I feel extremely lucky over the last couple of years to havebeen willing and able to challenge the status quo and as a result, tobring different results to our employers (and more importantly,their employees). I am even more grateful, however, for the manybrokers and consultants who have reached out to me looking for newideas and different results. This collaboration and sharing has notonly elevated our profession, but will likely be one of thedefining transformations that results inmassive and much needed changes to our entire health care system over the next three to fiveyears.

When I collaborate with the “competition,” I find many arealigned from an ideals perspective, but many have little experiencein actually rolling out some of these techniques. And when it comesto an existing client, I can understand a hesitancy to bringsomething to them that is not only outside of their comfort zone,but also may be an idea or strategy in which they have noexperience. What will the employee and employer perception be? Andwhat actual results they can expect?

So, when Paul Wilson (editor in chief of this very publication)approached me about creating a new type of session for theirupcoming 2018 Broker Expo, it occurred to me it might bevaluable to meet some of the brokers passionate about these newideas, who have experience implementing them, and are willing toshare the results they bring their clients with thosestrategies.

As I started to flush out this idea, it immediately picked upmomentum. There is already extreme curiosity and, dare I say,controversy over how and if some of these strategies work. Our hopeis to give a credible and valid (albeit single instance) examplesof how—and how well—these tools work.

So, here is the format: We will choose three to four establishedbrokers/consultants who are passionate about a specificcost-containment strategy. They will each have 10 minutes toprovide some details on how the claims were running before theyimplemented their strategies, and specifics on what they did topositively impact those numbers. They will not, however, be able todisclose what impact their strategy actually had.

After each consultant has had their turn, we will throw it overto the audience to vote on which strategy they think was mosteffective. We will display the results of those votes in realtime.

Prior to the event, each broker will have submitted data on thecase to Code64, who will use their analytics engine to normalizethe groups (since its likely they will be different sizes, fundeddifferently, etc.) and determine the impact each strategy had onthe finances of the plan. Not even the participating advisors willknow the results in advance.

Then will come the big reveal! We will then reveal the actualresults and pinpoint when and how each strategy impacted the plan,what it meant for the employer, and what it meant for theemployees—both in terms of financial impact and overall populationhealth.

I am also excited to announce a very valuable prize to thewinner: a one-year membership for two to a local direct primarycare provider! What is Direct Primary Care (DPC)? It is one of themost innovative and cost effective solutions emerging to lowercosts, improve health and improve the patient experience. For thosenot familiar with this type of arrangement, it will give you an upclose and personal look at how this delivery of care works, and themany positive experiences it can provide. Anyone who know aboutDPCs already know the value of it.

Are you interested in submitting your case study forconsideration? We are taking applications through February 15th, 2018.