Washington, DC - U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Beth Cobert delivered keynote remarks at the 2016 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Carrier Conference, highlighting progress in the FEHB Program over the past year. She described how important it is to continually strive to find ways to improve care and reduce costs for Federal employees, annuitants, and their families.

“The FEHB Program continually focuses on ways in which to improve the health and well-being of our Federal employees, annuitants and their families,” said Acting Director Cobert. “Each year, the Program strives to identify and implement benefit offerings that support a high quality of care and cost management. The eight million individuals who rely on the FEHB Program deserve high quality health care, and taxpayers expect an efficient, cost-effective system. I am happy to report that OPM is delivering on these goals, and I look forward to even more progress in the years to come.”

For 2017, OPM announced key areas of focus for the FEHB Program, including:

• Limiting cost growth;
• Managing prescription drug costs;
• Ensuring access to care;
• Coordinating benefits for the Medicare population;
• Implementing Plan Performance Assessment; and
• Continuing to implement Self Plus One coverage.

The FEHB Carrier Conference is an annual event, hosted by OPM and America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), addressing program-wide issues, as well as those of special interest to fee-for-service and HMO plans. The conference provides an opportunity to meet and talk with FEHB Carriers and government program representatives and exchange ideas about improving the FEHB Program. In addition, it provides a forum to strengthen working relationships and discuss current healthcare topics.