PBGH adds four benefits leaders to board as employers seek healthcare change

The Purchaser Business Group on Health named four new directors from 32BJ Health Fund, Amazon, Teachers Health Trust and Red Bull on Oct. 1, 2026. The appointments add experience in direct contracting, benefits design, financial oversight and accountability as the coalition pushes for lower costs and better care for millions of workers and families.

Why it matters: - PBGH represents more than 40 employers and public purchasers that spend about $350 billion a year on healthcare for 21 million Americans and their families. - The board additions strengthen a purchaser coalition trying to pressure the healthcare system toward better quality, lower costs and more accountability. - PBGH says the new directors bring practical experience in benefits innovation, direct contracting, financial stewardship and industry oversight.

What happened: - PBGH announced four new board directors on Oct. 1, 2026. - The new directors are Claire Brockbank of 32BJ Health Fund, Chris DeCou, PhD, of Amazon, Andrew Helms of Teachers Health Trust and Sara Richards of Red Bull. - Elizabeth Mitchell, PBGH president and CEO, said the board adds leaders who understand the current system and want to build something better. - Aldy Duffield, chair of the PBGH Board of Directors, said the new members add distinct perspectives and a shared commitment to improving healthcare.

The details: - Brockbank leads 32BJ Health Fund, one of the largest self-insured funds in New York State. - 32BJ Health Fund covers more than 200,000 lives and receives contributions from more than 5,000 employers across 12 states. - The fund pays more than $1.5 billion in claims each year and offers no premium sharing, low and $0 copays, plus a freestanding Union Health Center and Dental Center. - In 2025, Brockbank helped steer the fund’s collaboration with Northwell Direct to what PBGH called the largest direct healthcare contract of its kind in the country. - DeCou leads Amazon’s Global Health Benefits organization, which designs, delivers and measures health benefits for 1.5 million employees and family members across 62 countries. - DeCou oversees Amazon’s medical plan strategy, carrier and vendor relationships, direct-contracting work, pharmacy and behavioral health programs, the company’s Global Employee Assistance Program and its in-house actuarial function. - DeCou also oversees international health plans and one of the largest reinsurance captives outside the United States. - Helms is chief financial officer of Teachers Health Trust, a self-funded nonprofit health plan serving educators and school district employees across Southern Nevada. - Helms brings more than a decade of executive financial leadership experience in healthcare finance, employee benefits, governance and strategic planning. - Richards leads strategy and design for Red Bull’s U.S. health, welfare and retirement programs. - Richards’ background includes consulting, third-party administration and in-house benefits leadership. - PBGH said the new directors will help guide work on the Care Excellence Program, which sets purchaser-defined standards for high-quality advanced primary care. - PBGH also pointed to its Data Transparency Initiative, which provides purchasers with price, claims and quality insights to evaluate value and strengthen accountability. - PBGH’s broader mission is to improve how healthcare is purchased and how care is delivered to workers and families. - PBGH has operated for more than 35 years.

Between the lines: - The board changes signal that large employers are continuing to organize around healthcare as a cost and accountability problem, not just a benefits administration issue. - PBGH is leaning on executives who manage large, complex plans because those employers can push vendors, providers and insurers in ways smaller buyers often cannot. - The emphasis on direct contracting and data transparency suggests purchasers are still looking for alternatives to traditional healthcare arrangements.

What's next: - The new directors will help shape PBGH’s next round of purchaser-led initiatives. - PBGH is expected to keep pushing standards, data tools and collaborative purchasing strategies aimed at better value for employers and their members. - More information