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Solomon Page Group has been retained to recruit a new Consumer Advocate to support the Health Products and Quality Committee of the Board of the Directors for AARP Services, Inc (ASI).  This role is a part-time, mission-critical, paid and non-voting position. On behalf of AARP, ASI manages the relationships with several AARP endorsed service providers, who make available to AARP members a wide range of products and services.  AARP licenses its name, logo and mailing lists to the service providers and receives royalty payments in return. ASI provides quality control services for the use of AARP’s intellectual property, as well as other services for AARP and certain third parties, including certain service providers. The HPQC of the Board oversees the annual premium setting process for health insurance products that require such review; reviews the strategy, health, and expenditures benefiting policyholders of a $2.6 billion Rate Stabilization Fund; and reviews quality control initiatives of health-related insurance products.

Position Summary

The Consumer Advocate will participate in healthcare-related discussions of the ASI HPQC, representing the “voice of customer” by:

• seeking to understand how the management is considering the customer value proposition in its business development, product development, and program oversight;
• weighing in where management can do more to consider the customer;
• being a source of expertise to help management regarding potential friction between the value propositions of the customer and the industry player; and
• being a source of expertise, as possible, for management and the ASI HPQC regarding regulatory bodies and regulations related to HPS’s programs and as they pertain to the customer.

Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the ASI HPQC are to:

• oversee annual premium-setting process for health insurance products that require such review;
• review the strategy, health, and expenditures benefitting policyholders of a $2.6 billion Rate Stabilization Fund; and
• review quality control initiatives of health-related insurance products.

The products and services for which the ASI HPQC has oversight include:

• Medicare Supplement (UnitedHealth)
• Medicare Advantage (UnitedHealth)
• Medicare Part D (UnitedHealth)
• Hospital Indemnity Plan (UnitedHealth on a legacy basis)
• Health insurance for those 50–64 (Aetna and UnitedHealth on a legacy basis)
• Long-term care insurance (Genworth and MetLife on a legacy basis)
• Vision Insurance and Discounts (EyeMed)
• Hearing (Hear USA)
• Dental Insurance (Delta Dental)
• Pharmacy Discounts (Walgreens)
• Prescription Discount Program (OptumRx)

The HPQC is expected to act in the best interest of ASI and its shareholder, AARP. The HPQC delegates the day-to-day management of the company to senior management and understands that the ASI board retains responsibilities for oversight and monitoring of these delegated functions.

The HPQC will:

• make recommendations that are informed (the duty of care);
• act without conflict and always to put the interest of the company before those of the individual Director (the duty of loyalty); and
• act in accordance with evolving corporate governance best practices (the duty to act in good faith).

CURRENT HEALTH PRODUCTS & QUALITY COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

• Jim Ehlen (Committee Chair and Board Chair), Physician and former CEO, RespirTech
• Joan Budden, Former President and CEO, Priority Health
• Robert Fox, Former Global Industrial Leader, IBM Business Services’ Telecommunications, Media, and Entertainment
• Bob Harris, Former President and CEO, FastGrowingTrees.com
• Ted Woehrle, Former Chief Marketing Officer, Newell Rubbermaid

Meetings:

The HPQC meets quarterly and will provide advice and make recommendations to the ASI Board at its next regular meeting after each Committee meeting. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman of the Committee.

The Organization

AARP Services Inc.

AARP Services Inc. (ASI) is a wholly owned taxable subsidiary of AARP. On behalf of AARP, ASI manages the relationships with several AARP-endorsed service providers, who make available to AARP members a wide range of products and services. AARP licenses its name, logo, and mailing list to the service providers and receives royalty payments in return. ASI provides quality-control services for the use of AARP’s intellectual property, as well as other services for AARP and certain third parties, including certain service providers. ASI is also responsible for developing new products and services for AARP members that reflect their needs and interests and manages advertising solutions in AARP’s digital and print publications (e.g., AARP The Magazine).

ASI’s providers make available member discounts and savings on a multitude of products and services, including insurance (health, automobile, home, and life), credit cards, prescription drugs, optical services, travel, entertainment, dining, and other consumer offerings. Products and services are grouped along business lines: Lifestyle, Financial, and Health.

The Board of Directors of ASI has four standing committees including a Health Products and Quality Committee (HPQC). The HPQC has the authority to engage a Consumer Advocate who can provide guidance to committee members. 

AARP

AARP was founded in 1958 by Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, a noted California educator with uncommon vision who lived her life by the motto “To serve, not to be served,” which remains the AARP motto. She founded the organization on the principles of collective purpose, collective voice, and collective purchasing power. Over 60 years later, AARP still champions these principles in a world that is rapidly changing. The legacy of Dr. Andrus drives AARP toward positive social change and to helping people live healthy and secure lives with dignity, independence, and purpose.

With 37 million members, an operating budget of approximately $1.7 billion and significant national influence, AARP (www.aarp.org) is one of the world’s leading non-partisan, non-profit organizations.  AARP is a tax-exempt 501c(4) social welfare membership organization for people 50+ with a mission to enhance the quality of life for all, lead positive social change, and deliver value to members through information, advocacy, products, and services. AARP is known for providing a host of member and community services and public policy and advocacy leadership to this significant and fast-growing segment of the U.S. population.

Governance Structure

• The AARP enterprise has a complex governance structure that oversees AARP-branded products.
• The AARP Board approves the use of the AARP trademark and member lists for providers, among other duties.
• The ASI Board oversees the company and approves business plans for AARP-branded products and services, among other corporate duties.
• The HPQC has the authority to act on certain duties related to AARP-branded health products and services.

Qualifications and Experience

This is a highly visible, paid position, with quarterly remote meetings and substantial preparation and advocacy work.

The ideal candidate to serve as the Consumer Advocate for the ASI HPQC will be accomplished in healthcare or health policy, possessing deep knowledge of the healthcare system in the United States and the health insurance marketplace. She/he will bring perspective related to the system’s current challenges and opportunities and a willingness to “work within it” to help improve lives. The person should be a proven leader who can communicate her/his convictions as an advisor to the Committee. 

Meaningful areas of interest/experiences for the Consumer Advocate for the ASI HPQC include:

• A recognized Consumer Advocate with a national reputation;
• Geriatrics;
• Public Health;
• Understanding of local, state, and federal health-related entities;
• Passion for the consumer;
• Understanding of recent innovations and trends in healthcare and their benefits and risks from the perspective of the patient and consumer;
• Consumer-facing technology related to health products; and
• Channel options and related consumer preferences for health products. 

Personal Characteristics

• The Consumer Advocate will be courageous to actively participate in ways that may require offering a critical review yet recognize his/her appropriate role as a non-voting “Consumer Advocate” for the HPQC.

• This person should be analytical and able to constructively evaluate ASI’s health-related products and consumer experiences related to product education as well as sales and service channels. She/he should be forward thinking and strategic, yet pragmatic and operationally savvy, with a commitment to providing true value to members and other key constituencies. Honesty, openness, and high ethical standards are among the attributes that are most valued. Individuals with diverse and inclusive backgrounds are especially welcome to consider this position.