[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 17, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S6514]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO RITA NEEDHAM

 Mr. BLUNT. Madam President, as we continue our debate about 
health care reform, I would like to recognize an organization in 
Missouri that has been a leader in innovation in driving down the 
healthcare costs for manufacturers and their employees. The Missouri 
Association of Manufacturers and their CEO, Rita Needham, have been at 
the forefront of the debate in my State. She is committed to new 
strategies to provide affordable health care through consortiums of 
manufacturers that employ more than 2,100 people.
  As an educator, human resource manager and administrator, Rita 
Needham joined the Southwest Area Missouri Association, SAMA, in 1999 
as community affairs director. SAMA reached out to support 
manufacturers in the Springfield, MO area. Needham was elevated to 
executive director 2 years later and created a health care consortium 
which provided affordable health care coverage for manufacturers.
  Rita was the driving force in obtaining a two-year waiver from the 
Missouri Department of Insurance to enable companies of all sizes to 
join together in a pilot program to purchase group health insurance. 
Before the consortium was created, the initial 32 companies who joined 
the SAMA I Consortium had to buy their health insurance individually, 
but, under the consortium, they were rated as one policy holder 
therefore achieving significant savings. Six smaller companies who were 
part of the consortium were able to access affordable health care for 
the first time. The consortium members were able to achieve long term 
rate stability, create large group buying power and reduce claim risk 
in response to their biggest concern--the rising costs of health care.
  In 2006, Rita led SAMA's efforts to persuade the Missouri General 
Assembly to pass House bill 1827, landmark legislation known as the 
SAMA bill, which allowed manufacturers of all sizes the option of 
purchasing a group health plan under the consortium.
  In 2010, the Southwest Area Manufacturers Association became the 
Missouri Association of Manufacturers, MAM, with 170 member companies 
across the State representing 14,500 employees. Today, MAM is a strong 
voice for manufacturing with free market positions on trade, 
regulation, tax and energy policy, education, health care and the 
environment.
  Rita is planning to retire this year, but throughout her career she 
has been a thoughtful, dedicated leader for Missouri manufacturers. I 
have always relied on her expertise and common sense to better 
understand how Federal policy impacts health costs for manufacturers.
  I wish Rita and her husband Jim a wonderful retirement. There is no 
doubt that Rita's advocacy and smart leadership have improved the 
business environment in Missouri.

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