The Wilson Commerce Foundation has been awarded a grant from the Healthcare Foundation of Wilson to conduct a first of its kind business healthcare landscape survey (BHLS) for Wilson County.  The BHLS, administered by the Office of Expert Services at the East Carolina University College of Business, will be designed to accomplish two critical objectives:
 

• Identify the level of healthcare benefits (including comprehensive insurance coverage, wellness benefits, mental health care, nutrition programs, etc.) currently being offered by local businesses.  This data set will be segmented by industry type and size, providing a baseline for current and future employers in Wilson to determine the level of competitiveness of their benefit packages.

 

• Give major healthcare providers in Wilson a better understanding of the types of coverage and care received by the local workforce, enabling them to calibrate services and costs to best serve the healthcare needs of our community.

 
“I’m extremely grateful to the Healthcare Foundation of Wilson for their support of this initiative, which I think will provide invaluable information for both employers and healthcare providers in Wilson,” said Ryan Simons, Executive Director of the Wilson Commerce Foundation.  “I think some of our smaller employers are at a disadvantage by not knowing what benefits to offer employees, simply because they don’t have anything to compare themselves to.  The BHLS data is expected to serve as a useful measuring stick for what it takes to recruit and retain employees beyond salary considerations.”
 
“Furthermore, I hope this data lends perspective to healthcare providers who wish to better understand patients’ ability to pay for certain services.  For example, if our data finds that certain care is out of reach for many patients because of lack of coverage, maybe it inspires providers to offer that care in a different, or more cost-effective way, ultimately at the benefit of patients who currently aren’t receiving the care they need.”
 
Distribution of the BHLS is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2025, and Simons encourages all businesses to participate.  “We’re designing the BHLS to not be a burden on people’s time, so I hope every employer takes a few moments to complete it.  In exchange, these employers receive better awareness of their competitive position, and the potential for their employees to receive higher quality healthcare in the future.”
 
The BHLS will be launched alongside a new initiative driven by the NC Chamber:  Carolina HealthWorks.  Pending regulatory approval, Carolina HealthWorks will be a multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) offered by local chambers of commerce, to provide affordable healthcare coverage to local small businesses.  The Wilson Chamber of Commerce is expected to be a participating provider of the Carolina HealthWorks arrangement. 
 
In addition to his role as Executive Director of the Wilson Commerce Foundation, Simons is also President of the Wilson Chamber of Commerce.  “Details about Carolina HealthWorks are still emerging, but the potential looks promising,” says Simons.  “If Carolina HealthWorks launches alongside the data collected by the BHLS, it could be a game-changer for Wilson County businesses.  Not only will there be a better understanding of what it takes to provide high-quality healthcare for our workforce, but we’ll have an affordable option for employees to acquire that care, leading to better health outcomes and a more prosperous business community.  To have a partner in the Healthcare Foundation of Wilson, who aligns with us on these values, is incredibly helpful to our mission.”