Baltimore, MD (September 4, 2012) -  Healthiest Maryland Businesses, in partnership with the MidAtlantic Business Group on Health, is offering a series of free Health Reform/Healthy Business Forums for businesses around the state, with the first one on Friday, September 21, from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM at the Allegany County Health Department.

Healthiest Maryland Businesses is a statewide initiative of the Maryland Health Quality and Cost Council, designed to create a culture of wellness in the work environment.  Participating businesses commit to making the health of their employees a top priority by adopting policies and practices that promote healthy eating, active living, and a tobacco-free lifestyle.

“Americans spend a significant portion of their time at work. It’s important that the workplace supports efforts to get and stay healthy,” said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, Secretary of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. “Our partnership with the MidAtlantic Business Group on Health will help companies find the best ways to keep their workforce—and their bottom lines—in good health.”

The MidAtlantic Business Group on Health is a not-for-profit organization for employers and healthcare stakeholders that promotes cost-effective healthcare, through value-based purchasing in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia.

“The best value in healthcare is keeping folks healthy in the first place, so this forum aligns with our commitment to value-based purchasing,” said John Miller, CEO of the MidAtlantic Business Group on Health. “We want to help businesses take advantage of the opportunities available to them under health reform.”

The Allegany Forum is the first one of a series to be offered throughout the state to assist employers in preparing for the effects of health reform on small businesses. To register for the Allegany Forum, on September 21, go to:www.surveymonkey.com/s/HealthyBusinessForumSept21_Registration

For businesses on the eastern shore, the Forum will be offered in Easton, MD at The Milestone on October 17, from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM.  To register for this Forum, go to:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HealthyBusinessForumOct17_Registration

As part of Healthiest Maryland Businesses’ continued outreach, two more forums will be offered in upcoming months, at locations in central and southern Maryland. Details will be announced at a later date.

For more information about Healthiest Maryland Businesses, visit the Healthiest Maryland web page athttp://www.dhmh.maryland.gov/healthiest/SitePages/Home.aspx. For more information about the MidAtlantic Business Group on Health, visit www.mabgh.org