LADUE — Louise Probst, who has led the St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition for more than 20 years, announced plans to retire at the end of the month.
The coalition advocates for lower health care costs on behalf of employers. Many of the region’s largest companies are members.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to lead the BHC,” Probst said Monday. “The St. Louis region has a lot going for it, in terms of its health care community.”
Laurel Pickering will become the organization’s new president and CEO.
Probst said that during her tenure, she’s seen the industry make strides in tracking quality of care. The organization has helped employers build closer relationships with physicians and started group purchasing both for medical and pharmacy care.
People are also reading…
“We’ve come a long way,” she said. “We certainly know more about measuring the cost of care.”
Pickering will start her new role on Wednesday. Probst will retire on June 30.
Pickering holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University at Albany and a master’s in public health from Emory University. She spent about 20 years leading the Northeast Business Group on Health and then worked for Welldoc, a digital health company, and Centivo, an alternative health plan.
“I am honored to take on this role and build upon BHC’s strong foundation,” Pickering said in a statement. “I look forward to collaborating with our members, partners and other stakeholders to drive further innovation and positive change in healthcare value for employers and families in the St. Louis region and beyond.”