WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Pictured above, Dr. Michael Edbauer, the new President of Highmark Western and Northeastern New York, which includes oversight of Union-represented Highmark/Blue Cross Blue Shield in Western New York, tells WNYLaborToday.com he’s proud of Highmark/BCBNWNY’s “Labor DNA” and looks forward to continuing to grow the Health Care Provider’s relationship with Organized Labor.   (Photos that appear with this Labor News Report, unless otherwise noted, are courtesy of Highmark Western and Northeastern New York)

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) - The Labor Leaders who were in attendance at last Summer’s Labor’s Night at the Races event in Ransomville noticed immediately that there was something different when Dr. Michael Edbauer and his wife strolled in to visit the Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council-sponsored event that benefits the United Way of Greater Niagara. 

It wasn’t hard to notice that the new President of Highmark Western and Northeastern New York, which includes oversight of Highmark/BlueCross BlueShield (BCBSWNY) here in Western New York, wasn’t making a so-called guest appearance - and wasn’t quickly heading out after shaking a few hands as many others had done so in past years. 

Instead, Dr. Edbauer stayed - and he stayed for the duration of the event, talking to the assembled Union Leaders, some of whom he was meeting for the first time.

That, several Labor Representatives tell WNYLaborToday.com, was not lost on them.

“It ‘was fact’ - ‘he came in and got the landscape’ of the Labor Community.  I found him to be ‘very down to earth.’  ‘It spoke volumes,’” Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF) President Peter Dejesus told WNYLaborToday.com. “He was ‘committed’ (that evening) to ‘getting to know people (in the Labor Movement).  I’d seen him a couple of times over the Summer and ‘he seems like one of the guys.’”

Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council President and United Steelworkers (USW) District 4 Area Sub-Director Jim Briggs said: “It was ‘crystal clear’ - he was ‘very interested in our event and how it affected the community.’  We talked about ‘containing the cost’ (of health care for Union Members) ‘and he’s been far more understanding of what our Members face.’  ‘He gets it and we hope that as President (of Highmark/BCBSWNY), he truly has our back.’”

United Way of Greater Niagara/Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Labor Council Labor Liaison Bill Jakobi added: “He came with his wife to our pre-race picnic and stayed for the racing ‘afterward.’  He said he was ‘happy to be part of it’ (the event, as well as Highmark/BCBSWNY’s annual sponsorship of it).”

Asked if he had ever witnessed such a high-ranking official from BCBSWNY in the past stay as long as he did at the event that raises money to help more than 20 United Way-affiliated programs, Jakobi told Your On-Line Labor Newspaper: “‘No.’  ‘It was the first time we’ve had a (BCBSWNY) CEO come in and stay that long.’  I knew he was a (Physician), ‘but he came to Labor’s night (dressed) in a polo shirt and jeans.’  He was ‘very down to earth.’”

Dr. Edbauer was appointed to his current position in March 2021, following the strategic affiliation of Highmark Incorporated and HealthNow New York Incorporated, where he had served as Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer since 2018.  

A long-tenured Health Care Executive, he previously served as President and CEO of Catholic Medical Partners (CMP) and President of Trinity Medical.

Dr. Edbauer, a Board Certified Pediatrician, holds a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Canisius College, and a Bachelor's Degree in Science from the University at Buffalo.

In a recent Zoom and wide-ranging interview with WNYLaborToday.com, Dr. Edbauer made it clear to WNYLaborToday.com when discussing the Union-represented Health Care Provider’s commitment to Organized Labor that:  “We’re ‘closely connected’ to Organized Labor.”

“Traditionally, (BCBSWNY) ‘has had a great relationship with Labor and we are proud to be the only’ Labor-represented Health Care Provider (in Western New York - The company’s Workforce is represented by the Office and Professional Employees International Union).  It’s extremely important (their relationship with Labor).  ‘It is a true partnership, not a client-partnership.’  ‘That’s very important,’” Dr. Edbauer said. 

“A large number of our clients are Labor Unions and their Members (Highmark/BCBSWNY insures nearly 150 clients with Union Members, including more than 50 Union/Building Trades organizations).  We’re ‘very happy and pleased with our Labor pedigree.’  Highmark ‘has more than’ (5,000 Union clients) ‘and serves one million people in the Labor Movement.’  (Being headquartered in Pittsburgh), the USW (United Steelworkers) ‘is a big portion of the work we do.’  ‘We have such a high respect’ (for the USW and Labor).  (Retired USW International President) Leo Gerard is on Highmark’s Board.  ‘And in the short time that I’ve been here, it’s been a great experience (working with Labor) and it has been a pleasure to (personally) meet’ (local Labor Leaders),” Dr. Edbauer said.

In Summer 2020, Highmark and HealthNow New York came to an affiliation agreement, marking a key milestone in plans to bring together the two not-for-profit BlueCross BlueShield Health Insurance Plans to better serve the communities of Western and Northeastern New York, as well as Highmark’s Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia Regions. 

Officials from both companies described it as “significant,” noting there are more than 4,475 Union-represented Employees across its Highmark Health footprint and that its Organized Labor-based clients have a combined Union Membership of 359,000.

In addition, Highmark also said in a released statement that it recognizes the importance of honoring existing Collective Bargaining Agreements, including the one it has with Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153, which represents more than 400 Highmark/BCBSWNY Employees who work at its Downtown Buffalo Headquarters.

“Over the ‘past two years, they’ve been in the front lines - every day,’” Dr. Edbauer said of Highmark/BCBSWNY’s local OPEIU-represented workforce.  “And ‘they’ve had to deal with a number of tough issues, as well as COVID with their families and friends.’  ‘They’ve remained steadfast and they are the backbone of our organization.’”

In a released statement, OPEIU Local 153 President Richard Lanigan said: “On behalf of OPEIU and our dedicated Members of Local 153 at BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, we firmly support this strategic affiliation with Highmark.  Both OPEIU and the broader Labor Community have a strong and mutually-beneficial relationship with both BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and Highmark.  Through its dedication to Union Employees at Highmark Health and the Members they serve and support, we applaud the commitment of these organizations to Labor and the communities we serve.  We look forward to continued, positive Labor Relations between (Highmark/BCBSWNY), their management team and our 450 OPEIU Local 153 Employees at the region’s only health plan with a Unionized Workforce.”

One of New York’s leading Health Care Companies, Highmark Western and Northeastern New York provides access to quality health care and provides innovative solutions for individuals and employers.  The Health Care Provider also offers a full range of insured, self-insured and government programs and services, as well as dental and vision plans, and stop loss coverage.

One of America's leading Health Insurance Organizations and an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association, Highmark and its affiliated Health Plans also work to deliver high-quality, accessible, understandable and affordable experiences, outcomes and solutions to its clients.

And as the fourth-largest overall BlueCross BlueShield-affiliated organization in membership, Highmark and its Blue-branded affiliates cover the insurance needs of more than 5.6 million members in Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia.  

“I’ve ‘always had the intent to help make health care more affordable, which is a real challenge.’  I saw it while (working) at Children’s Hospital (in Buffalo).  So when I came to the Blues, ‘I wanted to help (bring) health care to a higher level and to a larger component of the community - all walks of life.’  ‘We need to stay vigilant and alert here to take care of the needs’ of our Members.  And ‘it is very helpful to communicate with Labor because (health care) is ever-changing.’  ‘More and more of us are impacted by the health care environment and we want to make sure we stay in tune to the needs of Labor.’”

Dr. Edbauer also tipped his hat to Highmark/BCBSWNY’s team of Labor Liaisons: Dennis Pawlik, Bob Butski and Kevin Donovan, for the work they’ve done in the past serving and working with the Western New York Labor Movement - and especially with the in-put they provided as the Highmark/BCBSWNY transition was taking place.

“(Pawlik, Butski and Donovan) ‘have been great and we’ve talked about meeting Labor’s needs and they’ve let me know what they’re thinking.’  ‘They’ve been tremendous.’  ‘Their experience (in knowing what their Members’ health care needs are) is incredible,’” he said.

Highmark also has a Labor Liaison working in the Albany Region.

“We ‘needed to have one to understand the real issues in Albany in order to do a better job’ (serving Organized Labor).  ‘So, we took a page out of our Western New York Playbook’ little over a year ago ‘so we could (get) stronger information and feedback,’” Dr. Edbauer said.

Highmark/BCBSWNY has already committed to being the title sponsor for the 2022 Labor Night at the Races and has been the sponsor of a Labor Picnic that follows the annual Labor Day Parade in South Buffalo for the past several years. 

In addition, the Unionized Health Care Provider also holds a major meeting with Labor Leaders on a yearly address to answer their questions about the changing face of health care and to present them with information on emerging trends that will impact their Memberships in the Public and Private Sectors, as well as in the Building Trades.

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Pictured below, Dr. Edbauer, his wife, Beth, and Race Car Driver Eric Rudolph pose for a photo next to the Highmark/BCBSWNY racing car at Ransomville Speedway during last year’s Labor’s Night at the Races event.  (Photo Courtesy of Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Labor Council President Jim Briggs)

During his interview with WNYLaborToday.com, Dr. Edbauer took time to praise the Labor Movement for what it does for the local communities where its Members work, live and raise their families, noting how important Labor-sponsored events like Labor’s Night at the Races are.

“It was a ‘great’ event ‘and I got a chance to talk to a lot of people.’  ‘We’ve made a commitment to be a sponsor of that event, but also a broader commitment to the community - it is part of our Labor DNA.’  ‘We are so fortunate to have such a strong relationship (with the Western New York Labor Movement) and we look forward to growing that relationship.’”

For More On This Labor News Report, Read: OPEIU Reacts To Highmark Incorporated & BlueCross BlueShield Of Western New York Affiliation Agreement: “We Firmly Support This Planned Strategic Affiliation And Look Forward To Continued, Positive Labor Relations” At www.wnylabortoday.com/news/2020/06/21/buffalo-and-western-new-york-labor-news/opeiu-reacts-to-highmark-incorporated-bluecross-blueshield-of-western-new-york-affiliation-agreement-we-firmly-support-this-planned-strategic-affiliation-and-look-forward-to-continued-positive-labor-relations/