regular (Trailer Manufacturer) members, $300 for Regular (Trailer Manufacturer) Branch members. If you joined between February and October of 2018, your 2018 dues will be for the prorated amount provided when you joined. For trade show exhibitors, it is important to note that NATM DUES MUST BE PAID BY DEC. 31, 2018 to maintain the member rate for your booth at the February 2019 trade show in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. As NATM enters the final quarter of 2018, membership numbers remain strong. All categories of membership are up from the same time last year. As of Oct. 15, 2018, NATM has a total of 930 members. The membership breaks down as 425 Regular Members, 50 Branch Regular Members, 28 International Regular Members, 386 Associate Members and 41 Branch Associate Members. Contact NATM Membership & Education Director Kelli Maydew if you have any questions at (785) 272-4433 or email Kelli.Maydew@natm.com. *Consultation estimates as of Oct. 15, 2018  To directly communicate proper trailer usage and safety to end-users, NATM recommends that all trailers include an owner’s manual. As members of NATM, trailer manufacturers understand the importance of safety and build trailers accordingly. Unfortunately, it does not matter how well a trailer is built if the end-user improperly hitches, loads or fails to maintain a trailer. To educate customers, trailer owner manuals provide instructions regarding maintenance and safety, as well as important warnings. Creating owner's manuals for the trailers you manufacture can be a daunting, and often expensive task. Fortunately, NATM has made it easy and affordable for members to include manuals with their trailers as an additional resource and benefit to doing business with their dealers. By providing a quality owner’s manual with every trailer, it not only markets the company as reputable, but also helps to reduce liability due to legal issues and misuse by end-users. NATM offers manuals for 12 trailer types. Bumper pull style trailers include: utility, enclosed, horse, livestock, dump, and boat trailers. Gooseneck-style trailers include: utility, enclosed, horse, dump and boat trailers. Every manual purchased will be personalized to include the company’s name and address, and each manual is product-line specific. The manuals have the required compliance items and include the following sections:
One of the top shortcomings of trailer manufacturers working to become NATM Compliant is failure to include the NHTSA notification statement. It is required that trailer manufacturers provide the following statement to the purchaser in the owner’s manual, or, if there is no owner’s manual, on a one-page document: If you believe that your vehicle has a defect that could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying [Insert company name here]. If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between you, your dealer, or [Insert company name here]. To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Vehicle Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153), go to http://www.safercar.gov; or write to: Administrator NHTSA 1200 New Jersey Avenue S.E. Washington, DC 20590 You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from http://www.safercar.gov. By including an owner’s manual, trailer manufacturers are easily able to meet this requirement of both NHTSA and NATM, as well as reduce the chances that customers are left frustrated and confused. The inclusion of an owner’s manual helps to avoid mistreatment and misuse of the trailer in a way that could damage both the trailer and your company’s reputation by word-of-mouth. The manuals are available for purchase by members only and are sold individually, but discounts are available when ordering multiple manuals. Once purchased, they are emailed as a non-editable PDF format and can be easily reprinted as many times as necessary. For more information about purchasing generic owner’s manuals, or having your manuals updated, contact Marketing Coordinator Savana Morrison. NATM Members from more than 20 states have already provided information for NATM’s Association Health Plan (AHP) evaluation. So far the effort has been a big success and Marsh & McLennan Agency is currently working with insurance carriers to structure health plan cost options and network access comparisons across the regions and states represented by interested NATM members. If you are a current member of the NATM, Regular or Associates, and are interested in participating in the evaluation please submit your information to Jamie Conover @ jamie.conover@marshmma.com Marsh & McLennan Agency will be providing periodic updates throughout the process and they will be available to meet with NATM members during the 2019 NATM Convention in February. If you have specific questions regarding your employee benefit plan or NATM’s Association Health Plan progress, contact Lisa Clark at lisa.clark@marshmma.com. It’s no secret that health care costs are rising. A number of factors contribute to these increasing costs—some of the biggest contributors include: Increasing Pharmaceutical Costs and Use Health care costs are growing in part due to the increased use of prescription drugs, and an increase in the number of newer, more expensive drugs prescribed. Though prescription drug manufacturers have revolutionized modern medicine, these advances come at a cost. As pharmaceutical companies develop new drugs to treat serious medical conditions, the market for those drugs expands accordingly. The trend in the pharmaceutical industry is to maximize profits by developing drugs to treat conditions for which there were previously no drug treatments. These new “lifestyle” drugs treat or control conditions like nail fungus, impotence, obesity or hair loss. Manufacturers then use direct-to-consumer advertisements that encourage customers to ask their doctors for prescriptions for these medications. The increased use of lifestyle medications and direct-to-consumer advertising have raised serious questions about where America’s health care dollars are being spent and if consumers are getting the best value for their money. New, Expensive Medical Technology New medical devices, diagnostic tests and medical imaging tools are enabling doctors to deliver care that would have been impossible in years past. Medical technology, just like pharmaceuticals, has revolutionized medicine and improved the lives of many people—but those advances have also come with hefty price tags. As the number of older Americans increases, these new devices and treatments are being used even more and with escalating price tags. Chronic Care The health care system is primarily geared toward providing acute care and curing diseases. However, many people need care for chronic conditions. Chronic conditions are the major cause of illness, disability and death in the United States, and they account for a significant portion of health care spending. • According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), about 80 percent of older adults have one chronic condition, accounting for more than two-thirds of the nation’s total health care costs. • The NCOA also cites that 95 cents of every dollar of Medicare and 83 cents for every dollar of Medicaid go toward treating chronic disease. • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. Provider Consolidation Before managed care revolutionized the American health care system, individual medical providers determined the fees for their services. However, with the domination of managed care plans, most providers have been forced to negotiate their prices lower or risk losing patient volume from managed care plans willing to exclude non-compliant providers from their networks. In order to maintain or regain some negotiating power, providers in many communities have consolidated their medical practices, effectively monopolizing procedures within specific service areas. These large provider groups have a much greater ability to negotiate with managed care plans that wish to provide convenient care options for their members. Health care costs and, consequently, employee health benefits costs have been increasing at a very high rate for nearly a decade. Unfortunately, cost increases are still outpacing the rate of inflation, making health care a growing cost burden for consumers. As costs increase, frustration grows for health insurance buyers and the consumers of health care in our nation. Advances in medical technology and expanded pharmaceutical dependency will only grow and continue to drive your health care higher. So what is a business owner to do? How can consumers of health insurance better manage the costs of the benefit they are providing? AHPs will allow businesses to join together through an Association (NATM) to form a larger, more influential buying pool for the purchase of health insurance. This leverage should allow the AHP to negotiate more aggressive insurance pricing as well as the cost of administering those plans. If you are interested in participating in NATM’s Association Health Plan (AHP) evaluation, complete and submit the data collection form to MMA by email to jamie.conover@marshmma.com. Click here to access the data collection form. Tracey Goold is the Director, Human Resources Consulting at Marsh & McLennan Agency. NATM has partnered with Marsh & McLennan Agency as the Affinity Partner for Product Liability Insurance and to explore Association Health Plans (AHPs) as a health insurance solution for NATM members. Tracey works with clients in implementing and maintaining solid Human Resource policies and practices including employee relations, performance management, compensation design, employee and management training, employment law compliance and managerial coaching. To reach the Marsh & McLennan team, please call John Kerr at 913-529-3264 or email John.Kerr@marshmma.com.
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