Semi-baked thought here. As so many employers/plan sponsors are strategizing ways to mitigate costs of GLP-1 drugs, perhaps it’s an opportunity to think bigger. Given the cost of these drugs, I posit we could provide a healthy meal service (three meals per day) to each member who qualifies, access to an exercise program, coaching, and a significant financial incentive/bonus if their biomarkers improve. I’d have to do the math, but seems it could be cost neutral (perhaps even a small savings) on an annual basis. Today’s innovators are reducing costs through various strategies like direct contracting, alternative drug sourcing, etc. This totally makes sense, as these strategies target the PRICING FAILURES of the current system. There is so much low hanging fruit there. The innovators of tomorrow will target the actual DRIVERS of cost through improving overall health and reducing prevalence of chronic diseases. The best way to reduce cost long term is to make the current sick-care system less relevant and less utilized. Chess not checkers. Peace and love, fam.
That’s an intriguing angle. Tackling root causes with health services could shift the game completely. Curious about which biomarkers you’d focus on for those incentives? George Brown
Such a forward-thinking approach could truly revolutionize health care.
Martha K.
2mo
Agree, get out of small box and think bigger 👍
Chad Walters
2mo
We should talk sometime. I have some intriguing business ideas along the same lines!
Healthcare Strategy & Marketing Executive | Podcast Host | GTM & Growth Expert | Advocate for Emerging Health Leaders
2moI have long said "we don't have enough big ideas in healthcare" so I already found a friend in the headline! I feel like the real lowest hanging fruit is the actual food we eat - ending corn subsidies, taxing sugar, removing artificial dyes and ingredients that are banned everywhere else, those things seem like the real win. That would probably reduce the need for GLP-1's more than any full wrap-around program. We are fighting a losing battle essentially of drugs vs drugs (the food we eat is engineered to addict us vs being grown to help us). Love these thoughts though and how they're tied to real money - I am a huge fan of thinking "if we're going to spend this money anyway, how else could we be spending it"? I haven't seen that thought process enough in my career.