Episode 62 - A Conversation with the 2026 Employers Health Excellence in Benefits Award Winner

Episode 62 spotlights Doreen Hall, the 2026 Employers Health Excellence in Benefits Award winner and Benefit Services Director at Midwest Public Risk (NPR). NPR operates a public risk pool that unites Kansas and Missouri local governments, giving small municipalities collective buying power and more stable premium growth. By aggregating these entities, the pool secures better health‑insurance options, expands access to services, and creates a collaborative forum where members can share challenges. Hall’s leadership has turned this model into a strategic advantage for public employees, delivering higher‑value benefits that would be unattainable for individual towns.

Hall explains how the benefits function has shifted from a once‑a‑year enrollment task to a year‑round engagement strategy. The team moved to an online benefits platform six years ago, adding reporting tools that identify who has enrolled and enable targeted reminder communications. This data‑driven approach allows NPR to meet employees where they work—whether digitally, on paper, or in person—and to tailor resources to diverse health needs. Hall also credits a culture of continuous improvement, where the benefits team constantly raises the bar, fostering curiosity and collaboration that keep the program ahead of industry changes.

Looking ahead, Hall identifies telemedicine and specialty pharmacy affordability as top priorities. She hopes expanding no‑cost telehealth programs will remove barriers and support whole‑person wellness, while negotiating better rates for specialty drugs will keep plans sustainable for both employees and budgets. Her advice to peers emphasizes staying curious, learning continuously, and testing ideas before scaling them. By viewing benefits through multiple perspectives and remaining flexible, organizations can create tailored value that resonates with diverse workforces. This forward‑thinking mindset, combined with data‑rich platforms and public‑risk collaboration, positions NPR to lead the evolving employee benefits landscape.