FROM HUSTLE TO HEALTH
the
ABBIE HONAKER
KEVIN RYNN
PAGE 6 June 2025 | Volume 38 | No. 6
DON’T BE A SILENT PARTNER The Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce Q2 2025 Business Sentiment Survey runs June 2-14, and we want to hear from you. And, quite honestly, you should want to share your responses. Here are 13 reasons why you should participate in the Q2 survey:
Community organizations, employers, schools, and local leaders are making real progress By Berenice Jaquez, The Workforce Connection
around mental health services in our area today is unlike anything I experienced when I first started my career. It’s encouraging and essential for the growth of our community. Much of this progress is made possible by the coordination and leadership of the Winnebago County Mental Health Board (WCMHB). Through their data driven strategic plan, the board has identified existing resources as well as gaps in care and services in our region. We have made meaningful strides, but the WCMHB outlines a continued need for services in areas like older adult mental health, early childhood mental health, and youth mental health. While these gaps still exist, it’s encouraging to see them identified, because it could lead
to targeted solutions and progress. We’re also having conversations surrounding self-care, as it has been identified as an important part of mental health. Many have started to feel “selfcared out,” making it clear that real support also requires systemic change. One of the most hopeful aspects of this movement, which I have seen firsthand through my work, is how local employers are actively responding. To improve the satisfaction and wellbeing of their staff, one of our local manufacturing partners is implementing practical change by offering preferred scheduling. This allows employees to pick from various shift options to accommodate the demands of their (continued on page 3)
What’s driving your health care spending
Join the Chamber on Social Media
The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com
You have opinions.
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You want your opinions to matter.
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You know more about your business than anyone.
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You care about policies and regulations that affect your company.
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You want to support a strong, local business community.
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You see the value of economic development in the Rockford Region.
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You’re very intelligent and think deep thoughts that would benefit others.
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You entered a relationship when you joined the Chamber, and ghosting isn’t healthy for a relationship.
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You don’t believe in letting others shape your destiny.
10. You want to be able to say, “I told you so.” 11. You actually can spare 10 minutes.
13. You want to find out what all the fuss is about.
By Brian Meyer, M3 Insurance Rising health care costs continue to put pressure on employers, with trends hovering around 7–8% increases over the past few years—and projections showing no signs of slowing. What’s fueling this sustained cost growth? A mix of familiar factors and new trends are driving costs higher, and understanding what’s at play is the first step toward finding a smarter path forward. The trends we’re seeing among M3 clients mirror what’s happening on a national scale. When digging into claims data to figure out what’s driving costs, a few key areas stand out. Two of the biggest? The types of conditions contributing most to overall spending,
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12. You’re afraid Angela might come looking for you.
Ways to manage risk, support employee health, and push back on rising costs
THE VOICE IS PUBLISHED BY
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of the greater rockford business community
The state of mental health in our region
In the past several years, our region has experienced a dramatic increase in awareness and investment in mental health services. What was once a quiet and often times stigmatized conversation has turned into an open, communitywide conversation about what it means to provide services for mental health well-being and crisis support. This conversation has led to a collective effort to find ways to better support the community’s needs. Having worked in social services, education, and workforce development for many years, I can honestly say that the level of momentum
FILLING THE VOID FOR PHARMACISTS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
and the services that are increasing in cost more rapidly than others. By looking at claims data year over year, patterns start to emerge. Conditions are grouped based on related medical and pharmacy claims, giving a clearer picture of where costs are concentrated. Right now, five condition groups are responsible for more than half of the total cost trend employers are facing. These include: • Cancer with active management. • Gastrointestinal disease. • Degenerative arthritis. • Diabetes. • Bone, joint, and muscle disease. (continued on page 5)
Take the survey, and tell your fellow business leaders and corporate gurus to do the same. (You don’t have to be a GRCC member to participate in the survey.) Better data yields better insights, and better insights enable meaningful action. Watch your email inbox for the survey link.
To view the results of the Q1 2025 Business Sentiment Survey, go to www.rockfordchamber.com/ resources/business-sentimentsurvey-results. To view the results of the Q1 2025 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index, go to: www.uschamber.com/sbindex.