Keynote is PhRMA President and CEO Stephen Ubl who will share insights on healthcare innovation, patient affordability, and the need for collaboration to improve health outcomes and reduce costs

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions (National Alliance) is hosting its 2025 Annual Forum – Ignite Courage: Employers Disrupting Healthcare – November 10-12 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA.

Keynote is Stephen Ubl, president and chief executive officer of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which represents America's leading biopharmaceutical research companies. Ubl will explore the challenges and opportunities facing drug makers and purchasers, including Most Favored Nation, direct-to-consumer models, and the drive toward value-based pricing, where drugs are priced according to clinical value and not how much middlemen can extract discounts and fees.

The Annual Forum convenes some of the brightest minds in the nation, including employers and other healthcare purchasers, coalitions, and industry thought leaders and is a pivotal gathering for anyone seeking insight on the ever-evolving trends, strategies, and innovations in the healthcare and benefits industry.

"Healthcare costs are rising faster than we've seen in the last 15 years and our Annual Forum offers employers and other purchasers practical strategies to address critical issues including high and rising hospital prices, drug pricing games, and the need for access to data," said National Alliance President and CEO Shawn Gremminger. "This is a must-attend event for purchasers and other healthcare stakeholders working to manage health benefits and contain rising healthcare costs on behalf of working families."

The most recent Pulse of the Purchaser employer survey found that nearly two-thirds of employers (61%) have either changed pharmacy benefit managers from the Big Three in the past year or are considering a change within the next 1-3 years. In keeping with efforts to drive industry disruption, the Forum will also feature a frank discussion with representatives from the Big Three and mid-sized PBMs to help attendees gain a deeper understanding of how different PBMs approach business, client engagement, and industry challenges.

Benefit leaders from across the country are among the distinguished speakers that lead healthcare benefit decisions for organizations including: 32BJ Health Fund, Alliance Coal, ArcBest, Astellas Health, Behavioral Health Group, BNSF Railway, Comerica Bank, General Motors, Purdue University, Teamsters Health & Welfare and Pension Funds of Philadelphia and Vicinity, UNITE HERE Health, and Utz Brands.

Forum session highlights include:

• Courage to Disrupt Healthcare: Trailblazers Rewriting the Rules
• No More Blank Checks: A Movement to Rein in Hospital Prices
• From Awareness to Action: The Women's Health Playbook for Smarter Benefits and Stronger Workplaces
• Inside the Strategy: How Benefits Leaders Are Approaching Comprehensive Obesity Care
• Courage in Contracting: Understanding the Anatomy of a Contract
• Fiduciary Responsibility: Strategies for Managing Risk, Cost, and Compliance

Registration is discounted for employers and other healthcare purchasers affiliated with a National Alliance member coalition. The reduced room rate for the hotel is available until October 19 or when the block sells out. Learn more and register: https://nationalalliancehealth.swoogo.com/2025annualforum/Home.

About National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions
For more than 30 years, the National Alliance has brought together business coalitions and their employer and purchaser members to drive high-quality healthcare that enhances patient experience, promotes health equity, and improves outcomes while lowering costs. Its members represent public and private sectors, nonprofits, and labor unions that provide health benefits to over 90 million Americans—more than half of the employer-sponsored insurance market—spending over $850 billion annually. To learn more, visit nationalalliancehealth.org and connect on LinkedIn.

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SOURCE National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions