The X PRIZE Foundation, WellPoint, and the WellPoint Foundation are developing a $10 million or more competition called the “Healthcare X Prize” designed to generate new ways to address the nation’s serious healthcare system challenges. The competition is focused on reinventing the healthcare system in a bold, measurable, and scientific fashion.
The competition along with a call for public comment was unveiled by leaders in the field on April 14, 2009 at a panel discussion held at the 6th World Health Care Congress in Washington D.C. Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman, CEO, X PRIZE Foundation, Angela F. Braly, President and CEO WellPoint Inc, Hon. Bill Bradley, former U.S. Senator, and Hon. Newt Gingrich, Founder, Center for Health Transformation, discussed the excitement and the thinking that went into developing the prize. Susan Dentzer, Editor in Chief, Health Affairs moderated the panel discussion.
The panelists were in agreement that the prize will help to create incentives that will reflect on health outcomes in this country, provide greater value for the healthcare dollar, and produce the highest quality healthcare, which in turn, will lead to more active and longer lives.
According to the panelists, the public and other stakeholders are being asked to look at the initial design for the competition and reply with suggestions and ideas as to how the “Healthcare X PRIZE” can improve healthcare for families and communities. Teams will form for the competition and then work for 18 months to develop and submit their plans for the prize. Five finalist plans will be pilot tested on 10,000 individuals with the results to be compared against a control group. WellPoint will then collaborate with employers and providers to test the idea in communities.
The Collaboration will solicit participation from employers, healthcare providers, consumers, government partners and any other interested parties. Transparency will be emphasized from development of the prize to the conclusion of the competition.
Other advisors supporting the competition include Glenn Steele, CEO, Geisinger Health System, Dr. Jim Weinstein, Director, Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Dr. Carol Diamond, Managing Director, Markle Foundation, Mark Litow, Principal and Consulting Actuary, Milliman, Dr. Dean Ornish, President, Preventive Medicine Research Institute, and Michael E. Porter, Professor, Harvard Business School.
For more information, go to www.xprize.org/wellpoint.
